Council faces judicial review over closure of home for children with severe needs

Salford City Council is facing a judicial review challenge to its decision to close a home for children with severe needs.

The local authority has said it plans to close The Grange in Eccles, where children live full-time, with a view to saving £300,000.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell is acting for the family of a severely disabled Salford teenager, who has autism, severe learning disabilities and a range of complex needs. They argue that changing where the claimant lives and goes to school as well as the health professionals who care for her would have a devastating impact on her life. 

Mathieu Culverhouse, the Irwin Mitchell lawyer representing those affected by the closures, said: “The Grange provides a vital lifeline for the children and their parents. The upheaval of forcing the children to move to a new home suitable to treat their complex needs will have a massive impact on their lives. The parents have asked the council not to disrupt their children’s care arrangements.

“We argue that the council failed to carry out a proper public consultation into the proposals, has not conducted a full assessment of how the current residents will be affected and has failed to identify appropriate homes, within or outside Salford, where children could be sent.”

Culverhouse added: “We had previously written to the council urging it to reconsider its decision or potentially face a judicial review into the decision in the High Court.

“Unfortunately the council has not shown that it’s willing to reconsider its decision, and so we have issued our application for a judicial review.”

Salford City Council has been approached for comment.