As first reported by The Financial Times, Antin Infrastructure Partners is putting scandal-hit children’s care homes company Hesley Group up for sale.
Hesley Group runs 44 care homes in England, Wales and Scotland, and employs over 2,000 staff.
The company has been mired in controversy in recent years, with allegations of abuse and neglect at its homes.
In 2021, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated 11 of Hesley’s homes as “inadequate”, the lowest possible rating.
The CQC also found that children at Hesley’s homes had been subjected to physical and emotional abuse, and that the company had failed to protect them from harm.
Photo by Zhivko Minkov on Unsplash
Antin acquired Hesley Group in 2018 for £300 million.
The firm has been under pressure to sell the company since the CQC’s damning report.
It is not yet clear who might be interested in buying Hesley Group.
However, the company is likely to attract interest from other private equity firms, as well as from charities and social enterprises.
The sale of Hesley Group is a significant development.
It is a potential sign that the private equity industry is starting to take responsibility for the companies it invests in.
But more likely it is a sign that the public is no longer willing to tolerate companies that put profits before the welfare of children.
The sale of Hesley Group is potentially a positive development, but it is important to remember that it is just one step in the process of reform.
The company’s new owners will need to make significant changes to ensure that the homes are safe and well-run. They will also need to win back the trust of the children and families who use their services.
