Councillors have approved plans to improve services and accommodation for Dorset children in care.
Today (19 January 2021) Dorset Council’s Cabinet approved a ‘Placement Sufficiency Strategy’ for 2020-22. The strategy sets out plans to improve accommodation for children in care in Dorset, by for example refurbishing and registering several small properties as children’s homes. Read the plans here.
Cllr Andrew Parry, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Early Help, said: “Councillors have examined the plans to decide how best to improve the lives of children in our care and I am pleased to say that the strategy has been approved.
“The aim of these proposals is to create more accommodation in Dorset so fewer local children have to leave their schools, their friends, their families and everything they know and be placed in care far away. Most importantly, this is not good for our children, but it is also very costly, as it involves sending money out of our county, rather than investing in skilled jobs locally.
“We want to provide the best possible care for all our children. Most children and young people in our care are looked after by local foster families. But for a small number of children, residential care is best.”
Councillors have already approved plans to create a new home for Dorset children in Weymouth. This new home in Dorchester Road will give up to five Dorset children a better and more secure start in life. The site will also be home to our innovative new Harbour Project. This will see a dedicated team from different agencies working together to better support our children and young people, who will also be empowered to make more choices about their care.
