EXCLUSIVE: A chilling loophole in child protection laws may be giving grooming gangs unfettered access to vulnerable children, as revealed by a shocking Express investigation.
Vulnerable children could be placed directly into the care of gangs (Image: Getty Images)
Grooming gang monsters and their relatives could be exploiting a devastating child protection loophole that would give them “complete, unfettered access” to vulnerable young girls. A Daily Express investigation has found how an anomaly in the law allows unregistered providers to operate on a short-term basis, charging local authorities thousands of pounds per week with zero regulatory oversight.
Paul O’Rourke, managing director of Next Stage Youth Development who provide care solutions for young people across the North West and West Yorkshire, says he has little doubt the glaring loophole is being exposed by “relentless gangs” who he warns will stop at nothing to gain access to their victims. The Express has revealed how family members and associates of convicted sex gang members have been caught applying for jobs at social care charities and organisations where their aim is to not only “threaten and intimidate” victims into silence – but also “get the girls back” into the evil clutches of the gangs.
Care homes are unregulated for first 28 days (Image: Getty Images)
His company has caught five such attempts, but he believes attempts elsewhere will “almost certainly” have been successful.
But our explosive new revelation means vulnerable children could be being placed directly into the hands of the gangs, who are able to exploit the law governing children’s residential care.
Under the Care Standards Act 2000 it is a criminal offence for a placement to last longer than 28 days without the provider being registered with Ofsted. But O’Rourke, who has helped victims of Rochdale grooming gang scandal, believes unscrupulous operators are ruthlessly exploiting this month-long window by operating on a shorter-term basis.
Paul O’Rourke (Image: James Speakman)
This cycling of vulnerable children between unvetted properties allows providers to operate completely outside the law. It means no one checks the staff, their training, or their suitability, making it easy for predatory individuals to gain employment or even set up their own care providing business.
“It could be like a game of tennis, with a child going back and forth between two different houses without any safety checks being needed,” warned the whistleblower.
Meanwhile these unregistered homes are charging desperate local authorities “six, seven, eight grand a week” to look after a single child.
teenager girls could be sent to unregister care home for 28 days (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
“I can’t believe there’s a 28-day gap in [the law]… and it’s been there since the year 2000. It’s outrageous,” O’Rourke added.
He says there must be swift action to amend the law so that any placement, regardless of length, requires regulation.
O’Rourke, who has over two decades experience working in the sector, believes a recruitment crisis in social care is adding to the danger for vulnerable children find.
He said: “These attempts at infiltration are compounded by a severe staffing crisis in the care sector. “Desperate providers, struggling to fill positions, are more likely to have lower vigilance when vetting candidates. When you’re desperate for a staff member, you might not take all the steps you need.
“If I got your application form, and there were gaps in your employment, I’ve got to take the time to find all the reasons for the gaps… For us, we don’t mess about with that. We will qualify every part of their working history. But that’s not the case everywhere.”
Seven men were jailed for 174 years for series of historic sexual offences in Rochdale (Image: MEN Media)
To solve the crisis, O’Rourke believes two major reforms are needed. Firstly instead of the current requirement for standard DBS check, he believes a professional ‘passport’ for care workers – similar to the enhanced digital checks used for travel – would increase vetting standards and instantly professionalise the role.
And he suggests schools should become “super hubs,” staffed with nurses, social workers, and youth workers, as they have the most frequent contact with young people when things go wrong.
He said: “We also know that across the spectrum, preventing it is a million times cheaper than dealing with it when it’s gone off. Having trained people in every school to identify and tackle problems at source would go a long way towards addressing the problem.”
The Department for Education challenged the loophole saying all care providers needed to be registered “as soon as possible” and that priority is given to emergency placement cases., but O’Rourke insists he is “100% accurate.
He added: “I can provide names and examples if they need it. They are simply wrong.”
But a DfE spokesperson said: “It is not accurate to suggest there is a loophole in the Care Standards Act. The law is clear that all provision needs to be registered, and if an emergency placement is required then Ofsted will prioritise registration as soon as possible.
“All children in care must live in safe, high-quality homes, which is why unregistered homes are illegal and Ofsted can prosecute anyone they find running homes that are not registered with them.
“Through our landmark Children’s and Wellbeing Bill, we are going even further, giving Ofsted stronger powers to impose unlimited fines alongside criminal sanctions.”
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