Click members at the launch with staff and officers including assistant director of children's services Michele Harris
Its name, Luminous House, was chosen by young people and it will be home for up to nine children in care in Wandsworth.
Young people from the Wandsworth Children Living in Care Kouncil (Click) gave feedback throughout the project on how they wanted Luminous House to be and even helped interview staff and organise the launch event.
The home will be run by St Christopher’s Fellowship, which runs homes rated Outstanding in other areas, and will open shortly. Local people have been kept informed throughout.
Luminous House is part of a wider plan to meet the needs of an increasing number of looked-after young people in the borough – especially adolescents preparing to move into adult life. This includes a drive to recruit and retain foster carers and more support for care leavers.
As part of this package – known as a ‘local offer’ - the council will pay the council tax of care leavers up to the age of 21 wherever they choose to live, and will offer support on managing their finances, relationships, education, training, health, accommodation and work.
The council’s cabinet member for Children’s Services Sarah McDermott said: “This bright new home will be a safe, welcoming home for some of the teenagers we look after. It will be run by an experienced provider with a proven track record in providing the very best outcomes for children in care.
“We are determined to make sure all our young children get the best possible start in life and this is just part of a widespread package of support we will offer our looked-after children and care leavers.”