Inglewood Children's Home
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Inglewood Children's Home was a
children's home Residential child care communities or children's homes are a type of residential care, which refers to long-term care given to children who cannot stay in their birth family home. There are two different approaches towards residential care: The fam ...
in
Otley Otley is a market town and civil parish at a bridging point on the River Wharfe, in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the population was 13,668 at the 2011 c ...
,
West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...
founded in 1899.


History

The home was originally built on Inglewood Drive in 1899 but in the mid-1980s was moved to Whitley Croft Garth in a cul-de-sac. The home originally housed up to 16 young people in the mid-1990s but over time the number reduced to 8 by 2011.


Closure

In May 2013 Children's Services decided that the home should be closed and open three smaller homes in its place.


New Criteria For Residential Provision

Leeds City Council Leeds City Council is the local authority of the City of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Leeds has had a council since 1626, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974 it has been a metropolitan borough council. It provides the ...
stated criteria that residential provision had to meet to remain open, these were; * Homes should as far as possible replicate family life. They should be small and set within local communities. Homes should be part of the community and contribute to community life * All homes will be run based on restorative practice principles * Except in exceptional circumstances, children's homes should not be seen as permanence option * Children must have an individual and clear care plan, placement plan and personal education plan which supports their development * Children must be supported to participate in their own plans, in the running of the home and in service development * Children should be encouraged to develop positive interests and participate in a range of activities. In the Children's Services Scrutiny Board report they gave this conclusion about the future of Inglewood based on the new criteria for children's homes.


Closure aftermath

The home officially ceased to be a Children's Home as of 31 August 2013 but staff were deployed there until 19 September 2013. All the staff and young people at the home were relocated although it was reported that one cleaner was made redundant and had to find work outside of
Leeds City Council Leeds City Council is the local authority of the City of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Leeds has had a council since 1626, which has been reformed on numerous occasions. Since 1974 it has been a metropolitan borough council. It provides the ...
. The children at the home said "the closure was disruptive." In 2014 Roy Walker, the Service Delivery Manager for Residential Services in Leeds City Council, had confirmed the plans to replace the home with three smaller homes was scrapped due to funding.


Young people

Most recently Chris Bevan who lived at the home for over 11 years and moved out in 2008. He has released a song for
Help for Heroes Help for Heroes is a British charity which supports members of the British Armed Forces community with their physical and mental health, as well as their financial, social and welfare needs. The charity was founded in 2007 by Bryn and Emma Parry ...
, attended university earning a degree in music and had an appearance on '' The Michael Ball Show'' and has now become a barrister. Also famous drag act Bosom Buddies from Britain's Got Talent 2013 Semi-Finalist one member Mark Wood lived at the Children's Home in the 1970s in the original building.


Controversy

Inglewood Children's home over its duration had hundreds of calls out to the police regarding children continually absconding from the site. The home had violent crime, vehicle crime and countless amounts of damage amongst thefts. Elderly residents nearby lived in fear they described due to noise and damage to their homes. Although at a committee about Inglewood Children's Home in late 2011 Inspector Coldwell of
West Yorkshire Police West Yorkshire Police, formerly the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, England. It is the fourth largest territorial police force in England ...
said that police calls outs to the home were declining. Local residents in the 1990s and 2000s filed several petitions and called upon councillors and MPs to close the home. On several
OFSTED The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's government, reporting to Parliament. Ofsted's role is to make sure that organisations providing education, training ...
inspections of the home failed repeatedly on safeguarding issues and of "homeliness" which Leeds City Councillors were called upon to change. However, the Home was reported to have been making some progress by early 2012 but by March 2013 the decision to close remained and was fulfilled.


Jimmy Savile scandal

Mark Wood confirmed that child sex offender and television host
Jimmy Savile Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile (; 31 October 1926 – 29 October 2011) was an English media personality and DJ. He was known for his eccentric image, charitable work, and hosting the BBC shows ''Top of the Pops'' and ''Jim'll Fix It''. A ...
visited the home and had picnics with the children on many occasions which Mark has said he did not see anyone abused but the said that the children at the home felt very uncomfortable around him.


References

{{reflist Otley 1899 establishments in England Organisations based in Leeds Orphanages in the United Kingdom