Family Solicitors

Buckinghamshire County Council has agreed plans to go ahead with the development of new children’s homes in Buckinghamshire, in a drive to keep “Bucks children” in Buckinghamshire.

Following the decision taken in April to provide £2 million in funding for the development of new residential placements, the council is now planning four new children’s homes – two of which will be based in Aylesbury and one in Buckingham, with the fourth home in High Wycombe.

The council already owns a children’s home in Aylesbury – however, the availability of residential places for children in the county is low, meaning some children are placed out of Buckinghamshire and away from people and places they are familiar with.

The new children's homes will mean more children can be looked after in Bucks, closer to places they are familiar with, their school/ college, friends and extended family – keeping the level of change in their lives to a minimum, said the council.

Additionally, increasing the number of places for children to be looked after in Buckinghamshire will reduce the high costs of out-of-county placements, as well as reducing the distance children are placed away from their homes – and improving relationships between children and their social workers.

Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Warren Whyte, said:

“This is great news for the council and for our vulnerable children – keeping children in Buckinghamshire is a huge priority for us.

“These children have experienced enough upheaval in their lives, so the more we can do to keep them are closer to people and things they are familiar with, the better.”.

The additional four children’s homes will increase the capacity within Buckinghamshire’s children’s homes to 26, said the council.

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