£1.2 million plan to overhaul children's homes in Shropshire

At the end of March 2018, the authority was looking after 338 children, a net increase of 47 a year. But Shropshire Council currently only has two residential children’s homes; Chelmaren, providing specialist care for five boys and another, Havenbrook, which provides short breaks for children on the edge of care.

Now a scrutiny group has looked into the challenges Shropshire Council faces in providing residential care for its looked after children, after a surge in demand for specialist care caused costs to rise “rapidly”.

The council says the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, fleeing war zones or being trafficked is growing in the county, as is the number of children experiencing physical and sexual abuse, substance addiction, and other problems.

The cost of residential care for children with minimal additional needs is about £3,000 a week. The highest care cost for a looked-after child is £12,000 a week.

At the moment Shropshire Council places 14 children a significant distance outside of the county – as far as Cumbria and Glasgow.

The group will recommend to cabinet on Monday that Shropshire Council develops its residential care provision for its looked after children.

It will recommend that a business case should be drawn up for two new two-bedroom specialist care residential homes, a three-bedroom step-down care residential home and a lodge providing space for crisis care and respite care.

The group also asked that Chelmaren children’s care home’s statement of purpose be changed to a children’s home for long-term children, and office space at the home be converted to provide semi-independent accommodation for the council’s looked after children who will soon be leaving care.

Stable

Estimates for buying or adapting buildings for the homes are £1.2 million.

A report set to go to cabinet says: "The proposals from Shropshire Council could result in better outcome for its looked after children that require residential care, by providing a stable home environment to the most complex children that it cares for.

"The proposals could also provide opportunities for older children leaving care to develop their independence and life skills before they leave the council’s care.

"Providing its own residential care will also help Shropshire council to retain and develop its residential care workforce.

"The proposals may provide an effective return on capital investment. It would provide this return through savings on the money the council spends to provide private residential care to the council’s looked after children.

"The proposals from Shropshire Council would require some financial investment to build residential care premises or to buy properties to convert into residential care."

The costs the council pays for private placements have been rising considerably in recent years, and the report says the proposals "mitigate the impact of the rising costs".

The report adds: "The task and finish group learned that a surge in demand for specialist residential care had caused costs to rise rapidly.

"Pressure to maintain good Ofsted ratings also made many providers reluctant to work with children with complex needs.

"These proposals not only mitigate the risks with relying on the private sector to supply placements, but also the impact of rising costs that the council would have no choice but to pay."

The proposals will be considered by Shropshire Council's cabinet on Monday.