Proposed children's homes in Grimsby aim to provide 'caring, loving and nurturing' environment

                                       

The Welholme Avenue property

TWO houses in Grimsby could be converted to small children's homes if North East Lincolnshire planners give the green light.

They are those at :

* 12 Welholme Avenue

* 2 Vivian Avenue 

The application for the former, which has been submitted by NELC, states: "This proposal seeks to establish a new children’s home to provide a caring and loving home environment for local children.

"There are insufficient homes within the borough to enable all children in care to remain within their local area, so many have to live at a distance from their local support networks. 

"This is costly in many ways and has a proven negative impact on the young people themselves as they navigate adolescence and become young adults.  

"Establishing this property as a children’s home is thus part of the council’s wider strategy to provide sufficient local homes for children in its care."

If approved, the  will become a home for up to three children in care, with adult carers on-site 24 hours a day. 

Continues the application: "In all practical senses, the extent of the 'change of use' is negligible.  

"For decades, children’s homes were larger-scale and perceived as ‘institutional’.  

"However, a modern children’s home is very different.  It is much smaller in scale (typically providing a home for up to three children as is being proposed here) and is designed to look, feel and operate like a normal family home.  

"Indeed, Ofsted, the body which registers, regulates, and inspects children’s homes, requires it to do so and ultimately has the statutory power force the closure of a children’s home that fails to meet its exacting standards.  

"Consequently, most newly established modern children’s homes are based in normal residential family homes such as this property."

The application for the house on Vivian Avenue has been submitted by Shore Care Services.

It states: "The proposal is to change the use of the property to a children's home, providing a safe and supportive residential environment for up to four children aged between eight and 18.

" The proposed use aims to create a homely and nurturing environment, replicating that of a traditional family setting. 

If approved, the home will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with staff providing care and support to the children. 

There would be a manager and deputy manager in post, along with three staff teams of three people (one team leader and two support workers). 

The teams would work on a two days on, four days off rota, with changeovers happening every other day. 

The application continues: "The routine will be similar in nature to that of a traditional family home. with the children enjoying a balanced diet of home cooked meals, accessing education undertaking recreational activities and going on holidays.  

"Our company takes a lot of pride in investing in children and young people and their future."  

There have been two objections from nearby residents to the Welholme Avenue proposal, but none to the Vivian Avenue application. 

It is thought that both applications will be determined by a senior NELC planning case  officer without the need for determination by the authority's planning committee.  

                                       

The house at Vivian Avenue