sufficiency strategy
Lewisham Council is opening its own children's home to address care placement sufficiency and achieve significant savings.
Lewisham Council is opening its own children's home in Sydenham, a move expected to save £700,000 annually and provide residential care for five children. This project, which supports the council's sufficiency strategy for children in care, secured £800,000 in grant funding from the Department for Education and £400,000 from an asset sale in July 2026.
Barking and Dagenham Council's Full Council discussed the self-evaluation of children's care and support services in July 2026, which relates to its strategy to ensure adequate care placements. A sufficiency strategy aims to ensure sufficient services and provision for children and young people in a local authority's care.
Key facts
- Lewisham Council expects to save £700,000 annually by opening its own children's home. Source
- Lewisham Council's new children's home will accommodate five children. Source
- Lewisham Council secured £800,000 in grant funding from the Department for Education for the project. Source
- Lewisham Council secured an additional £400,000 from the sale of an existing asset for the project. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.