Children’s facility external to hospital is returning for an extended time (9)
I believe the answer is:
orphanage
'children's facility external to hospital' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'returning for an extended time' is the wordplay.
'returning' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'for' becomes 'pro' (as in being 'pro' or in favour of something).
'an extended' becomes 'han' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'time' becomes 'age' (an age is a period of time).
'pro' back-to-front is 'orp'.
'orp'+'han'+'age'='ORPHANAGE'
'is' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for orphanage that I've seen before include "Parentless children's institution" , "with deprived children" , "home for little Annie" , "home for kids" , "Institution for parentless or abandoned children" .)