Children’s care home plan for house to help meet increased demand
A five-bedroom house could be converted into a children’s care home to meet increasing demand in Walsall.
Walsall Council’s Children’s Services are looking to convert the property in Four Crosses Road, Shelfield to provide an Ofsted-registered facility for three youngsters who have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
The authority said a team of five trained, qualified and experienced members of staff will provide round-the-clock care for the children.
It is hoped the home will give the children, who will be aged between six and 18, a ‘normal’ family life as possible.
In their application, the council said a consultation with immediate neighbours drew no objections, adding the proposal was supported. Ward councillors have also not raised any concerns.
Agents Lambert Smith Hampton said: “It is intended that the home will provide a similar level of care to that which a parent would provide.
“The ethos behind the intended operations of this property would be for the residence to provide an environment as close as practically possible to normal family life in order to ensure that the children can live a life of normality in the local community – this is a requirement of Ofsted.
“The proposal is not a ‘half-way’ house or a facility that would provide overnight lodgings for example.
“Rather, the operation is designed to ensure that the property functions as close as possible to a standard (house) use and has a layout typical to that of most homes in the UK.
“The applicant considers that a property such as this will offer a better environment than would be the case in larger institutions, as they enable individual needs to be met and allow the children to integrate into their community and live as equal citizens.
“The running of the children’s care home would therefore be undertaken as close as possible to that of a normal dwelling house, with an emphasis to not appear like an institution.
“The aim of the home is for the children to attend schools locally in the catchment area and to also use services and facilities in the surrounding area.”
They added: “The Children’s Services department of Walsall Council has identified a need for the proposed small children’s home.
“The proposal will help to ensure that the necessary care is provided for up to three children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and who may also have a mild learning disability, enabling them to live safe, fulfilling and independent lives.”
