Bridgend council is set to decide whether to create a new children's residential home designed to improve social care services.
Council officers have made plans to relocate Maple Tree House, a council-run children's home, to a new site in Bridgend, which would cost £2.25 million.
The new hub will include the emergency and assessment unit currently based at Maple Tree House, a home for eight to 17 year-olds, as well as the council's fostering and placements team. The facility opened in December 2018 and provides a service for up to six children and young people, including two emergency beds.
Read more: Recruitment of foster carers doubled in Bridgend during the pandemic
Councillors approved plans for a new children's placement hub based at Newbridge House, Bridgend in 2018 but new plans were drawn up in 2020 for the hub to be developed at the former Brynmenyn Primary School site, which lies North of Bryn Road.
A report by Clare Marchant, the council's corporate director for social services and wellbeing, states the new facility "will enable more seamless working and better outcomes for children and young people, which cannot currently be delivered to maximum effect from the existing site".
It also states the new spot is "in a much more favourable setting" as it is "close to amenities but not in a built-up residential area". It is hoped this will "support the best possible outcomes for children and young people".
According to the report, council officers have met with children in care to get their views on the new facility so they can "make the service a real home". It adds: "Officers are also looking to involve children and young people in deciding room colours and furnishing options later on in the process".
Maple Tree House failed three inspections between September 2019 and August 2020 for reasons including assaults on staff and young people's poor diet. Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) visited the home in October 2020 and concluded it was no longer an area of concern.
A CIW report described the home as "suitable for short-term placements" but "not particularly homely", despite new flooring being installed. Officers also found issues with "maintenance and personalisation" of the young people’s accommodation.
The new hub will create an extra emergency bed. At the moment, emergency beds cost the council around £180,000 per year. The new set-up could save the council around £80,000.
The council's cabinet will decide whether to move ahead with the plans and allow the head of children's social care to oversee the process during a meeting on Tuesday June 22.
