Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Children and Families that provides background information regarding the requirement to build a new specialist children’s home for children with Autism and complex needs. Alongside this, the report details the works which are proposed to be undertaken at the site of the new specialist children’s home and the advantages this will have for some of the city’s most vulnerable children.

The Director of Children and Families submitted a report that presented background information regarding the reasons for the proposal to build a new specialist children’s home for children with Autism and complex needs, and  alongside this, the report detailed the works which were proposed to be undertaken to deliver the home.

By way of introduction to the report, the Executive Member confirmed that the proposal was to provide a permanent home for four children with complex needs including learning disabilities and Autism, who were currently located outside of Leeds.

Members then discussed the ongoing work and aspirations of the Council regarding the provision of care for Children Looked After, with further detail being provided on the arrangements in place to monitor the wellbeing of those looked after children who were located in placements outside of Leeds.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the current project cost estimate of £1.858m for the construction work and associated fees to facilitate the build of the new specialist children’s home for children with Autism and complex needs, be noted;

(b)  That the approval of the ‘Authority to Procure’ (ATP) and the Design and Cost Report (DCR) be delegated to the Director of Childrens and Families;

(c)  That it be noted that the Chief Officer Social Work will be responsible for the appointment of all required staff to the new specialist children’s residential home.