A CHILDREN’S care home has been approved to open up in Mayland.

The Dells on The Drive, Mayland, will be internally converted into a residential children’s home that will be able to accommodate up to four children at a time aged between 11 and 18 who have behavioural and/or learning difficulties.

There will also be provisions for one emergency bed.

The project, titled Nyala House, will be managed by Personal Security Service Ltd, whose primary objective will be to provide the young people with a safe, stable, happy and comfortable home to build confidence and self-esteem going into adult life.

The home will be staffed by a registered manager, a deputy manager and two team leaders. In addition, there are care workers who may be called upon depending on the particular needs of the children. The home may also call on additional specialist staff when the need arises.

It will be manned on a rota basis 24/7 with no less than two members of staff on site at any one time, although on occasions this may be increased to three.

In a statement, representatives of Personal Security Service said: “In our modern and tastefully decorate house we provide a person centered approach to care, nurturing the needs of each individual young person.

“Our aim is to create opportunities and possibilities for the young people to have future successes in their life goals, to enable them to build upon their confidence, self-esteem and resilience as they progress into adult life.

Maldon District Council approved the plans, stating the home will be relevant to the district’s infrastructure in the local development plan and that it would not need any physical alterations or construction.

Some residents objected to the plans, with fellow The Drive resident Malcolm Nash stating the plans were well-intentions but would “bring about problems”.

He said: “There are vulnerable older residents in the area as well as a school and playgroup opposite the site.

“There is also a lack of facilities in the area which cannot be conductive to the upbringing of youngsters with problems.”