Seven children lived in appalling conditions at their family home in Stockport without food, water or heating – with excrement and urine on floors and mattresses – a safeguarding report has found.

The kids and their parents were known to social services for around 10 years. During a visit from police in November 2023, officials discovered the 'horrific' conditions at the property, which they described as the 'worst they had seen in a very long time'.

The Stockport Safeguarding Children Partnership, made up of the council, GMP and NHS Greater Manchester, agreed to undertake a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review to consider the learning from the situation, the town hall said.

The report was first published in January, but has just come to light.

GMP officers said in the report: "There was a bowl of old sick and urine, dogs were running around eating soiled nappies and a dog crate was full of faeces.

"There was no heat, light or water, so no appliances could be used and there was no functioning bath or shower. The toilet only partially flushed, and the kitchen sink was connected to a hose which ran into the bathroom.

"There was no food in the cupboards, fridge or freezer. The upstairs floorboards were saturated with faeces and urine. There was no bedding and faeces all over the children's beds."

Previously 'it was agreed that the children would remain at home, partly due to the difficulty there would be in finding appropriate placements for 7 siblings'.

But police later removed the children.

Social workers visited in October 2023 and were 'shocked' at the state of the home. The parents were told the living conditions were 'unacceptable' and that a child protection conference would be set up.

The siblings were the subjects of 'team around the child' (TAC) plans, having been assessed as children in need, on five occasions between 2014 and 2023. They were on child protection plans under the category of 'neglect' twice – from July 2017 to June 2018; and from February to September 2022.

A third initial child protection conference was due to be held. The report adds: "The children in the family had lived in a dirty and cluttered home for most of their childhood, with many of their basic needs not always being met by their parents.

"There was little understanding over the years of the parents' ability to recognise the damage being inflicted on their children or to empathise with their experience, although they would improve the home conditions when helped and pressurised."

Children's social care officials in Stockport flagged a number of issues – with worries over 'bruising, physical chastisement, poor home conditions, lack of adult supervision, poor school attendance, domestic abuse, and the emotional wellbeing of the children'.

The review revealed the children 'often presented as hungry in school'; appeared 'tired and lacking in sleep'; and had 'exceptionally poor dental health'. It added: "Their clothing was regularly dirty or inadequate, with the school providing coats in cold weather."

Staff at a primary school said that children were often 'late, dirty, unkempt, and odorous'. The family was often 'reported to be ill with common illnesses such as stomach bugs, which were thought to be due to the unsanitary kitchen'.

The children's mother told the review her mental health had 'always been poor' and that she struggled with motivation. "She said that she was also ashamed about her home, but that she has an issue with hoarding that she was unable to control," the report added.

"Father told the review that he knew that the state of the home was not always good enough for the children, and that as he went out to work, he did not always have the energy or motivation to clean."

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review said changes had been made by social services and partners. It made seven recommendations for future cases.

The review resulted in a practice improvement process.

The report reads: "This has led to planning for co-allocation of large families to two social workers, peer multi-agency supervision in neglect child protection cases, and when there is repeat child protection planning there will be a case audit and care planning meeting chaired by a service lead."

Earlier this year, an Ofsted inspection revealed numerous issues in the children's services department at Stockport council. The watchdog found concerns in areas such as how the council supports children who are experiencing domestic abuse and neglect, and the experiences of those in care.

One part of the inspection gave the council a 'good' rating for the experiences and progress of care leavers. The council's overall effectiveness in children's services was judged to be below the required standard, with changes needed to make improvements.

Councillor Wendy Meikle, cabinet member for children, families and education, said at the time: "We have a clear improvement plan in place and are determined to meet this challenge head-on."

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