A new residential home is to be established in Calderdale to increase help made available to the borough’s looked-after children.

The new centre will be at the former children’s home Alloefield View, Illingworth, and refurbishing it will cost the council up to £150,000 to bring it up to the required standard.

It will allow children who are looked after by Calderdale Council to have more opportunity to stay closer to schools, friends and family.

In the private part of last week’s Cabinet meeting, Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, Coun Adam Wilkinson (Lab, Sowerby Bridge) said children placed away from Calderdale had poorer outcomes than those who lived in the borough with foster carers or in the council’s own outstanding residential units.

They were at greater risk of offending, being exploited or going missing and local placements reduced these risks, he said.

Cabinet agreed Alloefield View should be be re-established as a four-bedroomed residential home, with provision for a crisis placement. It will be funded by prudential borrowing.

Councillors also agreed to strengthen the Sleep On It outreach service, supporting young people and their families who are worried about their relationships with each other breaking down, and to establish Staying Close provision for care leavers offering young people leaving residential care the additional tailored support offered to those leaving foster care under the council’s Staying Put scheme.

This enables young people to complete up to two years’ full time education or further training to remain with their carers until around their 20th birthday.

Coun Audrey Smith (Lab, Sowerby Bridge) asked Cabinet whether a larger residential home had been considered.

Coun Wilkinson said there were currently 26 young people placed outside the borough but it was hoped this would be a step in the right direction.

As well as producing better outcomes for young people it reduces need for some placements outside the borough which can be very expensive, councillors have been told.

Coun Wilkinson said the council took its role as a corporate parent very seriously: “By introducing a number of improvements to our provision for children who are looked after, we can better meet young people’s needs and help to keep them safe,” he said.