Overview

• Social workers were shocked by conditions in October 2023 and a November visit found no food, water or heating with excrement on floors and mattresses.
• Greater Manchester Police reported a bowl of old sick and urine, dogs eating soiled nappies, a crate full of faeces, and no functioning bath or shower or usable utilities.
• The family had around a decade of social care involvement with five TAC plans and two prior child protection plans for neglect before the children were removed, after earlier decisions to keep them at home due to placement difficulties for seven siblings.
• Recorded harms included children arriving at school hungry, tired and unkempt with exceptionally poor dental health, inconsistent attendance, and concerns about bruising and emotional wellbeing.
• The Child Safeguarding Practice Review issued seven recommendations and notes practice changes such as co-allocating large families to two social workers, peer multi-agency supervision, and case audits when protection planning repeats.