The Royal Borough of Greenwich is building a much-needed new residential children’s home in Blackheath to increase local in-house care and support for children in our care. The new ‘home away from home’, a redevelopment of a vacant council-owned site, will provide a safe, stable and nurturing environment to young people who are unable to live with their families.
At any one time the Royal Borough of Greenwich has around 400 children in its care. Children can enter our care for many different reasons through no fault of their own which can mean they are no longer able to live with their parents or families. They may need protection from significant harm, neglect, or abuse. Or it could be due to the death of a parent or family breakdown. No matter the reason why they may have entered our care it’s important that they have a safe, stable and nurturing place to call home.
Most children who are looked after by the Council are placed with foster carers as we believe it’s best for children to live within a family environment. For a small proportion, however, their needs are such that they would be best met in a children’s home.
It can often be challenging to find the right residential home for a child as there is a national shortage of children’s homes across the country and in particular, in London.
This can result in children having to live outside of London and occasionally hundreds of miles away at costly placements with private external providers. The new home will reduce the need for these expensive private independent placements.
Councillor Sandra Bauer, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Post-16 Futures, said: “Children in care face significant challenges and obstacles from a young age, so we must do everything we can to support them to reach their potential. This new children’s home is an investment in the future of some of our most vulnerable young people. The facility addresses the shortage of local care placements, allowing children to remain close to their support systems, including their friends and family, teachers, social workers, youth workers, counsellors and other trusted adults.
"We believe creating the right type of accommodation in our own borough, as well as recruiting more foster carers, is the right thing for our children’s welfare. This home will offer a welcoming space where young people can feel safe and supported, and I know it will make a lasting, positive difference in the community for generations to come.”
We have identified a family home in Blackheath, owned by the Council, that we would make the ideal home for five children aged 10 to 17 year olds and two specially trained live-in staff.
The development will consist of a five-bedroom home for children, with two additional bedrooms for staff.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich already has two children’s homes that provide short to medium-term care for young people aged between 10 and 18 years old.
Residents can play their part in supporting young people in care by registering as a foster carer.
Thinking of fostering?
When you foster with Royal Greenwich we are with you every step of the way. You will have a dedicated social worker, ongoing training and networks of other foster carers nearby who can share experience and advice.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more about fostering in Royal Greenwich, get in touch at fostering-recruitment@royalgreenwich.gov.uk. A member from our experienced fostering team will be in touch within one working day.
Questions you might have
How will you make sure any children living in this home are properly looked after?
To ensure that children and young people resident in the home are properly looked after, we recruit suitably qualified and experienced staff with the necessary skills and values to support children who cannot remain with their families. The home and its staff will ensure that all children and young people get the help that need as part of a stable and caring home as well as ensuring that they are supported
Each child will have undergone thorough assessments and have robust plans in place which are kept under continuous review which include how they are going to be supported to achieve the very best outcomes in line with our ambitions for our children.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich Children’s Services was rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2024. Children in care and care leavers were said to receive an ‘outstanding’ service, ensuring that they ‘make impressive progress and many thrive once in care.’. Alongside our Children’s Services that have been judged to be ‘Outstanding’, our two existing children’s homes managed by the local authority are judged to be ‘Good’ by Ofsted.
Our home, like all children’s homes, need to be registered with Ofsted. Each Home is inspected on an annual basis. As part of the registration and inspections, Ofsted will look at how we work with children and young people, the agencies that we work and the quality and impact of our partnerships and the outcomes of our children and young people.
Why is it better for children to be looked after within the borough?
The shortage in children’s homes in London means that children are being sent many miles away from their home boroughs, which leads to disruption in education, difficulty keeping up with friends and less contact with their wider family. Keeping children close to home and within their communities enables them to stay connected to their friends and family, and other people important to them, as well as to the Council’s support services. This is vital in supporting them to do as well as possible and achieve better outcomes. This home will offer a welcoming space where young people can feel safe and supported, and I know it will make a lasting, positive difference in the community for generations to come.
How will you ensure the home is sympathetic to the local area?
The Council already owns the property which was originally built to be a family home. Subject to planning permission we intend to change of use and rear storey extension. From the street it will be indistinguishable from the other houses reducing the risk of stigmatisation that children in care can face as well as keeping the home in in character with the local area.
Has this decision already been made?
No decision has been made at this stage. The proposal is currently going through the appropriate planning and consultation processes. Local residents are being informed as part of that process, and any feedback received will be considered before any final decision is taken.