Rochdale Opens First of Four New Homes to Bring Children in Care Closer to Community
Rochdale, Greater Manchester – Rochdale has taken a significant step towards keeping its most vulnerable young people closer to home with the opening of the first of four new residential children’s homes. The £3.4 million investment is designed to provide a stable, local environment for children in care, reducing the need for placements far from their families, schools, and communities.
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Sapphire House, the first of the new homes to welcome residents, marks a milestone in Rochdale Borough Council’s strategy to tackle the national shortage of suitable care provision. It will be followed by three more homes—Ruby, Emerald, and Diamond—all named by children currently in the care system. Each property will offer a warm, homely setting for three young people, staffed 24/7 by dedicated, council-employed carers.
The initiative directly addresses a pressing issue, with more than 40 children from the Rochdale borough currently placed in care outside the area. Some are living over 150 miles away, a situation that often separates them from siblings, friends, and vital support networks.
This challenge has been exacerbated since the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw a sharp rise in the number of children entering the care system across England. Like many local authorities, Rochdale has struggled to secure appropriate local placements, often relying on costly external providers.
By concentrating care in the borough, the council aims to provide greater stability, reduce disruption to their education, and allow for better oversight of their care. Critically, half of the 12 new places across the four homes are reserved for children with complex needs and disabilities, offering them specialised support within their own community.
Beyond the profound benefits for the children, the scheme is also fiscally responsible. The council projects that the investment will lead to annual savings of more than £450,000 by cutting reliance on expensive out-of-borough placements.
This latest development is part of a wider commitment by the council to support local families. It follows other key investments, including the government’s Start for Life programme, of more than a million pounds, to strengthen Rochdale’s Family Hub network and funding boosts for local charities such as Jolly Josh, which provides vital support for children with complex needs.
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Sapphire House, the first of the new homes to welcome residents, marks a milestone in Rochdale Borough Council’s strategy to tackle the national shortage of suitable care provision. It will be followed by three more homes—Ruby, Emerald, and Diamond—all named by children currently in the care system. Each property will offer a warm, homely setting for three young people, staffed 24/7 by dedicated, council-employed carers.
The initiative directly addresses a pressing issue, with more than 40 children from the Rochdale borough currently placed in care outside the area. Some are living over 150 miles away, a situation that often separates them from siblings, friends, and vital support networks.
This challenge has been exacerbated since the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw a sharp rise in the number of children entering the care system across England. Like many local authorities, Rochdale has struggled to secure appropriate local placements, often relying on costly external providers.
By concentrating care in the borough, the council aims to provide greater stability, reduce disruption to their education, and allow for better oversight of their care. Critically, half of the 12 new places across the four homes are reserved for children with complex needs and disabilities, offering them specialised support within their own community.
Beyond the profound benefits for the children, the scheme is also fiscally responsible. The council projects that the investment will lead to annual savings of more than £450,000 by cutting reliance on expensive out-of-borough placements.
This latest development is part of a wider commitment by the council to support local families. It follows other key investments, including the government’s Start for Life programme, of more than a million pounds, to strengthen Rochdale’s Family Hub network and funding boosts for local charities such as Jolly Josh, which provides vital support for children with complex needs.
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