New homes for children and young people with complex needs were given the go ahead by the county council’s Assets & Procurement Committee, following a meeting at New Shire Hall earlier this week (Tuesday 17 September 2024).
Two former farmhouses close to each other in Soham have been selected for this pilot project to increase the number of local places available for children and young people with complex needs. Both properties are owned by Cambridgeshire County Council, as part of the rural estate. These family homes are currently vacant, after changes to farmland tenancies in the area.
The buildings will be fully refurbished to best support the children’s additional and complex needs. The retrofit works will also include energy efficiency measures and the installation of more environmentally-friendly Air Source Heat Pumps, subject to planning permission.
An external service provider will be offered a contract for up to 10 years to provide care services at the farmhouses to best meet the needs of the children. A tender is anticipated to be issued to the market in 2025.
As the buildings used to support placements are often privately rented by care providers, children, young people and their families can face having to move accommodation and uncertainty over the future location of their provision.
Councillors heard how locally and nationally there is a growing need for placements with children having to be placed out of the county due to a lack of local places and a limited number of registered settings being available. Feedback from children, young people and their families to the council’s social care service has highlighted requests for more outdoor space and specially adapted facilities.
Cambridgeshire County Council Leader Councillor Lucy Nethsingha, said: “We want those children and young people with complex needs to be able to access care in registered settings here in Cambridgeshire. Currently the rising level of demand isn’t keeping up with supply and there’s a lack of capacity in the area.
“We’re taking action to fulfil our ambitions to be a caring and inclusive local authority. This pilot project aims to improve the service we’re able to offer. We’re keen to offer a better experience for looked after children with more local places, so children and young people can stay nearer family and friends.
“These properties aren’t needed to support local farms at present. Refitting the buildings means we can create dedicated, specially adapted and environmentally sustainable homes for up to five children and young people in the heart of Cambridgeshire.”
The costs of looking after children and young people with complex needs are high. The average cost of an unregistered placement was over £16,000 each week as of March 2024. This is down from an average cost of over £19,500 per week in October 2023. The county council seeks suitable, registered local placements for children in care with complex needs, wherever possible. The pilot project is anticipated to avoid over £635,000 of expenditure each year and help reduce financial uncertainties for the council on a key statutory service.
