CHILDREN’S homes for young people with autism will close their doors at Christmas following a damning Ofsted report.

The homes, operated by charity Autism Wessex, were rated as Requires Improvement and now the charity has admitted it is unable to provide a good quality of care.

The announcement affects 11 young people between the ages of 13 and 19 who will now need to find alternative accommodation before the homes close on December 17.

They currently live in three small homes, two on the site of the charity’s Portfield School in Parley Lane, Christchurch, and another elsewhere in the town.

Bob Lowndes, Chief Executive of Autism Wessex, said: “Over a period of time it has become increasingly apparent that the design, size and location of our children’s homes are not sufficient to enable us to provide a good quality of care.

“These environmental challenges have had an impact on staff motivation and morale. This has led to high staff turnover, affecting our provision of high quality service to the young people in our care.

“In the best long-term interest of those young people, the Charity’s trustees and I have decided to close the homes”

Mr Lowndes stressed that the wellbeing of the children “remains our top priority” and added: “We do not underestimate the significance of this decision.

“We are dedicated to working in partnership to help find each young person an alternative residential placement and we intend to work extremely closely with parents and those responsible for commissioning the services that each young person needs to ensure this happens with minimal disruption.”

The charity’s other services will continue including Portfield School which was rated as Good by Ofsted at its last inspection.

In August the Daily Echo reported on the case of Archie Thomsett, a 13-year-old boy whose parents were told he could no longer stay at the school due to the challenges it was facing.

Archie’s dad, Mark, said his progress had “drastically deteriorated” due to a high turnover of staff working in the residential homes.

Ofsted criticised behaviour management, safeguarding and staffing arrangements.