Concerns have been raised over the prospect of a new children's home in Gateshead.
Children's charity, Action for Children, has applied to Gateshead Council to convert a five-bedroom house on Barmoor Lane, Ryton, into a home for the care of up to four children. However, during a consultation, 14 residents raised fears of a rise of anti-social behaviour and the prospective home's impact on house prices.
In response to the concerns, Action for Children created a report for council officers on how they can allay the fears of locals.
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The proposed conversion comes as Gateshead Council deals with record numbers of children within its care. In June 2022, there were 1,235 children recorded as being under local authority care.
The report states: "The experienced staff team will ensure that the children are looked after at all times and Action for Children’s experience of looking after children shows that this reduces the potential risks of anti-social behaviour. The staffing regime ... requires 24 hour supervision of children, seven days per week.
"[It] will continue to operate to all intents and purposes as a residential family home and, as such, Action for Children feel it is an unfair assumption to suspect that vulnerable children who require a safe residential environment to grow and develop will inevitably become, or become involved with, perpetrators of anti-social behaviour."
Action for Children also disputes arguments that the new children's home will negatively impact on nearby house prices. The report claims: "The level of care and supervision provided by Action for Children, it is anticipated that the children’s home will integrate seamlessly with the local community and will not impact upon property prices."
The charity's report says the council should not look at the conversion as the loss of a residential home from the housing stock. Action for Children has informed the local authority the house will operate to all intents and purposes be a family home but with carers instead of parents.
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