The number of sexual abuse in care reports has risen in Blackburn with Darwen over the past few years.

Recent data from the NHS has revealed a concerning rise in reported cases of sexual abuse within care settings during the 2022-2023 period.

During this timeframe, there were a total of 35 Section 42 safeguarding concluded enquiries relating to sexual abuse which is a significant spike from the 10 cases reported in 2020-2021.

Beyond the troubling surge in sexual abuse cases, Blackburn with Darwen's care facilities are facing challenges across other forms of abuse.

Financial abuse remains a significant area of concern, despite a decrease in reports, as there were 140 cases of financial abuse in 2022-2023 and 155 in the previous year.

There were 110 reported cases of physical abuse in both the current and previous year and a slight increase from 80 cases in 2020-2021.

Looking at the ‘source of risk’ this year, 230 cases of the 615 concluded s42 safeguarding enquiries, involved abuse by a service provider.

Shockingly, 465 cases involved someone known to the victim. Forty-five cases involved people unknown to the victims.

More than two thirds (410) of abuse cases this year took place in the victim’s home and 165 cases happened within residential care homes.

Councillor Jackie Floyd, Executive Member for Adults Social Care & Health said the council has a very robust procedure for dealing with concerns of abuse or neglect in Blackburn with Darwen. Therefore, "this has a bearing on the number of reported cases of abuse, and isn’t wholly representative."  

Responding to the figures, Cllr Jackie Floyd said: “The Care Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to make enquiries where they consider that a vulnerable adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.

"On receipt of a referral, we determine whether the concern meets the threshold for a safeguarding enquiry under Section 42 of the Care Act. If we decide that it does, a multi-agency strategy meeting will guide the necessary investigation activity.  

“In all cases, our priority is to protect the vulnerable person from harm or any risk of harm.  It is important to note that not all referrals result in the substantiation of abuse having taken place. 

“Raising awareness and early identification of abuse and neglect is a priority for Blackburn with Darwen’s Safeguarding Adults Board, and the Council as a whole. Therefore an increase in enquiries may not necessarily indicate an increase in prevalence.   

“The council encourages anyone concerned that a vulnerable adult is suffering abuse or neglect to make a referral, enabling the necessary enquiries to be undertaken.”  

Nationally, there were an estimated 587,970 concerns of abuse raised during 2022-23, an increase of 9 per cent on the previous year, which is the same annual growth rate as last year.

Amanda Warburton-Wynn is an independent consultant and researcher who worked with UK charity Hourglass on the paper 'Sexual Violence and Assault Against Older People in Hospitals in England 2021’ .

The research paper was carried out by Amanda after learning about Valerie Kneale, a 75-year-old patient at Blackpool Victoria Hospital who died in November 2018.

Responding to the recent NHS data, Amanda said: "The issue of abuse in care settings is one rarely discussed.

"We all assume that care homes and similar places are a safe environment but sadly this is not the case for many people. 

"Abuse can come from other people in the care setting or from staff and there needs to be robust procedures in place to report and investigate such incidents as well as specialist support for the victims being made a priority."

Age UK Blackburn have been approached for comments.