Local authority leaders have called for more powers to hold local partners to account after a review into the ‘horrific’ abuse of children with disabilities at the Hesley Group of homes.

Children with disabilities and complex health needs faced abuse while at the Hesley Group of homes, including being punched, kicked and fed chillies, an expert safeguarding panel has said.

The panel criticised inadequate leadership at the Hesley Group which ran the homes as well as failures of regulation, and said a major overhaul of the safeguarding system was needed.

Ofsted issued warnings after more than 100 incidents at the homes despite also rating the homes as ‘good’.

Responding to the review, Lucy Nethsingha, deputy chair of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) children and young people board, said: ‘The treatment suffered by children in settings operated by the Hesley Group is both unacceptable and deeply distressing.

‘The findings of the national panel must be an urgent call to action for the entire sector to make sure that children with disabilities and complex health needs receive the support they need in settings where they are safe and well cared for.

‘There are clear opportunities through planned children’s social care and SEND reforms to implement these recommendations, if they are adequately funded.

‘As this report rightly identifies, supporting these children well requires the commitment of a range of partners.

‘To help ensure this happens, councils should be given additional powers to hold local partners, including health and schools, to account for their role in supporting children with SEND.’