By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
A Mansfield home used to care for two vulnerable children is likely to be given retrospective planning permission to provide the service full-time.
Provider Greenline Healthcare Group lodged the plans for the current four-bed property, off Eakring Road, earlier this summer.
It came after council officers discovered the home had already been used for similar purposes and required planning permission to continue doing so.
The company says the home – if approved by Mansfield District Council next week – would continue to help to tackle the “record number” of children in care or needing care across the country.
Current Department for Education data shows 80,850 children in England are classed as ‘looked after’ – meaning they are within the care system.
About 1,000 of these children are in Nottinghamshire.
And in documents published this summer, the company said its facility would look to help vulnerable children who have experienced trauma in their lives to “reach their full potential”.
Its plans said the home includes two bedrooms for the children and space for two live-in staff and a manager.
In total, 10 members of staff work at the facility on 12-hour shifts, covering a 24/7 period supporting the children.
No external or internal changes would be made to the existing house.
Statements submitted by the company this summer said: “[Our mission] statement is to provide outstanding quality of care and opportunities to enable the children … to reach their full potential and improve their life chances and outcomes.
“This is undertaken in a safe, secure, friendly environment that is non-institutional, promoting family-style living as a positive experience within the home and community.
“Such support helps children to recover from experiences of trauma and significant social disruption which have rendered them vulnerable.
“The proposed use of this site would provide care for two children between the ages of 10 and 17 years old (on admission).
“Two members of staff would be present on-site at all times. Each child would be fully assessed for their suitability to be placed into this home.”
The plans are due before the Labour-run authority’s planning committee on Monday, November 21, and councillors are recommended to grant retrospective permission.
This means a conversion of the home into a care facility will be granted permission but the work has already occurred.
The application came forward following an “enforcement investigation” which found it was being used as a residential care home rather than standard residential use.
Changes included a garage being converted into an office and live-in accommodation, though no physical changes have been made to the home.
But concerns have been raised by local residents that the application came forward retrospectively, rather than being given permission prior to its change of use.
In total, 26 objection letters and one letter supporting the plans were submitted to the council’s planning portal.
Objections included concerns about noise, such as “random shouting, screaming and inappropriate language”, as well as “disturbing noises” currently emanating from the property.
Residents also reported no longer sitting in their garden or wanting to walk past the property, objects “being thrown into the air”, and issues with the changes being made without seeking planning consent.
But the letter in support welcomed the plan and noted facilities such as this “are required in the area and across the country”.
This view was shared by Nottinghamshire County Council, the local authority responsible for children’s social care and fostering.
In its consultation response, the authority said: “The county council is always interested in the potential for a new children’s home to be established in Nottinghamshire.
“[This is] in the sense that it increases the much-needed local children’s home capacity that, in turn, allows local children in care to remain living in their local community.”
Four car parking spaces would be provided for the home, with two to be used by members of staff working on the 24-hour rota.
The county council’s highways department raised no objections to the plans, while Mansfield District Council says the development “does not adversely impact on the character and appearance” of the area.
Councillors are likely to grant retrospective permission during the meeting next week.
