Evidence Abuse in residential care institutions for disabled children and young people

Franklin, A., Greenaway, J., Leyman, A.

Professor Anita Franklin (Professor of Childhood Studies and Faculty Lead for Health and Education in the Institute for Children’s Futures, Manchester Metropolitan University, Dr Jo Greenaway (Senior Research Associate, Manchester Metropolitan University), and Dr Alice Leyman (Research Associate, Manchester Metropolitan University) have written a review of UK and international evidence on the abuse of disabled children and young people in residential care institutions for the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI).

Overall, the review found a paucity of research evidence examining the abuse of disabled children in institutions, although material exists that evidences systemic patterns of abuse and failures across the UK and within the international context. 

Whilst there are multiple known cases of abuses within residential settings for disabled children where concerns had previously been raised, there appears to be a lack of transparency, accessibility, coordination, and accountability across the UK from which to gain a sense of the scale and nature of abuse of disabled children and learning that would support prevention and improve responses and recovery.