Children’s home to open on Stoke-on-Trent new-build estate

A three-bedroom house in Burslem is to be turned into a children’s home. The detached property on Percy Curnock Drive will cater for three children aged between seven and 17.

A Certificate of Lawful Development application submitted on behalf of the applicant Amos Onanuga has been granted by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

The application states: “The children will be taken care of in a family home environment with carers sharing facilities with the children as parents.

“The carers will not reside at the property permanently but will work on a shift basis. The shift pattern will be a one on and two off pattern. Each shift will involve two carers starting their shift at 10am, they will then go to sleep at 11pm and wake up at 7am the next day and there will be a change over of two staff at 10am with a handover until 10.30am.

“Essentially, each shift of carers works 24 hours and then there are two more carers who will take over after that shift and then also work 24 hours. The manager will be at the home working a 9am to 5pm shift. The home will be registered with Ofsted as a children’s residential home and this will not include nursing care.

“The children would be cared for on a medium to long term basis for them to integrate properly into the community and build strong relationships with the carers. The children would attend school during the day and would utilise services and facilities in the surrounding area. At all times, the children would be accompanied by at least one carer.”

In a report recommending that the application be approved subject to conditions, case officer Joanne Dale concludes: “In this case it is considered that the operations would not constitute a material change of use requiring planning permission. Therefore, a certificate can be granted on this basis.

“This decision is based on all of the information before officers, including the court judgements and views from consultees. It is for this reason that officers conclude that the granting of a certificate in this case is warranted.”

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