The first of 4 new residential homes that will help to keep cared for children closer to their friends and family across the borough has officially been completed.
In a significant move to provide more stability and high-quality support to those in local care, Rochdale Borough Council has invested more than £3.4 million into the purchase and refurbishment of the properties.
Providing a warm and comforting home-style environment to those who need it, this new residential provision will accommodate 12 children and young people in total, with 3 places in each new home.
The homes, which were named by children in local care, are called Ruby, Emerald, Diamond and Sapphire, with the latter being the first one to open this summer.
Half of the places are designated to supporting children with complex needs and disabilities.
These new places come during a challenging period nationally for local councils, as authorities struggle to locate suitably available placements for children in their care.
The impact of these shortages is affecting children from getting the right care from their placement but also leads to children being placed miles away from their hometown, or even in placements where they are required to separate from their siblings.
More than 40 children and young people are currently in residential placements outside of the borough, with the furthest one placed more than 150 miles away due to their existing needs.
The number of children coming into care has risen significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic due to an increase in children and families with complex needs alongside those in family poverty. However this new local provision will help to meet the current needs of cared for children in the borough.
The new children’s homes, which are a mix of 4- and 5-bedroom properties, will be run and managed by the council with staff on site 24/7 to support their needs.
Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Neil Emmott, said:
“Coming into care can often be a very unsettling time for a child or young person as it brings a lot of change to their daily routines.
“The last thing we want to do during these difficult moments, is create even more disruption by placing them in unfamiliar surroundings because of a lack of available places.
“That is why we have invested in these new homes across our borough, to provide much needed stability and support for our most vulnerable – a move which will help to keep children in our care closer to their friends and family members.
“It will also help us to have more oversight of their care and avoid disruption to their education, the importance of which goes unsaid.
“We want the absolute best for our children and young people, especially for those who come into our care, and we’re doing our best as a council to make sure that continues to be the case.”
At a time when local government finances are still very tight, councils are currently being forced to pay higher prices to place children in appropriate settings outside of the borough.
However, with the council’s increased internal residential provision, it is estimated the council could now save more than £466,000 a year as it reduces its reliance on external placements.
The new children’s homes, which are a mix of 4 and 5-bedroom properties, will be run and managed by the council with staff on site 24/7 to support their needs.
Councillor Rachel Massey, portfolio holder for children’s services and education, added:
“These loving new homes offer our children and young people the stability and care they deserve, right here in our community.
“Against a national problem accessing suitable placements that meet local need, we haven’t stood still here and through our proactiveness in securing these properties, we’re helping children in our care to stay closer to the place where they have grown up and their support network.
"This investment truly reflects the council's commitment to creating a nurturing and homely environment for our children. We want them to shine bright like a diamond in our borough, so I know this will mean a great deal to all those who are in our care.”