A number of improvements to residential services for disabled children have been given the green light by Gloucestershire County Council.

These improvements include a new contract for the operation of children’s homes across the county, and the move of services from Pengwern children’s home in Cheltenham to a newly refurbished building in Stroud. There are currently four children’s homes in Gloucestershire, two are managed by Gloucestershire County Council and two are managed by an independent provider. Cabinet has now approved plans for a new contract that will mean all four homes are managed by a single organisation. This will enable the service to become more flexible in how it meets the needs of disabled children and young people and their families.

The new contract will increase choice for families with the option of breaks at activity centres and out in the community, as well as overnight short breaks in the family home or within a residential centre.

The specification of the new service is being developed in partnership with parents and carers. This will help to ensure the new service effectively meets their needs.

Gloucestershire County Council has increased the number of families receiving a short break from 449 to 608 in the last year and that is set to climb to 1,000 this year. In addition, many more disabled children are now enjoying play, sports and arts activities in their own communities with the support of the county council.

Alison Cathles, commissioning project manager, Aiming High for Disabled Children, said: “As this will be a large contract covering the operation of all children’s homes across the county we believe it will be attractive to a number of providers, including the best providers.

“It will also mean we can provide a more flexible service than we have offered previously, tailored to meet the needs of young people with the most complicated disabilities.

“However, we also understand the changes we are looking to make may be unsettling for those who using the existing service and so we will be working with disabled children and their families to ensure that the changeover is as smooth as possible and to ensure any concerns they have are addressed.”

The tender period will open in February 2010, with the contract being awarded in summer 2010. The new contract will start on 1st April 2011.

Work has also started on the refurbishment of Hartwood House in Beeches Green, Stroud. Once complete, residential services currently provided at Pengwern in Cheltenham will move to Hartwood. The anticipated date for the move is April 2010. Cllr Paul McLain, Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “Pengwern is a beautiful old building. But because of the design, it’s a real challenge to meet fully the needs of disabled children and young people. We are taking the opportunity to move to Hartwood, a lovely house with a large garden. Hartwood will provide a much better setting to provide an improved, modern service that we know our disabled children and parents want.

“Services at Hartwood will be delivered by the same staff team. They are committed to providing a high quality service for disabled children and are excited about moving to this fully adapted home.

“We are working with parents and children to make sure the move is a smooth one, introducing children and parents to the new home and involving them in the preparations.”

These developments are all part of Aiming High for Disabled Children, a government programme that seeks to transform services for disabled children.