Seven children were found living in distressing conditions in a residence that was described as being filled with feces and urine, according to a safeguarding report. Social workers visited the home in Stockport, Manchester, in October 2023 and were appalled by the situation, leading to the parents being informed that the living conditions were unacceptable and a child protection conference would be arranged.
Subsequently, during a follow-up visit in November 2023, officials uncovered the appalling conditions at the property, which included a lack of essential amenities like food, water, and heating. The premises were found to be contaminated with excrement and urine on floors and mattresses, prompting the involvement of Greater Manchester Police in the investigation.
The police report detailed the dire circumstances, highlighting instances such as a bowl containing old vomit and urine, dogs consuming soiled diapers, and a dog crate filled with feces. The residence lacked basic utilities like heat, light, and water, rendering appliances unusable, with dysfunctional bathroom facilities and unsanitary kitchen arrangements.
The children, along with their family, had been under the radar of social services for approximately a decade. Despite previous decisions to allow the children to stay at home due to challenges in finding suitable placements for the seven siblings, they were eventually removed from the household.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the siblings were the focus of “team around the child” (TAC) plans, identified as children in need on multiple occasions from 2014 to 2023. The children were placed on neglect-related child protection plans twice, from July 2017 to June 2018 and from February to September 2022.
A third initial child protection conference was slated to convene, with the report indicating a history of the children residing in an unclean and cluttered environment, with their fundamental needs often neglected by the parents. Concerns raised by children’s social care officials in Stockport encompassed issues such as physical harm, inadequate home conditions, lack of adult supervision, poor school attendance, domestic violence, and the children’s emotional well-being.
The review highlighted that the children frequently showed signs of hunger at school, appeared fatigued, and had notably poor dental health. The children were often seen in soiled or insufficient clothing, with the school providing coats during cold weather.
Staff at a primary school reported that the children were frequently tardy, dirty, disheveled, and emitted unpleasant odors. The family had a history of common illnesses like stomach bugs, likely attributed to the unhygienic kitchen conditions.
The children’s mother admitted to struggling with long-standing mental health issues and motivation problems, citing difficulties in managing her hoarding tendencies. The father acknowledged the inadequacy of the home environment for the children but attributed it to his work commitments impeding his cleaning efforts.
Following the Child Safeguarding Practice Review, social services and collaborating partners implemented changes to address the situation. The review outlined seven recommendations for future cases, leading to enhancements in practice procedures.
These improvements involved plans for assigning two social workers to large families, peer multi-agency supervision in neglect-related child protection cases, and conducting case audits and care planning meetings chaired by a service lead in instances of recurring child protection planning.