The recent decision to by DCC’s Cabinet to close Maumbury House children’s home (Sat 21 April article) on the grounds of financial viability in my view is simply wrong. The alternative to sending some of the most challenging children who can’t be found foster care outside of Dorset is most worrying.

It is worrying because homes in the independent sector require far lower qualifications and with low pay quality of provision is hard to maintain. With the profit motive being the primary driver they can refuse to take anyone they don’t think will be economical (or charge very high rates).

It is also short sighted as out of county placements mean that visiting relatives need to have travel and hotel costs reimbursed every time they visit as well as travel cost of DCC staff that would need to visit. So in reality there is little or no saving. Regretfully, these costs were not presented to the Cabinet and they appeared not interested in finding them out. I’m on record as saying that the layout of Maumbury House makes it largely unsuitable for the safeguarding of the most vulnerable and challenging youngsters but a golden opportunity has been missed.

With the closure of the West End House Cattistock capital receipts could be combined with a future sale of Maumbury and be used to invest in new purpose built facility within Dorset (even in partnership with a reputable private operator). A closure delay of one year while this option could be assessed would be far more sensible. Wouldn’t it be better that experienced and well qualified staff should be retained and Dorset’s most vulnerable children going forward would be looked after where they belong in Dorset?

Letter by Richard Biggs