The decision to give notice to Brighton and Hove Local Authority of the withdrawal from the partnership in running the Palmeira Project was a very tough one for NCH Action For Children to make.
That the service is closing is deeply regrettable and not something we would have wanted for the young people and families involved, or our staff.
However, the decision was taken with the welfare of the young people in question very much at heart.
We believe they deserve a safe, quality service.
When the partnership with Brighton was set up, we agreed to provide the property in Palmeira Avenue and meet part of the management costs. Brighton agreed to fund the remaining costs, including staffing.
Once the service was set up it quickly became clear the young people's needs were greater than we had been informed or anticipated. In order to provide an appropriate high standard of care it was necessary to considerably increase the level of staffing.
Brighton agreed to this and additional staff were recruited, while negotiations were held about how to meet the additional costs. In the interim, NCH Action For Children covered the extra staffing costs using its own voluntary income.
However, as a charity it is not appropriate to use this money to support a service, which the Local Authority has a duty to provide.
Regrettably, after lengthy negotiations, Brighton was not able to fund the full staffing needs. Unable to continue to cover the costs ourselves we had no option but to give notice to the partnership.
Recent comments have given an inaccurate interpretation of events, and unfortunately only aggravate an already distressing situation, particularly for the families involved.
Our primary concern is to minimise any upset to the young people and we are working closely with parents to achieve this.
The service is set to close at the end of November, but as yet we have not made any plans with regard to the property in Palmeira Avenue. As far as NCH Action For Children and the staff at Palmeira are concerned the young people remain our priority.
Any money made from the sale of assets are always reinvested in new services for children and families, a process that has been going on for very many years.
-Deryk Mead, Chief executive, NCH Action for Children
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