TWO new homes to care for looked-after children and young people are set to open in North Somerset after a £2 million investment was approved.
The Cabinet at North Somerset Council (NSC) has approved funding for the authority-run homes, which will provide medium- to long-term care for up to six children.
NSC said the homes will help keep families closer together, reduce the number of children in care, increase availability of high-quality residential homes and deliver savings for the council – estimated to be more than £250,000 per home each year.
It will also address a “significant shortfall” in residential settings for looked-after children, NSC said, which can lead to costly out-of-area placements that disrupt a young person’s life affecting stability, education and family relationships.
The funding will come from NSC’s Capital Programme budget over the next two years, providing up to two in-house therapeutic residential children’s homes and an edge of care home.
Cllr Catherine Gibbons, cabinet member for children’s services, families and lifelong learning, said: “This is great news for our looked after North Somerset children and young people.
“We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of children in our care since 2022 and these homes will help provide a stable and supportive environment close to their family, school and friends while also bringing significant financial savings to the council.
“Young people will benefit through better social and educational outcomes while also helping reduce our reliance on more expensive out of area external agency placements.”
NSC aims to buy and deliver the homes over the next 12 to 18 months.
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