February 05, 2026 - 217 views
The new Bwthyn y Ddôl children’s assessment and support centre has been officially opened by the Minister for Children and Social Care, Dawn Bowden MS, marking a major milestone in local services for children with complex needs and their families.
The purpose-built centre in Colwyn Bay was developed through a partnership between Conwy County Borough Council, Denbighshire County Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB). It aims to keep children closer to their communities — near schools, family, friends and professional networks — while providing bespoke support.
Bwthyn y Ddôl features a dedicated assessment unit, space for therapeutic interventions and accommodation for planned stays. The multi-disciplinary team model combines social care, health and therapeutic expertise to support families in crisis, work towards reunification when safe, and plan longer-term care when needed.
The centre is the first of its kind serving both Conwy and Denbighshire — a significant step in reducing reliance on out-of-area placements.
The Welsh Government’s Integrated Care Fund (ICF) and Housing with Care Fund (HCF) provided the £4.8m funding for the scheme, recognising the need for innovative, community-based responses to complex family support needs.
Minister Dawn Bowden said she was “delighted to officially open Bwthyn y Ddôl” and highlighted it as an example of how children’s services in Wales are being transformed to focus on keeping children close to home and support networks. She commended the collaborative effort between councils and health services in creating a facility that “will make a real difference to the lives of children and their families.”
Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Children and Safeguarding, Councillor Kay Redhead, said the centre filled a vital gap in local provision and praised the innovative service model. “The benefit of having a bespoke facility for these services cannot be underestimated,” she said.
Denbighshire’s Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, Councillor Diane King, echoed that sentiment, noting the centre’s positive impact on families needing complex support and the value of a multi-disciplinary approach.
Tehmeena Ajmal, Chief Operating Officer at BCUHB, welcomed the centre as a “much-needed resource for children and families in Conwy and Denbighshire,” emphasizing the importance of partnership working to benefit local communities.
Bwthyn y Ddôl forms part of a broader strategy across North Wales to expand local care capacity and enable more children to remain in or close to their home areas rather than being placed far away. The centre’s aims include preventing long-term care placements where possible, offering therapeutic respite support, and creating tailored intervention plans with families and professionals.
The new facility’s registration with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) as a four-bed assessment centre demonstrates its readiness to provide intensive support alongside other local services.
