Plans submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council to turn HMO in Balderton into children’s care home

Plans have been submitted which could see a residential converted into a children’s care home.

The application seeks a change of use at The Maples, 66 London Road, Balderton from an eight bedroom house in multiple occupancy (HMO) to a 24-hour care home for children aged between the eight and 17-years-old.

The care home would operate as a therapeutic model residential children’s home, with the aim of creating a “family home setting” for up to three children at a time.

The internal layout of the existing HMO will be altered to create three resident bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and two staff bedrooms, as well as a staff office, and ground floor lounge areas.

An existing kitchen diner and shared bathrooms will remain in place.

Externally, no changes will be made to the building, although some alterations will be made to the rear garden property boundary will be made.

Car parking spaces, bicycle and bin storage will be added.

The applicant, Skylight Children's Care Homes, states that the proposals will provide an “increase in placement capacity”, prevent “significant disruption, and will ensure that children and young people can be placed “in county” close to important family, friends, and support networks.

Looked after children would be fully assessed by both the provider and the local placement authority for their suitability to be placed into the home.

This would be based on each child’s specific requirements, local facilities, and the provision of suitably qualified staff.

The care home will also be regulated by Ofsted.

Two members of staff will be on duty 24/7, operating a shift pattern of 7am to 10pm, and from 10pm to 7am.

The operation would also be overseen by a registered manager who would be on site weekdays, from 9am to 5pm.

It is proposed that no additional services will be required, with all cooking, cleaning, and shopping undertaken by staff and residents.

Each child or young person may meet with their social worker roughly every six weeks, and any family visits would be risk-assessed and pre-planned.

Staff will receive visits from regulatory inspectors and reviews on an infrequent basis.

Newark and Sherwood District Council will make a final decision on the application.