I would like to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) in relation to the fostering service provision of your Local Authority:
Foster Carer Statistics
1. The number of currently approved foster carers;
291
2. The number of foster carers approved during 2015, 2016, and 2017. A year is from April 1st to March 31st (e.g. 2015 = 1st April 2015 ‘ 31st March 2016).
2015: 19
2016: 47
2017: 32
3. The number of foster carers who were deregistered/resigned during 2015, 2016, and 2017, including reasons for de-registration/resignation (e.g. practice issues; retirement; transfer to IFA etc.). A year is from April 1st to March 31st (e.g. 2015 = 1st April 2015 ‘ 31st March 2016).
2015: 41
2016:40
2017:40
To provide a full breakdown of every reason for de-registration or resignation would, in almost every category, involve disclosing such low numbers for every single year that there would be risks that the ex-foster carers who are no longer foster carers for a specific reason from an identifiable year, could be identified. This would be a disclosure of their personal data and a breach of the first data protection principle. This information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s.40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Foster Children Statistics
4. The number of current looked after children;
As at 22/20/2018 there are 726 looked after children
5. The number of children and young people currently placed with local authority foster carers;
387 children and young people are placed in Internal Fostering
6. The number of children and young people currently placed with IFA (Independent Fostering Agencies);
152 children and young people are place in External Fostering
7. The number of children looked after who moved into a Staying Put Arrangement or When I’m Ready, directly with the LA using the IFA approved foster carers, during 2015, 2016, and 2017. A year is from April 1st to March 31st (e.g. 2015 = 1st April 2015 ‘ 31st March 2016).
01/04/15-31/03/16: 10 children and young people moved into Staying Put arrangements with external fostering carers
01/04/16-31/03/17: 6 children and young people moved into Staying Put arrangements with external fostering carers
01/04/17-31/03/18: 6 children and young people moved into Staying Put arrangements with external fostering carers
8. The number of children looked after who moved into a Staying Put Arrangement or When I’m Ready, directly with the LA using the LA approved foster carers, during 2015, 2016, and 2017. A year is from April 1st to March 31st (e.g. 2015 = 1st April 2015 ‘ 31st March 2016).
01/04/15-31/03/16: 36 children and young people moved into Staying Put arrangements with internal fostering carers
01/04/16-31/03/17: 26 children and young people moved into Staying Put arrangements with internal fostering carers
01/04/17-31/03/18: 31 children and young people moved into Staying Put arrangements with internal fostering carers