Work has begun to transform a former farmhouse in West Boldon into a new specialist children’s home.
The Complex Needs Hub at the White House on Follingsby Lane will be the first facility of its kind serving Sunderland and South Tyneside, and among only a small number nationally. It will bring vital services into the area that have previously had to be delivered elsewhere.
Dedicated to providing stable, high-quality support for young people from Sunderland and South Tyneside with complex mental health and emotional needs, the hub will consist of four beds – two will be used by Together for Children Sunderland, which delivers children’s services on behalf of Sunderland City Council, with the other two being commissioned by South Tyneside Council.
The specialist home is a joint capital funding project between Sunderland City Council and the Department for Education.
Councillor Michael Butler, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Child Poverty and Skills, at Sunderland City Council, said:
“There’s currently nothing like this in Sunderland and South Tyneside, so this is a real step forward.
“This innovative project will allow us to provide much more rounded care and support to young people from Sunderland and South Tyneside with complex mental health and emotional/behavioural needs.
“This means that some of our most vulnerable young people, who would otherwise have had to be placed outside of the area, will soon be able to be cared for much closer to home and their families.”
Catering for children and young people aged 11-17 and with a team of 30, who will care for the young people 24/7, the hub will also bring new jobs to the area, while the more rounded care and support will make it easier for young people to rebuild their lives in the community once they leave the home.
Helen Monks Director for Social Care at Together for Children Sunderland, said:
“This is about bringing support for children and young people with high emotional and mental health needs in-house.
“The new hub will allow us to take a much more personalised approach to the young people’s care, with support covering both mental and therapeutic care. It will also be Ofsted registered.
“It will also be much more convenient for the young people and their families, as well as reducing reliance on costly unregulated placements with external providers and offering better value for money and long-term savings for Together for Children and Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council.”
Changes to the property are expected to take around eight months, with an anticipated opening date before the end of the year.
