Issue - meetings

This report sets out the intention to provide a Residential Children’s Care Home in Brent following the successful application for capital funding from the Department for Education (DfE) Children’s Home Capital Programme. The report seeks Cabinet approval of the outline project business case to allow the identification of a suitable property and any required building works along with the proposed operating model of the care home.

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)    Approve the Brent Residential Children’s Care Home outline project business case.

(2)    Approve the delegation of authority to approve the final capital project budget, project objectives and proposed savings and the operation of the care home to the Corporate Director, Children and Young People in consultation with the Corporate Director, Finance and Resources and the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools.

Councillor Grahl (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools) introduced a report detailing the outline project business case for provision of a residential children’s care home in Brent, following the successful application for capital funding from the Department for Education (DfE) Children’s Home Capital Programme.

In considering the report, members noted the extent of the current cost and social care pressures and challenges being experienced by local authorities in securing local residential placements for children and young people in support of the business case identified.  The proposal identified had therefore been designed to deliver a four-bed residential step-down home within Brent for Looked After adolescents with social, emotional and behavioural needs and alongside the social care benefits identified would also be expected to deliver significant annual cost avoidance savings against the children’s placement budget.

In welcoming the basis of the proposal. Members were keen to recognise not only the financial impact and efficiencies identified in terms of placement costs but also the wider social benefits and improved outcomes that local care home provision would deliver for young people in terms of access to local services, networks and support in helping their transition towards more independent living.

In recognising and supporting the benefits identified alongside the successful application for matched capital funding awarded through the Department of Education (DfE) Children’s Home Capital Programme Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve the Brent Residential Children’s Care Home outline project business case.

(2)    To approve the delegation of authority to approve the final capital project budget, project objectives and proposed savings and the operation of the care home to the Corporate Director, Children and Young People in consultation with the Corporate Director, Finance and Resources and the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools.