Three new children’s homes planned for Southwark to stop kids being sent out of borough
By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter
A South London council is setting up three new children’s homes to stop it being forced to send children to live 75 miles away.
Southwark council intends to open three five-bedroom properties in the borough for children it cares for.
At present, youngsters are usually sent to children’s homes far away in the Midlands and north of England.
On average, kids from Southwark are placed in homes 75 miles away.
The local authority has identified 15 children living outside of the borough who could be looked after in homes in Southwark.
Cllr Jasmine Ali, cabinet member for children, young people and education, revealed the council wanted to establish the first home for five children in Nunhead.
At a cabinet meeting on February 1, she said: “We saw we wanted to have more of the children in our care closer to the borough.
“We are looking at provision in Nunhead for five bedrooms for children in care but with enough space so residential social workers can be on the premises as well.
“This is a bit of a tip of the iceberg because most of our support for children is within foster care because we want to support children and families.
“But foster care is not always right for every child we support.
“By having children’s homes, it’s only right they should be in or as close to the borough as possible.”
Last year Southwark council won £1.85 million from the Department for Education to pay for a new children’s home in the borough.
Currently the local authority is responsible for 43 children and young people living in children’s homes. None of the children live in Southwark.
A council documents reads: “Costs, which are higher in London and the south, have distorted the market with more capacity being available in the Midlands and north where property prices are lower.
“Areas like London have relatively fewer suitable properties available at commercially viable prices.
“Independent providers operate more homes in areas of the country where capital expenditure on property and staffing is lower.”
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
