Craig Mackinlay, Member of Parliament for South Thanet has held an emergency summit in Westminster, following the release of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) report which revealed there had been institutionalised failings and abuse at Westgate College.
The emergency summit brought together key charities and organisations including Kent Police, the Care Quality Commission, the NSPCC and the Royal Deaf Children’s Society. The summit also included Action on Hearing Loss from who Mr Mackinlay has received assurances that they will be taking over the administration of John Townsend Trust Facilities.
The summit discussed what went wrong at Westgate College for the Deaf, abuse which the Police described as abhorrent. Represented organisations felt that the fact that victims were deaf or deafblind contributed to the abuse, as victims were not able to point to what had occurred. The summit also discussed the current short falls of the law in allowing perpetrators to escape justice.
The summit discussed what future steps can be taken to avoid a repetition of such a tragedy. The summit’s conclusions centred around a move towards a high quality work force and greater safeguards. Crucial to this was both increased training and vetting for applicants for care jobs. The summit felt that a career in care should be exactly that and applicants ought to be extensively screened before being given access to vulnerable children and adults.
Moreover, noting the CQC’s concerns about the John Townsend Trust management, discussions centred on what future changes can be made to safeguarding procedures. A system of early warnings, particularly in highly specialised institutions relies on Councils and Local Authorities speaking directly to residents and their families.
Craig Mackinlay, said “I thought it was essential to convene an emergency summit, to ensure steps are immediately taken to prevent a repetition of this tragedy nationally. The summit contained the nation’s foremost experts in care for vulnerable people and the action plan we are working towards will serve as a major obstacle for any further abuse. I am committed to seeing vulnerable people safeguarded wherever they are and whatever their disability.”