Council to buy second children's home

Funding of £330,000 has been approved for a council to buy a second property to use as a children's home.

Plymouth City Council (PCC) purchased its first property to be used as a children's home in January after agreeing a £2m capital investment last November.

The first home in the Plymstock area, which will offer short term care for two to three children, is due to open in the coming months following Ofsted registration.

Exchange of contracts and completion on the second property to accommodate up to three children with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties is expected this week.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported the decision to approve the funding for the second property was made on Monday by the director for children's services at the council David Haley.

The council approved £2m of borrowing into the capital programme for providing children's homes in November 2024.

The council, which decided to become a residential care provider to avoid heavy reliance on the independent sector, was responsible for more than 530 children in its care with more than 60 in residential placements, almost 40 outside the city.

The average cost of independent placements was £6,700 a week per child and could be as much as £17,000.

In December the council estimated an overspend of £3.8m in this area by the end of the financial year.

It said opening its own children's homes presented an opportunity to reduce the cost and improve the quality of care and outcomes for children in care who need residential placements.

Savings would be made from social workers not having to visit children at a distance from Plymouth and they could be supported with local health and education services.

Plymouth City Council hopes to open another three homes during the year, including a new build which has secured £1.5 million from the Department of Education.

It said it hoped to save between £200,000 and £500,000 in the first year alone.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.