Children's services boss says sorry to children abused by adoptive mother
The boss of children’s services has apologised face-to-face to three youngsters who endured a decade of abuse at the hands of their adoptive mother.
Lorraine Butcher said she felt humbled by the children whose lives were made a misery by Prestbury woman, Dr Jill Newcombe-Buley, who is now in prison. A damning serious case review last week criticised several agencies involved in the placement and overseeing of the children, which began under the former Cheshire County Council and then passed to Cheshire East in April 2009.
Mrs Butcher, head of CEC’s services for children and families, said she accepted there had been ‘systemic failures’. She said many staff who managed the case had left as a result, big changes had been made and more than £6m invested to improve care. A section of Macclesfield’s Priors Hill Centre home – which ignored appeals for help from the oldest child – was shut as a result.
She insisted it was unfair to blame individuals but admitted that although some staff involved were no longer managers, they might still be working for CEC. She said it was ‘systems and practices’ that were at fault.
Mrs Butcher took over from John Weeks who retired in August 2010 after heading social services at Cheshire East Council.
She said that local government organisation bore some responsibility for the failures.
Newcombe-Buley, 45, a respected scientist, was jailed for four years last year after admitting child cruelty. The court heard the ill-treatment, included slapping, smothering and stamping.
The children were adopted after being born to drug-addicted parents in Stoke.
The serious case review said the abuse was predictable and preventable and the children were repeatedly let down by schools, social services and police.
It said there were 10 missed opportunities to carry out investigations.
Prime responsibility rested with Cheshire East Social Care, the report said.
Mrs Butcher said: "I have personally apologised to the young people.
"Those children are amazing and it was a humbling experience.
"All three said to me if their experience helps to prevent this happening to other children then it is not wasted – which is amazing given what they have been through."
Mrs Butcher promised ‘no stone has been left unturned’ to correct failures.
"A number of staff directly involved no longer work for CEC and individuals have been addressed but their names have to remain confidential.
"The decision-making was clearly flawed but this was part of wider cultural issues we have had to tackle.
"We now have a new layer of senior managers, a new infrastructure and tightened procedures.
"The majority have left although some may still work for the council in other positions.
"But there has been a complete management restructuring."
The emergency duty team involved in the case has been replaced by a new department.
She said Ofsted had found there had been significant improvements in their safeguarding programme.
The review said the children should never have been placed with Newcombe-Buley and her husband, chemist Dr Nicholas Newcombe, who admitted child neglect.
He was given a 12-month suspended sentence.
