Children’s home proposal for former borough day nursery

A former day nursery could be turned into a home for troubled children under new plans.

Invigor Adolescent Care wants to transform the old Buttons & Bows Private Day Nursery, in Atherton, into a specialist children’s home.

The Hamilton Street building would help young people who have endured a tough start to life and suffered childhood trauma.

Planning documents on behalf of the Stretford-based applicant, who provide residential care to kids, said: “It is clearly essential for ‘Invigor Adolescent Care‘ to create the right care setting for children who, through no fault of their own, have suffered a difficult upbringing.

“The idea is to provide as close as possible, a family environment, with the carers providing the parental guidance which has been so lacking in their early years.

“The small family home that it plans to set up will provide the safety and security needed for the specialist care the children require.

“Care is needed to overcome their early childhood trauma and hopefully build their self-esteem and skills to have the same life opportunities as non-institutionalised children.”

The application states that Invigor is a specialist owner operator with a leadership team that has excelled for over 30 years in providing a “high quality of care and achieving an unrivalled reputation for looking after children”.

They said that this is done by providing small family units where residential carers help them develop social and life skills .

This is for when they no longer live within an institution.

Four children would live at the house, with two carers working on a rota basis sleeping overnight (two days on and three days off).

A manager and another support member of staff would be on site during weekdays from 9 am to 5pm.

There would also be the occasional visit by a social worker or clinician.

During the day it is expected that all the young people would engage in various activities, attend a DfES registered school or mainstream school.

The documents added: “Without such homes and positive interventions, these children when they leave the controlled environment of care homes will often end up in adult institutions, suffering from long term health problems.

“The purpose of the home would be to support children to build their confidence and help them in developing life skills and re-engaging them into education.”

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here and viewing our offers ...