A HOUSE near the village of Nynehead just outside Wellington is to be converted to a private home for children in care.

It will be run by private firm Willows (Devon) Ltd, which also manages four similar houses in the East and Mid Devon areas, providing homes for children from Somerset and across the Westcountry.

Spokesman Stephen Brunskill said the Nynehead property would be lived in by up to four girls aged from 11 to 17 years old.

Mr Brunskill said the girls’ care would be provided by two live-in staff in residence at any one time who would fulfil the role of ‘parenting’ the children.

He said the use would be identical to that of a normal family occupying the premises as a dwelling house.

Mr Brunskill said: “Willows provides care, and, separately, education for girls in the care of South West authorities, including Somerset.

“Somerset social care has specifically requested that we open a children’s home within the Somerset border and confirm there is a local insufficiency for these children, who should, if at all possible, be cared for in their home area.

“The girls living in the house will have ‘looked after’ status, they will be in the care of and be placed by the local authority.

“The reasons for these girls being ‘looked after’ are individual, but they have in common that through no fault of their own their own families are unable to provide adequate care for them.

“While they will probably be unrelated, they will live as a family group, and this would be their permanent registered address providing the children with a stable and caring ‘familial’ environment.

“The girls will leave each morning to attend school in the normal way during term-time, be taken out for the usual leisure activities, holidays, and other social events.

“The hours, manner, and routine of use of the house will therefore be identical to that of a family home with school-age children.”

Mr Brunskill said a total of six carers would be employed, but only two would be in residence to look after the children at any one time whenever the children were at home and they would sleep in the house.

He said: “The role of the adults is that of ‘parenting’ the resident children in all respects, and in all respects functioning as a ‘family unit’.

“Meals are prepared and taken together as a family group, washing up and other chores are shared by all members of the household, cleaning, clothes washing, gardening, and minor maintenance is organised as in a family, social activities are organised as a family group with trips out, but also children who have separate interests may be taken to events or attend activities.”

Somerset Council planning officer Anthony Pick approved a certificate of lawfulness application by Willows, which he said would not mean any material change in the planning use of the house.

Mr Pick said consultation was not carried out because such matters were determined by factual evidence and legal considerations rather than planning merits.