Archived decisions

ADAPTING AND EXTENDING FAMILY PROPERTIES FOR CHILDREN IN CARE

1. The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services has approved a policy on procedures for the "Provision of Aids and Adaptations for Children in Care". The new procedures will enable the Children's Services Department to fund, or contribute to the funding, of adaptations or extensions to support arrangements for children in care. Such children can, as a result, be offered permanent homes by way of Fostering, Adoption, Kinship-Care, Special Guardianship or Residential Orders, where this would not be possible without the adaptation or extension. The introduction of the policy follows recognition by the Children's Services Department that there are circumstances in which the physical limitations of accommodation available to a carer, might prove a barrier to a child remaining in that family.

2. Until now, the Children's Services Department has occasionally made arrangements to fund an adaptation or extension to the family house. However, it became evident that at the same time as such arrangements were leading to better outcomes for children, there were also financial benefits in many cases. The cost of making structural changes to a property, was often less than the annual cost of finding a new placement for a child with special needs, or a sibling group. Draft procedures were therefore drawn up to enable staff to be confident in considering the circumstances in which such arrangements might be considered, and also to provide transparency for carers and prospective carers, about the financial help available to support children in care to achieve permanence and stability.

3. There has been consultation with foster carers, adopters and other carers who would be affected by the policy. In addition, the contributions and views of Occupational Therapists, Treasurer's Department and Property, Business and Regulatory Services have also been sought. Financial provision of £300,000 has been identified within the Children's Services Capital Programme to support future arrangements and will be provided by way of loans. In cases where expenditure is to exceed £50,000 specific approval will be sought from the Executive Lead Member. The new procedures and financial arrangements will seek to ensure that where such adaptation/extension arrangements are agreed, they are carried out equitably, safely and with value for money in mind. A copy of the report and policy approved by the Executive Lead Member is available in the Members' Rooms.

4. This decision will enable some of our most vulnerable children to lead positive lives, cared for by a stable and permanent family. Also, it will enable these children to experience a good quality of family life so as to achieve their maximum potential. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.