WORK has begun on creating a new children’s home in Weymouth.

Building work is currently underway to create a new residential home for Dorset children at the former Adult Education Centre in Dorchester Road.

Dorset Council said this new development will provide a home for up to five local children and is a major step in creating more high-quality residential accommodation within Dorset. It will also provide accommodation for up to three children in need of short term residential care.

This new home will be for Dorset children, mostly from Weymouth, Portland and the surrounding area.

Cllr Andrew Parry, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Early Help, said: “Creating more homes for children in Dorset is crucial as without it, local children may have to leave their schools, their friends, their families and everything they know and be placed in care far away.

“Most importantly, this is not good for our children, but it is also very costly, as it involves sending money out of Dorset, rather than investing in skilled jobs locally.”

Dorset Council has appointed Spetisbury Construction as the main contractor for the building work at the site. So far, the main building has been stripped out ready for a complete refurbishment and the old modular classroom unit, link corridor and screen wall has been demolished.

Work on the new adjacent building is also underway, with the modular units due to arrive on site towards the end of September. This will be the main residential home for up to five children.

The council said that the new home has been designed to be sympathetic to the architecture within the local conservation area and professionally designed landscaping and planting will make it an asset to the neighbourhood. It is expected to be completed by December 2021.

The home will be run and managed by The Harbour. The council said they are currently looking for the very best specialist foster carers to join the multi-agency team and be part of the Harbour approach which will combine residential care with fostering, outreach support, and supported lodgings.

Cllr Andrew Parry added: “We are looking for specialist foster carers who our young people describe as ‘positive, understanding, determined, respectful, caring and someone who will stick with them through the hard times to help with their journey’, please get in touch for a chat if you think that sounds like you.”