Doncaster care home bosses say child 'abuse' allegations will be 'thoroughly examined'

Police and Government officials are probing a series of allegations that children at Fullerton House School Children’s Home were subjected to neglect and deliberate harm by staff.

Yesterday, former staff reported they had witnessed ‘awful things’ at the home in Denaby Main – but that concerns were not listened to.

The home has been closed while investigations take place, along with Wilsic Hall School Children’s Home, also in Doncaster Both are run by the Hesley Group.

A spokesman for Hesley has said that it was taking the allegations seriously and would continue to co-operate with the investigation.

A statement said: “The authorities are currently investigating a number of safeguarding allegations, so we are unable to comment any further on these matters at this time.

"However we are working closely with authorities to ensure all concerns are thoroughly examined and we will undertake all actions necessary to address any substantiated failings.”

Yesterday, one former staff member, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: “In the training, you are told the gates are not to keep the young people in – it is to keep the public out – damn right.”

And another said: “We saw some awful things while there. None of us were sleeping at night worrying about the children that we had to leave every day.”

Last month a damning report by education watchdog Ofsted into standards at Fullerton House said: "Some children have suffered actual physical harm, either through alleged deliberate acts or through neglect of care.

“Not all children are safe in this home.

“Serious allegations have been made from within the service that staff have acted to deliberately harm children.”

Last week, South Yorkshire Police confirmed they were investigating both Fullerton and Wilsic Hall.

Both of the facilties cater for children with autism, learning disabilities and challenging behaviours.

Fullerton House offers care and accommodation for up to 37 people in 16 separate houses and at the time of the inspection in March, there were 26 children and young people living there.