A report into a former Church of England children's home in Gravesend has found that girls were routinely drugged heavily, locked up and abused physically, sexually and emotionally.
The independent review, set up last autumn by the Bishop of Rochester James Henry Langstaff, found a "harrowing" culture at the Kendall House care home, where cruelty was normalised.
The report published today reviewed the home between 1967 and 1986, when it was closed, during which over 300 girls between 10 and 16-years-old were referred to Kendall House via social services or 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."
At times, drugs were given to the residents covertly, and were "crushed and given with sugar, or dissolved in honey and hot water," the report found.
This "overmedication" reportedly began in the early 1960s and continued into the 1980s.
Former residents and staff were interviewed as part of the review, with many accounts reflecting a climate of fear in the home.
Girls were on at least two occasions put in straight-jackets and also locked alone in a room, with one former resident describing the room as the "dungeon".
Bishop Paul Butler, lead bishop on safeguarding for the Church of England, apologised "unreservedly" following the report's publication on Wednesday.
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."
