Kendall House review reveals “harrowing regime” of abuse at Church of England children’s home

By Luke May
Kent News
July 13, 2016

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/kendall_house_review_reveals_harrowing_regime_of_abuse_at_church_of_england_children_s_home_1_4615252

Girls at Kendall House were forcibly drugged and locked inside a "dungeon"

A report into a former Church of England children’s home in Gravesend has revealed years of historic abuse which included sedating children and putting them in straitjackets.

Last Autumn, a review began to investigate a series of allegations about practices that took place at Kendall House in Gravesend.

The report published today (Wednesday) reviewed the home between 1967 and 1986, when it was closed.

During that time over 300 girls between 10 and 16-years-old were referred for placements.

These girls may have been placed in the home by a court order, through social services or by mental health services.

The report found that:

“Girls as young as 11 were routinely and often without any initial medical assessment, given antidepressants, sedatives and anti-psychotic medication. Often, these drugs were given in dosages which exceeded usual prescribed adult levels.

“The effects of the drugs also increased their vulnerability to emotional, physical and a smaller number of cases, sexual abuse.”

Drugs were also given to the residents covertly, and were “crushed and given with sugar, or dissolved in honey and hot water.”

This “overmedication” was seen in the early 1960s and reportedly carried on into the 1980s.

Dr Perinpanayagam, who prescribed the medication to the children, died in 1988, having retired in 1983.

Former residents and staff were interviewed as part of the review.

Many accounts reflect an authoritarian regime, with children living in fear of staff at the home.

The report also explains how girls were placed into a locked room alone, and on at least two occasions were put in straitjackets.

One former resident described the room as the “dungeon”.

It went on to criticise the “largely unqualified workforce, who in turn were led by the dominant and authoritarian figure of the superintendant, until 1985 when she retired.”

Former superintendent Doris Law died a year after retiring due to ill health.

The report adds: “She embraced her role with a sadistic relish and remains the source of many former residents’ nightmares. Now deceased, she will not be held to account for her behaviour.”

Bishop Paul Butler, lead bishop on safeguarding for the Church of England, apologised “unreservedly” following the report’s publication.

He said: “The findings of the independent review into Kendall House describe the harrowing regime experienced by numerous girls and young teenagers who were placed into the care of this Church of England home.

“The appalling standards of care and treatment should never have been allowed and on behalf of the national church I apologise unreservedly to all the former residents whose lives were and continue to be affected by their damaging experiences at Kendall House.

“The considerations for the national Church contained in the report will be examined carefully and there is full commitment to ensuring that this leads to the best possible implementation. The report will be shared with senior staff, including all diocesan bishops, across the whole Church.

“There are serious lessons to be learnt from this review both at diocesan and national level to ensure that this never happens again.”