Issue - meetings

Background:

This report provided information relating to the Old Vicarage Children’s Home for young people experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties and its sustainability in the current economic climate.

The report stated that the aim of reviewing the Old Vicarage provision was to ensure that Looked After Children (LAC) placements were available and aligned to their needs, were less likely to break down, and that those placements supported those children to achieve better outcomes.

The report explained that given the monthly costs (approximately £59,000), and the reduced cohort set out in detail in section 2 of the report, it was proposed to close the Old Vicarage in its current form and with its current purpose, with a closing date of 7 February 2020. As this proposal would directly affect service users and staff, consultations were essential. The consultation proposals were set out at section 6 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) had been completed for this stage of the process as set out at Appendix 1 to the report. Following consultation the DIA would be reviewed and presented to the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 January 2020 and Cabinet on 14 January 2020.

Reasons:

As Corporate Parents, it is important that Medway Council does everything it can to give our Children a good start in life. 

The recent Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services concluded that too many vulnerable children and young people wait too long for intervention. The Old Vicarage is unable to meet this evolving demand, and this is leading to too many young people being placed outside of Medway, often at considerable distance and expense.