Cornwall Council has purchased a five-bedroom house near Carnon Downs with the aim of converting it into a much-needed children’s home.
Run in tandem with another home the council already owns in the Liskeard area, the properties will each accommodate three young people who need to be brought into care.
The move means that fewer children will need to be housed in expensive, privately run homes, most of which are outside Cornwall.
This will greatly improve their quality of life while also saving the taxpayer up to £1.3 million a year.
Cllr Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Schools, said:
“Looking after our children in care, and ensuring they have the best facilities and opportunities, is of the utmost importance which is why I am so pleased we have made the decision to buy and convert this property into a children’s home.
“Historically, we have only ever directly provided residential children’s homes for disabled children so this will represent the first time we’ve owned and run homes for children who do not have disabilities.
“Directly provided children’s homes create a safe and stable home for children and young people who have experienced trauma and abuse. Being local, they also enable children to continue with their education and maintain contact with their families and friends where possible.”
The decision to buy the property comes following the publication of a ‘placement sufficiency strategy’ called Better Homes for Children, Young People and Families in Cornwall last year, which outlined the rising need to increase the council’s provision of registered children’s homes.
Children placed in locally provided children’s homes will benefit from specialist wraparound services and support from a multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
The MDT can also help the young person reunite with their family or transition into foster care or supported living.
Cllr Frank added: “This continuity of care will result in children feeling less isolated and more cherished by professionals who are invested in their care and willing to go the extra mile for them.”
Now the property has been purchased, the council’s children and families team have since secured Change of Use permission via Cornwall Council’s Planning Process. Both this property and the one in Liskeard will then have to be inspected and registered by the government’s regulator, Ofsted.