The teenager applied for a judicial review of the council’s plan to close all but one of its eight homes, arguing that the authority failed to consider his individual needs when making the decision.
Essex County Council has now issued a legally enforceable undertaking that it will not shut any of its children’s homes, as long as those homes are needed by its "settled" looked after children.
The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS), which acted on behalf of the teenager in the case, said the undertaking represents a "significant rethink on the part of the council", which had previously advised staff that children living in the homes must move out by 15 December so the closures could proceed.
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