Approved at a meeting of the Royal Borough’s Cabinet on Tuesday 30 June, the new accommodation in Maidenhead will provide stable housing for care leavers until they are ready to live independently and enable them to remain close to their support networks such as family, friends and education as they transition out of care.
The new facility will be managed by Achieving for Children who provide children’s services on behalf of the Royal Borough. The accommodation will be able to support up to 20 young people aged over 18 in a safe environment with staff on-site to provide care and support.
As well as supporting care leavers achieve independence, the new facility is expected to deliver savings by bringing services in-house within the Royal Borough.
Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education & Windsor, Cllr Amy Tisi, said: “This new facility demonstrates how we’re delivering on our commitment on ensuring local young people have a good start in life and opportunities through to adulthood.
“This new accommodation will not only deliver savings for children’s services, but will help care leavers continue to develop resilience and independence in a supportive, safe and stable environment.”
The new step-down accommodation builds upon other improvements made for young people in care over the last year, including the opening of Oak House, which supports children aged under 18 in care. Oak House was created in collaboration with Kickback, a council forum of young people in care.