Issue - meetings

That the Committee notes progress to develop the in-house residential care as part of Care Closer to Home strategy.

The Senior Manager (Children and Workforce) gave background to the report by referring back to discussion last year on a strategy called ‘Care Closer to Home’ which set out their ambition to develop five in-house high quality Residential Children’s Care Homes to support Children requiring local residential care.  He introduced the Registered Manager Resources and Regulated Services who gave more in-depth detail as set out in the report into the homes listed below:-

·                T?Nyth – a registered Home with MST therapy to support family reunification

·                Y Dderwen – a registered Home providing long term placement stability

·                MesenFach – a crisis flat offering short term placements in emergencies

·                Small Group Homes supporting 1 or 2 children in bespoke community-based settings

He confirmed that they were on course to open on the dates as outlined in the report and had been successful in recruiting staff.

            Councillor Owen asked if sibling groups would be mixed with other children in T? Nyth and in response the Registered Manager Resources and Regulated Services said that it was key to success to get the matching process right whether it be a mix with a sibling group or individual children.  The impact would be significant on all four children if the matching process was wrong.  However, some of the learning points were that it was best that four children did not move in at the same time and should be worked with in different locations.  Ideally the first child should move in to start the 12 week programme followed by the other three at four-week intervals, by which time the first child would be transitioning back into their home environment.

In response to Councillor Mackie, the Registered Manager Resources and Regulated Services stated that they were limited to the number of children they could support but that it was important to train and support the right staff as it would be them that made significant changes to the children.  The Senior Manager (Children and Workforce) added that in respect of out of county placements that were already in the system, they would be phased out over the next three years as the children would still need to be supported.  The in-house costs were not necessarily cheaper as on average it cost £500,000 to run a 4-bedroom home due to staff overheads, insurance and food etc.  The positives were that the service was able to control the quality of care in preparing young people to adulthood.

The recommendation in the report was moved by Councillor Paul Cunningham and seconded by Councillor Debbie Owen.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes progress to develop the in-house residential care as part of Care Closer to Home strategy.