The Corporate Director – Social Services and Wellbeing submitted a report, to provide Cabinet Members with an overview of the current residential regulated childcare provision in Bridgend CBC and provide cases studies of Children and Young People who have benefited from the services offered, and also to seek Cabinet’s approval to change the “Statement of Purpose” for Newbridge House in order to match the terms of the registration certificate provided by CSSIW.

The Head of Adult Social care advised by way of background information, that Bridgend CBC currently has three residential Children’s Homes, regulated by CSSIW, delivering services to children and young people aged between 0 – 18 years and these were outlined in paragraph 3.1 of the report, including the type of support services they provided.

The Group Manager – Children’s Regulated Services  confirmed that each of the above residential homes had its own “statement of purpose”. These have all previously been approved by the Corporate Parenting Committee and were detailed in Appendix 1 to the report. None of the units were currently registered to provide emergency bed provision as other effective arrangements are in place to respond to such situations.

She added that each residential unit is subject to “The Children’s Homes (Wales) Regulations 2002” and as such is inspected by CSSIW every year. (Copies of each of the most recent inspection reports were shown at Appendix 2 to the report.) For many years, all the Council’s residential child care homes had received very positive inspections with Managers and Practitioners receiving praise for the quality of services being delivered.

All the units’ registered Managers were experienced managers and worked closely together to support each other. They had clear reporting mechanisms in place and were confident decision makers she added.

The Group Manager – Children’s Regulated Services advised that all the residential units had developed positive links within the local neighbourhood, with Newbridge House and Sunnybank having named Police Community Service Officers (PCSO’s) who regularly call in at the homes to meet with and develop important relationships with the young people accommodated in order minimise situations of self-harm, risk taking behaviour and any offending or anti-social behaviour.

She then proceeded to give a resume of further information in respect of these establishments, as was contained in more detail, in paragraphs 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7 of the report.

The Cabinet Member – Resources asked if the Committee could in due course, be informed if accreditation to staff at Sunnybank had been successful.

The Leader advised that he was happy with the progress being made in the Residential Care facilities detailed in the report, and particularly at Bakers Way, where the most recent CSSIW Inspection report noted that ‘ support is provided for children/young people and their families in an environment which is caring and supportive and child centred in their approach. ‘

A Member echoed the comments of the Leader, but asked if there were any children or young people on a waiting list awaiting care provision in one of these facilities, or were they having to be referred out of the area.

The Head of Adult Social care advised that Impact assessments were undertaken in respect of all young people who entered the system, and where possible, they were brought out of high costing Out of County placements and placed in Sunnybank. If there weren’t any places available in that facility, however, if there was no such provision available locally, these children and young people were accommodated in private placements. He added that occupancy rate was nearly always full, with children with the most needs given a priority in terms of placements. 

RESOLVED:                That the Corporate Parenting Cabinet Committee both noted and  considered the content of the report and associated Appendices