THE Western Trust today launched a consultation on the proposed closure of Racecourse Road Children’s Home in Derry and the reconfiguration of its resources to further develop and enhance children’s services in line with its Reform Plan.
The consultation describes how the Western Trust proposes to close one residential Children’s Home in Derry and reconfigure the resources to enhance foster care services, particularly for the recruitment of additional specialist foster carers for young people as an alternative to residential child care.
In additional it will allow the Trust to provide additional intensive support to foster carers and where possible to ensure that children and young people can continue to be cared for within a family setting in preparation for adulthood.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks and will close at 4pm on Friday 29 January 2016. During this period the Trusts will consult widely with service users and their carers, staff and local communities.
The proposal has been equality screened and the Trusts are now inviting the public and interested parties to have their say.
Kieran Downey, Western Trust Director of Women and Children’s Services and Executive Director of Social Work said:
“The Trust takes very seriously its responsibility as a corporate parent and makes every effort to ensure that our looked after children and young people have safety, security, stability and grow up healthy and happy.
“It is also important that we are able to respond flexibly and sensitively to the changing profile of need and use all our available resources to best effect.
“The Trust is keen to hear and consider carefully all views on our implementation proposals and we would encourage everyone to get their responses in as soon as possible and contribute their views.”
Information on the proposal and on how to respond can be downloaded from the Western Trust’s website www.westerntrust.hscni.net by clicking on ‘Involving You’ and ‘Consultations’. Responses can be completed and returned via e-mail or post by 4pm on Friday 29 January 2016 to:
Kieran Downey
Director of Women and Children’s Services
Trust Headquarters
MDEC
Altnagelvin Hospital
Derry/Londonderry
Tel: (028) 7134 5171
Email: [email protected]
