Council accelerates expansion of children’s homes with second wave of new provision

As councils nationwide continue to experience difficulties in finding suitable local placements for children in their care, our senior councillors have agreed to a further £900,000 of funding to provide more stability and high-quality support for those most in need.

This funding, taken from our capital programme, will be used to convert 4 residential properties into new children’s homes between 2026 and 2027.

Each home will accommodate one child, with placements set to be offered to children and young people with more severe and complex needs who require highly focused support.

The new homes will be run and managed by us, with staff on site 24/7 to support the child’s needs.

While group children’s homes provide round the clock care and opportunities for social interaction, they are not always the right environment for every child.

Solo residential homes offer tailored, intensive support that can better meet individual needs and this can often lead to improvements in their emotional regulation, stability and overall safety.

Demand for this form of care is growing as the number of children with complex needs increases.

But with fewer places available locally, some children and young people are currently placed in solo residential placements outside of the borough with the furthest one placed more than 50 miles away.

Councillor Rachel Massey, cabinet member for children’s services and education, said:

“We want every child in our borough to feel safe, supported and thrive in an environment that they call home.

“We firmly stand by that commitment, and this further investment into additional new children’s homes showcases our determination to provide more of the right care and support for those who need it the most.

“Stability is the golden thread that runs through everything we do for our cared for children and young people, and I know the impact of these new homes will make such an important difference to their lives as they grow, flourish and stay connected to a borough they know well.”

The new in-house provision will enable more children to stay nearer to their families, schools and communities and comes as an extension to the £3.4m we’ve already spent to provide 4 new residential homes in 2025.