'Serious and significant' concerns raised over care at Biggar children's home

A care home for children and young people in South Lanarkshire is facing having its registration cancelled after “serious and significant” concerns were raised during an inspection.

The Care Inspectorate has issued an improvement notice to Duneaton in Biggar, ordering operators Common Thread Ltd to make a number of changes within a strict timeframe.

Inspectors found “significant” issues with the quality of care experienced by young people at the home and warned that the watchdog intends to propose closing the service if significant improvements are not made.

Duneaton can accommodate up to five children and young people across three houses.

An inspection from March 2024 reported that the service had experienced “challenges” over the preceding years, including a “faltering start to reopening the service after a period of inactivity.”

Operators were ordered to improve various aspects of the service as part of the notice issued in March 2025.

Among the orders is that allegations of misconduct and children protection concerns are reported to the relevant agencies within 24 hours; any young people sharing concerns must be listened to and supported in a trauma-responsive way, and an immediate response must be put in place to support the safety and welfare of a young person at risk.

All allegations of misconduct must be fully investigated, and immediate action must be taken to reduce risk.

Duneaton must also update its child protection policy in accordance with national guidance and create a separate adult protection policy.

All staff have been ordered to attend child and adult protection training and managers and staff must be clear about their responsibilities to ensure the safety of both them and the young people.

Some of the changes must be made as soon as April 14.

A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: “An inspection has identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by young people at Duneaton in South Lanarkshire.

“We understand this is a difficult and distressing time for young people, their families and staff at the service.

“However, our first priority is always the health and wellbeing of young people.

“Because of our concerns about the safety of young people we have issued an Improvement Notice to the service. This sets out the significant improvements that must be made within a specified timeframe.

“We are working closely with partners including relevant local authorities to ensure that young people experience appropriate care during this difficult time.”

A spokesperson for Common Thread said: “We take the Care Inspectorate’s findings very seriously and we have already taken action to make immediate improvements.

“Our first priority is for the young people in our care, and we appreciate the support of the Care Inspectorate. We will continue to work with them and the relevant local authorities to ensure the requirements are met as we continue to offer specialist residential care services to young people.”