Members to hear about success of residential care services in Norfolk, as council plans for third New Roads hub

A third hub to support children at risk of coming into care is set to open in Norfolk. 

The New Roads hub, which would provide outreach support and temporary beds for children aged over 12, will cover the Great Yarmouth, Broadland and North Norfolk area - building on the success of hubs already operating in Norwich and Dereham. 

New Roads is based on North Yorkshire Council's No Wrong Door model and provides young people with dedicated support, including help with education, communication and life coaching. 

Since it launched in Norfolk, in 2021, the service has prevented more than 560 children coming into care, avoiding costs of nearly £69m.  

Details of the scheme are included in a report to Norfolk County Council's Cabinet detailing the success of Norfolk County Council's residential service. 

Councillors are to discuss the report when they meet on Monday, 3 November. 

Cllr Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children's Services at Norfolk County Council, said: "Our residential care services are providing really high quality care that is supporting our children to flourish. At the end of September all of our provision was rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted. 

"We're particularly pleased with the impact our New Roads service has had in supporting young people to stay with their families, giving them the support and confidence they need to become independent adults. These hubs work with children with very complex needs and have helped contribute to the drop in children coming into care in Norfolk. 

"The staff that support these young people do a fantastic job in sticking with them and making sure they have access to the services and support they need."