A failing children's home in Dorchester is to close.

The decision to close Maumbury House Children's Home was made at Dorset County Council's cabinet meeting.

The news comes despite the council's previous pledge to 'focus it efforts' on Maumbury House and saying it 'would remain open' following the closure of its other children's home, West End House in Cattistock, in September.

Councillor Steve Butler, lead member for children’s services at Dorset County Council described the running of Maumbury House as no longer "financially viable" and that it no longer meets the needs of children.

The home is costing more than £12,000 per week to run, with only one child currently housed there.

Cllr Peter Wharf added: "The facility is not financially viable and it does not make sense to continue with something that does not work."

As reported, Maumbury House was rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted last summer. It was expected again in October and was rated 'requires improvement'.

In addition to the negative reports by Ofsted, the council said it has been unsuccessful in be able to recruit registered managers and has therefore been unable to maintain a stable workforce.

The children’s home provides long-term placements for up to five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

A longer-term placement is currently being sought for the one child residing at Maumbury House.

The report reads that there are currently 12 members of staff employed at Maumbury House and that "every effort" will be made to redeploy all staff affected by the closure.

The estimated cost of severance were all staff not to be redeployed would be circa £116,000.

Cllr Richard Biggs, who grew up in the neighbourhood of Maumbury House, asked cabinet members to consider allowing the home to remain open for a further year and give time for other options to be explored.

He explained that there are "significant costs" to placing children outside of the county as not all children can be placed into foster care.

The report read that for the home to operate successfully a 'significant degree of investment would be needed'. These would include upgrading and modernising areas of the living areas and offices spaces and implementing an intensive and current training and development programme for the staff, specially regarding the management of children with - the council does not have such funds.