New Aberdeenshire Council children’s home opens
A new children’s home has officially opened in Inverurie.
Aiming to provide a more family-style environment, the new home will allow more children and young people to remain close to their families, schools and communities when they require care away from home.
Opening the new home, Provost Judy Whyte said: “While we are here to mark the opening of the building, it is important to recognise that we are also opening up new opportunities and possibilities for children, young people and families in Aberdeenshire.
“For any child or young person who needs to live away from home, staying as close as possible to their family, friends, school and community can make a significant difference.
“It helps preserve important relationships, maintain a sense of belonging, and gives young people the best possible chance to continue learning, healing and building for their future.”
Among those attending the opening was Chief Executive Jim Savege, Director of Education and Children’s Services Laurence Findlay, Head of Children’s Services Andrew Dick, and ECS Committee Chair Cllr David Keating.
Of the approximately 25 young people in out of authority residential care, Aberdeenshire Council estimates that more than half could have been accommodated at in-house residential care had greater capacity been available.
During the opening, the council’s architecture team was praised for creating a design that prioritises comfort, relationships and wellbeing, while construction partner KW Contractors was recognised for delivering the project to a high standard.
The Provost added: “The space that has been created here looks absolutely fantastic. The way it has been designed replicates so much of a traditional family home, rather than an overly corporate approach, which is absolutely what we would want for our children and young people.”
The project, the first of two planned new children’s homes, is expected to result in long-term savings for the taxpayer.
Current out-of-authority placements for eight young people costing approximately £2 million per year. In contrast, the cost of running two new four-bed children’s home is estimated at £1.5 million each year.
Whilst the immediate saving from two local homes would be £500,000, part of which will be used to pay off the capital expenditure, if the current inflation in out of area placements continues, it is projected to provide an annual saving of £823,000 by 2030/31 once the capital outlay has been repaid
Education and Children’s Services Committee Chair Cllr David Keating said: “This investment represents a significant step forward in how we support some of our most vulnerable young people better.
“The out of authority budget is one we give a significant amount of attention to, given how the pressures have grown over the years. However, as the Provost has said, this home will enable us to bring four young people back to Aberdeenshire, allowing children and young people to remain closer to their home communities.
“This is that rare beast – a win win – reducing cost pressures and improving the lives of some in our community. There is an initial investment, but reducing reliance on costly out-of-area placements will deliver substantial long-term savings for the council.
“There will always be occasions when specialist placements elsewhere are necessary, but this project demonstrates our commitment, where we can, to delivering the best possible care for Aberdeenshire’s young people while ensuring services remain both sustainable and affordable in the years ahead.”
