Cornwall Council buys property near Carnon Downs to convert into children's home
Initiative aims to improve care quality and reduce costs
Cornwall Council has purchased a five-bedroom house near Carnon Downs, with plans to convert it into a children's home, reducing reliance on expensive private facilities outside the region.
In conjunction with an existing property in the Liskeard area, these homes will each accommodate three young people entering care, significantly improving their wellbeing and reducing taxpayer costs by up to £1.3 million annually.
Commitment to Local Care
Councillor Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Schools, expressed pride in the council's initiative to directly provide residential care for non-disabled children for the first time.
Frank highlighted the importance of creating safe and stable environments for young individuals who have faced trauma, enabling them to continue education and maintain family connections wherever feasible.
Strategic Development
The acquisition aligns with the council's ‘placement sufficiency strategy’ from the previous year, titled Better Homes for Children, Young People and Families in Cornwall, which identified a growing need for registered children's homes.
Placement in locally provided homes will offer children access to specialist wraparound services and support from a multidisciplinary team (MDT), facilitating reunions with families or transitions into foster care or supported living.
Future Steps
Following the property's purchase, Cornwall Council has secured Change of Use permission through its Planning Process, although both homes require inspection and registration by the regulator, Ofsted.
Cllr Frank is optimistic about the benefits of continuity in care, stating, “This continuity of care will result in children feeling less isolated and more cherished by professionals who are invested in their care and willing to go the extra mile for them.”