Builders start work at Weymouth's new children's home
It's part of Dorset Council's plan to bring some of the children in care outside of the county back home.
Work has begun on a new children’s home with excellent facilities, as plans to make Dorset the best place to grow-up go on.
Building works are underway to create a new residential home for Dorset children at Dorchester Road, Weymouth. This new development will provide a home for up to five local children and is a major step in creating more high-quality residential accommodation within Dorset. It will also provide accommodation for up to three children in need of short term residential care.
Cllr Andrew Parry, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Early Help, explained why it is so important. He said:
“Creating more homes for children in Dorset is crucial as without it, local children may 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 Dorset, rather than investing in skilled jobs locally.”
Dorset Council has appointed Spetisbury Construction as the main contractor for the building work at the site, the former Adult Education Centre. So far, the main building has been stripped out ready for a complete refurbishment and the old modular classroom unit, link corridor and screen wall has been demolished. Work on the new adjacent building is also underway, with the modular units due to arrive on site towards the end of September. This will be the main residential home for up to five children.
The new home has been designed to be sympathetic to the architecture within the local conservation area and professionally designed landscaping and planting will greatly improve the site and make it an asset to the neighbourhood. It is expected to be completed by December 2021.
The home will be run and managed by The Harbour. The Harbour is an innovative approach involving a team of professionals from different agencies working together to help, support and improve the outcomes of our children and young people. Many of our young people will have experienced difficult circumstances, which means they need help to feel safe, nurtured and secure. We are looking for the very best specialist foster carers to join our multi-agency team and be part of the Harbour approach which will combine residential care with fostering, outreach support, and supported lodgings.
Cllr Andrew Parry added:
“We are looking for specialist foster carers who our young people describe as ‘positive, understanding, determined, respectful, caring and someone who will stick with them through the hard times to help with their journey’, please get in touch for a chat if you think that sounds like you.”
Find out more about Dorset Council’s new children’s home.
Find out about becoming a specialist foster carer at The Harbour, and please get in touch if you want to be part of this innovative and integrated approach.