A secure children’s home in Peterborough has been rocked by inspectors’ findings of unlawful restraint, physical abuse and “serious and widespread failures” in safeguarding. Reports by Ofsted into Clare Lodge – run by Peterborough City Council – reveal a service struggling to protect the most vulnerable children in the country. Inspectors concluded that “leaders and managers have not maintained effective oversight,” raising serious concerns about safety at the home.
Unlawful restraint and ‘therefore unlawful practice’
Among the most serious findings was the use of restraint without legal justification. Ofsted found that “children are sometimes physically restrained for compliance rather than for legitimate safety reasons,” including the use of “holds that are not in line with agreed practice.”
Inspectors highlighted specific incidents, including staff using “unapproved restraint techniques” and intervening in situations that did not meet the legal threshold. Their conclusion was stark: “Neither of these incidents met the threshold for the use of physical intervention, and such actions are therefore unlawful practice.”
The watchdog also warned that failures to provide medical checks after restraint “mean children’s health and wellbeing are not adequately monitored.”
Ofsted finds abuse by agency staff and an ‘unsafe and harmful culture’
Inspectors also uncovered serious incidents involving agency workers. “Some children have been subject to physical abuse by agency staff,” the report states, describing one incident where a worker “pulled and dragged a child and threw items multiple times at the child.”
Even more concerning was the response of other staff. Ofsted found that colleagues failed to intervene during dangerous situations captured on CCTV, calling this “extremely poor and unsafe practice.” The report adds: “This represents a serious safeguarding failure and contributes to an unsafe and harmful culture in the home.”
Leadership at Clare Lodge came under sustained criticism across three inspections. In its full inspection, Ofsted judged leadership and management to be inadequate, citing “serious and widespread failures.”
Inspectors found that staff lacked “professional curiosity” and highlighted a case where a manager witnessed a serious incident but “failed to act to safeguard a child.” The reports also revealed a disconnect between recorded incidents and what inspectors later observed on CCTV – raising concerns about oversight and accountability.
Child left to self-harm in near-fatal incident
One of the most concerning cases highlighted in the reports involved a child known to be at high risk of self-harm. Despite clear instructions for close supervision, the child was left in a lounge while staff relied on CCTV monitoring.
During this time, the child attempted self-harm and became unresponsive, requiring emergency hospital treatment. Inspectors identified this as a major safeguarding failure – compounded by the fact that a centre manager walked past the area twice without intervening.
Inspectors also found that day-to-day care fell short of basic standards. “Children do not feel valued or respected,” the report states, with staff not always sensitive to how children wished to be addressed, including their preferred pronouns. This, Ofsted said, breached standards requiring children to be treated with dignity and respect.
Neglected environment a ‘longstanding concern’
The physical condition of the home also came under fire. Bedrooms were found to contain “a significant amount of negative and worrying writing,” including inappropriate language.
Inspectors said the failure to address this before new children moved in meant the environment “feels neglected and fails to show children they are valued.” The issue was described as “a longstanding concern” that leaders had failed to resolve.
Ofsted also criticised the home for failing to properly report serious incidents. “This failure to report quickly in a transparent manner undermines confidence that the provider is operating openly and in accordance with regulatory expectations,” inspectors said.
Weak systems repeated despite warnings
The reports highlight repeated failures in care planning and recruitment – issues that had already been raised in previous inspections. Requirements to improve care planning, ensure cohesive support and strengthen recruitment checks were restated after not being met. This pattern suggests systemic issues that remain unresolved.
Inspectors acknowledged that staffing challenges have played a role in the home’s difficulties. High turnover and reliance on agency workers have contributed to training gaps and inconsistent care.
Occupancy fell to around half capacity in the year before the full inspection, as the home lacked sufficient staff to safely support children with complex needs.
Early signs of improvement – but ‘not yet embedded’
Despite the scale of the problems, Ofsted did identify some progress. Inspectors noted improvements in restraint monitoring, staff training and quality assurance systems, as well as the introduction of a new intervention team.
Children also reported enjoying activities and spending time with staff. However, Ofsted warned that these changes are “at an early stage” and “not yet embedded.”
Clare Lodge, based in Glinton, holds a unique role as the UK’s only all-female welfare-only secure children’s home. It is designed to support girls whose risks are so severe that they require restrictions on their liberty for their own safety. But the latest findings raise urgent questions about whether the home is currently able to meet that responsibility.
The challenge facing Peterborough City Council
The reports present a stark challenge for Peterborough City Council. After a decline from a “good” rating in 2023 to “inadequate” in 2026, the council must now rebuild trust in the service.
The home has been at 50% occupancy. It has capacity of 16 girls aged between 10 and 17. “This is due to ongoing recruitment to bring staffing up to full complement and to ensuring that staffing levels are sufficient to provide care and support for children with complex needs,” says Ofsted, which has given the home a March 23 deadline to improve.
Ofsted’s findings leave little room for doubt: safeguarding must improve.
In a statement, Cllr Katy Cole, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “We acknowledge receipt of the report and accept responsibility for the concerns raised regarding Clare Lodge. We are taking Ofsted’s feedback extremely seriously, and steps are already being taken to make the necessary improvements to the facility.
“As Cabinet Member, I want to emphasise that we are all corporate parents and I take that responsibility seriously. We remain dedicated to further developing Clare Lodge and delivering a high standard of care for the vulnerable young girls who reside there, ensuring they are supported, protected, and given a voice. I am committed to ensuring that every child in this city is treated with the respect and care that I would want for my own children.”
This article is republished with kind permission of CambsNews. Read the original here.
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