Private equity firms are making huge profits from children’s homes while council services are being slashed to pay the soaring costs for youngsters’ care, a councillor said.
Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake was speaking after hearing one provider is charging Cheshire East Council £11,000 a week to care for one 17-year-old with complex needs.
Cheshire East is to set up its own council-run children’s homes to provide a “loving and supportive environment” for youngsters who can’t live with their own families, writes Belinda Ryan.
The council will take over two independent homes in Crewe and Macclesfield this year, following a recent mutual decision to terminate the contract with the current commissioned provider.
Cheshire Police are to assign officers to children’s homes across the county to increase safety of young people.
The move comes after Cheshire Youth Ambassador Dominic Rogers consulted with vulnerable young people in the area.
New small-scale children’s homes are to be built in South Cheshire to accommodate Nantwich youngsters who can’t live with their parents. Cheshire East Council is to increase the number of homes in the borough, starting with new ones in Sandbach and Macclesfield areas.
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