Children’s home applications for Stockton and Ingleby Barwick

The council is applying to its own planning department for a “certificate of lawfulness” to change the use of a home to a children’s home on Darlington Lane, Stockton.

It wants to provide a home in-house for children in their own community, which leaders say provides better outcomes for children, at a time when social care, particularly expensive out-of-town placements, is putting pressure on stretched council budgets.

A planning statement says it aims to take a “Stockton first” approach, adding: “The proposal is to provide a safe, family-style environment for up to three children, aged between seven to 17 years, who cannot live with their families for a period of time.

“The home’s primary aim is to support children to return to their birth families or move to a family‑based care arrangement, such as fostering, wherever possible.

“The home will operate as part of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s internal children’s homes service, developed and delivered by staff who have a strong track record of creating nurturing, community-focused homes.

“The home will be registered and regulated by Ofsted, ensuring high standards of care. Children living in the home will take part in community life and be supported by staff to live in ways that reflect the pattern of daily normal family life – sharing meals, routines, and everyday experiences.

“The proposed home is small-scale and domestic in character, with the level of occupancy not materially different to that of many family households of an equivalent size. The proposed use is not expected to result in any undue impacts on residential amenity or the character of the surrounding area.”

The plans say the council-owned five-bedroom property would accommodate a bedroom for each child, a staff bedroom with an en-suite and communal areas including a lounge, kitchen, dining rooms, bathrooms, a quiet area for doing homework and a staff office.

The only external changes would be the installation of “small discreet CCTV cameras”, emergency exit lights above the back and side doors, and blocking of two ground-floor windows for moving a staircase.

The statement adds: “Children will benefit from a safe and therapeutic living environment that supports their emotional wellbeing and development. Alongside the care provided within the home, staff will work directly with birth families in the community.

“This will include delivering a range of structured interventions designed to improve family functioning, support parenting and help families to build the skills and confidence needed to care for their children safely.

“As an Ofsted-regulated home, robust staff training and safeguarding policies will be in place to ensure staff know children well, understand their needs and provide personalised consistent care in a calm family-style environment.”

It says the home will be run by a “small and consistent staff care team” on a rota, with a maximum of two on duty per shift for continuous supervision, with school attendance and health visits as in a typical household.

There would be five parking spaces and visitors would attend by appointment, with planned visits from social workers and review officers every four weeks.

It adds: “Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council are committed to being a good neighbour and working in partnership with the local community.

“The home manager will maintain regular and positive contact with neighbours and there will be a transparent policy in place to listen to, log and respond to any neighbour concerns in a timely and respectful way.

“The home will operate in a manner consistent with any other family home within the community. It will have clear rules, boundaries and routines that support young people to develop respectful behaviour, positive relationships and a sense of stability.

“Daily life will reflect normal family living, with appropriate expectations around behaviour, noise, visitors and participation in household routines, helping the home integrate positively within the local neighbourhood.”

In a separate application, Alex Boateng has asked for a certificate of lawfulness to change the use of a home on Cragside Court, Ingleby Barwick, to a home for up to two children, with care from visiting staff on a rota, up to two staff members on a 24-hour shift pattern and a manager on site during work hours.

A planning statement says: “No staff will reside at the property. In land use terms, the scale, intensity and pattern of occupation would remain comparable to that of a single family dwelling.

“In this case, the proposed use would not result in a material change when compared with the lawful use of the property as a dwelling house. Occupation levels, day-to-day activity and patterns of comings and goings would remain consistent with those associated with a residential property occupied by working adults with children.”

A management plan describes daily routines consistent with a family home, including school and leisure activities, normal household routines, comprehensive safeguarding and behaviour support policies in line with Ofsted standards, and “commitment to good neighbour relations including a clear point of contact for any concerns”.