A regional “hub and spoke” scheme to provide accommodation for children with complex needs will be developed, with backing from Ceredigion’s cabinet.

Cabinet members approved the development of a “regional safe accommodation scheme” which would use ICF funding for the establishment of a central accommodation hub for children with complex needs at its meeting on Tuesday (June 15).

An award of £1.7million capital funding has been recently approved, as well as £708,220 revenue funding to “pump prime” the project this year with a business case for Ceredigion’s “spoke” provision being prepared.

Cabinet member for Porth Cynnal Cllr Alun Williams said that the regional scheme has been in development since 2019 when shortage of provision close to children’s’ homes was highlighted in the west Wales region.

He said that over the last five years Ceredigion County Council has had between three to five children looked after in residential placement which are all out of county, and often out of west Wales.

He added that the placements are costly, between £5,000 to £10,000 and that young people had the right for “better quality support closer to home care.”

The West Wales Regional Partnership proposals include a regional hub and spoke residential provision with the aim of providing specialist care, support and accommodation for children with the most complex needs at a small regional hub supported by local county provision.