Looked After Children
1) How many children are looked after by your council? (looked after as defined in section 22 Children Act 1989)
849
2) Out of this, how many are aged 16 or over?
242
Supported Accommodation
3) How many looked after children are currently placed in supported accommodation by your council? (a semi-independent or independent setting, provided under s.22C(6)(d) Children Act 1989)
84
4) Out of this, how many are aged 15 or under?
0
Unregulated Accommodation
5) How many looked after children are currently placed in unregulated accommodation by your council? (accommodation which does not meet the requirement of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) regulations 2010, as amended by the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023.)
17
6) Out of this, how many are aged 15 or under?
11
Unaccompanied Assylum Seeking Children (UASC)
7) How many UASC are looked after by your council?
61
8) Out of this, how many are aged 15 or under?
35
9) How many looked after UASC are currently placed in unregulated accommodation? (accommodation which does not meet the requirement of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) regulations 2010, as amended by the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023.)
0
10) Out of this, how many are aged 15 or under?
0
11) How many looked after UASC are currently placed in supported accommodation?
21
12) Out of this, how many are aged 15 or under?
0
Secure Accommodation/ Deprivation of Liberty Orders
13) How many looked after children are currently placed in secure accommodation? (regulated accommodation under section 25 Children Act 1989)
14) Out of this, how many are aged 15 and under?
15) How many looked after children are currently subject to a deprivation of liberty order?
16) Out of this, how many are aged 15 and under?
17) How many looked after children subject to a deprivation of liberty order are currently placed in unregulated accommodation?
18) Out of this, how many are aged 15 and under?
In response to questions 13-18, this information is exempt from disclosure under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Personal Data).
Devon County Council can confirm the requested information is held; however, the Council cannot disclose personal information if releasing it would contravene any of the provisions in the Data Protection Act 2018. In this instance release of this information may identify those individuals in secure accommodation and subject to deprivation of liberty orders. This would risk a disclosure of their personal information and would contravene the first data protection principle. Therefore, the information is withheld.
Cost and Availability
19) What is the average cost per bed to your council in supported accommodation?
£4840.54
20) What is the average cost per bed to your council in regulated supported accommodation?
£3606.44
21) What is the average cost per bed to your council in unregulated supported accommodation?
£10,746.61
22) How many regulated supported accommodation beds are available to your council?
169 regulated beds in supported accommodation in the Devon County Council area, and Torquay and Plymouth.
38 regulated beds in supported lodgings in the Devon County Council area, and Torquay and Plymouth.
23) What is the average cost per bed to your council in accommodation providing “care”?
£7149.13
24) What is the average cost per bed to your council in regulated accommodation providing “care”?
£7149.13
25) What is the average cost per bed to your council in unregulated accommodation providing “care”?
£0
26) How many beds in regulated accommodation providing “care” are available to your council?
There are 173 registered children’s home beds in Devon. However, it’s not possible to identify which of these beds maybe blocked, on hold or retained.
27) What is the average cost per bed to your council in regulated secure accommodation?
£13,300
28) How many regulated secure accommodation beds are available to your council?
Regulated secure accommodation for young people is a national level resource so Devon will have access to the same number of overall places as any other local authority in England and Wales. As published on the government website, the number of approved places in May 2024 were 237 (Children accommodated in secure children’s homes, Reporting year 2024). On any one day availability of places will depend on current occupancy and the type of secure accommodation needed as some places are welfare places and some are for the youth custody service.
29) What is the average cost per bed to your council in unregulated placements for children subject to deprivation or liberty orders?
There are currently no unregulated placements for children subject to deprivation or liberty orders, therefore this information is not held by Devon County Council.