More than a quarter of a million pounds is to be spent converting a property in Tuebrook into a Liverpool Council children’s home.
In February, Cllr Frazer Lake, cabinet member for social care and health, said as the number of children going into residential care increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, the local authority wants to provide a localised offer for young people needing care. Now, cash is being spent to renovate a four-bed property of Tynwald Hill to support young people with specific mental health needs.
A report to cabinet has outlined how Liverpool Council intends to allocate £268,000 of capital funds for a contract with TJM Projects. The figure includes £235,000 building costs, £25,000 for fixtures and fittings and £8,000 contingency allowance.
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The cabinet report said: “Developing our own in-house residential provision will enable us to improve the outcomes of Looked after Children by providing them with the opportunity of living in their home city where they can maintain relationships with family and friends, continue to have access to local services, avoid unnecessary disruption in education as well as closer involvement with the wider care planning and permanence arrangement for children. A small residential home aims to replicate a family home, to offer stability to children and young people, where they feel safe and secure.”
In February, Cllr Lake told the ECHO that 122 children were in residential care placements, costing on average £4,500 per child, per week. He said that moving children into care facilities managed by the council would have a beneficial impact on the public purse and young people alike.
There are hopes the property at Tynwald Hill will be one of two homes established by Liverpool Council before the end of the year. The report added: The search for a second residential property continues, however the housing market has been extremely challenging over the last 12-18 months with increased prices and competition to purchase houses.
“Children and Young Peoples Services have been working with other council departments and registered social landlords to explore opportunities to invest and renovate some of the council’s own assets, or engage in a long term rental lease. Moving forward the plan would be explore using capital funding from Children's Residential Phase 2 to redevelop existing council properties or refurbishing a rental property, if children and young people's services are unable to find a suitable property on the open housing market.”
The proposed contract and funding will be signed off by councillors on Friday July 22 with a view to work beginning a week later.
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