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Brackley children’s care homes approved
06/09/2024
Council’s want to create their own stock of children’s homes to tackle those ‘profiteering’ in the sector
by Nadia Lincoln, Local Democracy Reporter
Both Northamptonshire councils have said they want to commit to creating their own stock of children’s homes to tackle those ‘profiteering’ in the sector.
This comes as two new children’s care homes in Brackley have been approved at a Children’s Trust Joint Committee meeting held on Wednesday, September 4.
The Northamptonshire Children’s Trust (NCT), which oversees services for West and North Northamptonshire Councils (WNC / NNC), is already forecasting an £8 million overspend this year- and finding placements for children in care is one of the biggest pressures.
Leader of NNC Jason Smithers said: “As a council, we’re committed to keeping our children local and we know the pressures that are coming in from organisations that are setting up children’s homes at the moment and clearly profiteering from some of that action.
“This is a way that we as a council, and as a joint measure between the North and the West, can start to reduce those cost pressures in the placement area. I think this is a positive thing and we need to roll out many more of these in order to get a control on the market locally and help towards our costs as well.”
Both Brackley-based properties are currently owned by WNC and were previously used for adult social care. Each home will provide care for up to two children and will be managed by ‘Homes 2 Inspire’.
According to the committee report, the first children’s home could amount to savings of between £90,000 and £420,000 annually. The second home has been specifically identified to support a young person with complex needs. It could generate yearly savings of £170,000 to £335,000.
Adam Brown, leader of WNC, praised Cllr Fiona Baker (his cabinet member for children and families) for “pushing the issue” in West Northants.
He said: “You’ve recognised the immense pressures that not having as many of these facilities as we need places on the Children’s Trust and our own finances.
“As Cllr Smithers said, unfortunately the council markets are being exploited by adventure capitalists, hedge funds and we’re really seeing the ugly face of capitalism. Despite the fantastic things that markets and free markets can often do there is some real profiteering and exploitative behaviour going on in this area.
“It’s only going to be by strategic, well-placed marketing purchasing such as this that we are going to be able to roll back the tide on that sort of thing and really start paying a better price for the services that our children need.”
West Northamptonshire Council will fund £400,000 of capital works to develop the homes. A further £116,000 of previously unused NCT funds will cover the mobilisation costs.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam