Please may I make the following FOI request regarding your services for Children and Young People?
1. What case management system do you use for children’s services?
Eclipse.
2. Please provide the name(s), email(s), and telephone number(s) of the individual(s) responsible for the FIS / SEND Local Offer websites within your organisation?
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 UK General Data Protection Regulation. In this instance release of this information would contravene the first data protection principle and therefore the information is withheld.
For information, Devon’s websites are managed by the Corporate Communications Team. You can contact the Corporate Communications Team via the following email address: communications@devon.gov.uk.
3. Are your Local Offer pages/FIS site developed in-house or externally?
In house.
4. If externally, which providers currently provide your Family Information Services directories and/or SEND Local Offer site?
N/A.
5. If external, please confirm the value of the FIS contract and/or Local Offer site detailing implementation cost and ongoing if possible and when it is due for renewal?
N/A.
6. If internally, are there any plans for this to be developed by an external supplier?
No.
7. Please provide the name(s), email(s), and telephone number(s) of the individual(s) responsible for Short Breaks provision.
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 UK General Data Protection Regulation. In this instance release of this information would contravene the first data protection principle and therefore the information is withheld.
8. Do you provide grants or direct payments for Short Breaks provision? If not, are there any plans to provide grants or direct payments in the future?
Yes this is currently provided.
9. What was the annual spend on Short Breaks provision for the last financial year?
The total spend on short breaks provision (all types/arrangements) in 2023/24 was £7.31 million.
10. Do parents/carers book Short Breaks provision via the council?
No – short breaks provision is either contracted by the council for an individual child, or parent/carers make their own bookings using direct payment funding.
11. If not, do you use an external organisation to provide this service?
No.
12. Do you use digital solutions to assist with the application, awarding and management of Short Breaks?
Individual management of short breaks is being supported through a digital solution. This is in implementation phase and therefore not all families.
13. If so, who is the provider and when is the contract due to expire?
PPL is the provider.
Contract expiry 16.05.2025.
14. Are you considering using digital solutions to manage and oversee your Short Breaks?
N/A, please see answer to question 12.
15. Who oversees the management of personal budgets and direct payments for children/families and what are their contact details? – i.e. name(s), email (s).
This is the Service Manager, Disabled Children’s Targeted Support and Designated Social Care Officer.
Their 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 UK General Data Protection Regulation. In this instance release of this information would contravene the first data protection principle and therefore the information is withheld.
16. Does the Local Authority use 3rd party services and/or digital solutions to assist with the delivery and budget management of CYPs personal budgets, direct payments, e.g. pre-paid cards, eWallet solutions, direct payment support services, digital software?
Digital solutions to assist with delivery and budget management of direct payments are:
Eclipse
Carefirst
PFS cards
PPL Virtual Wallet
17 If yes, what solution is used, who is the provider and when is the contract due to expire?
Eclipse – provided by OLM, contract expiry 31/03/28
Carefirst – provided by OLM, contract expiry 31/03/28
PFS cards – contract expiry 01/03/27
PPL Virtual Wallet – contract expiry 16/5/25
18. If no, is this something that you are considering and who in the LA is the person to contact about this and what are their contact details – i.e. name(s), email (s).
N/A.
19. Who is the Director of Children’s Services at the council and please provide their title, name and email address?
Julian Wooster, Director of Children and Young People’s Futures (Interim).
All Council email addresses follow the format, name.surname@devon.gov.uk.
20. Who is the Assistant Director of Children’s Services at the council and please provide their title, name and email address?
Becky Hopkins, Head of Children’s Social Care and Deputy Director of Children and Young People’s Futures.
All Council email addresses follow the format, name.surname@devon.gov.uk.