Barking and Dagenham Council is spending approximately 1.9 million annually to house 20 high-risk children in unregistered and inadequate homes. The council plans to build three specialist children's homes for up to 16 children, targeting improved care for those with complex needs, particularly girls under 16. These homes aim to reduce dependence on unregulated placements and enhance stability and outcomes. The total cost for constructing these homes exceeds 10 million, with the Department for Education potentially funding half of the cost.
"Barking and Dagenham Council is spending about 1.9m a year on housing just 20 children deemed to be at high risk of harm to themselves or others."
"Our aim is to improve care for our children with complex needs, especially girls under 16 who are, or are at risk of, being subject to a deprivation of liberty order due to their multiple complex needs - and whose needs are not being met by the private market."
"The borough wanted to reduce its reliance on unregulated and expensive out-of-borough placements and improve outcomes and stability by providing local, regulated, psychologically informed care."
"Building the three homes, on council-owned land, will cost more than 10m. Ms Jones said the Department for Education had offered to fund half of that sum with a grant, although a formal agreement has not yet been signed."
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