At a meeting of Essex County Council’s cabinet yesterday councillors were asked to vote on plans that will see all homes outsourced, with the exception of a secure unit and accompanying residential home.
Under the plans one home will definitely be closed to make way for more than 20 placements under a specialist fostering scheme.
The councillors agreed that in the case that no private, voluntary or independent providers could buy the homes, approval would be given to close them and offer full redundancy to staff.
It was agreed that all residential short break care provision for children with disabilities will remain.
In addition to the decisions on residential care councillors also voted to approve plans to significantly reduce the Connexions service in Essex and integrate the remaining workforce into a new employability and skills unit as a result of reductions to the council's area-based grant allocation.
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