Childrens homes – registration, places and looked after children

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1)How many registered children’s homes are operating in the local authority, including private, voluntary and local authority-run homes. Please provide data for each of the last three financial years (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19).

Year Number of homes
2016 – 2017 44
2017 – 2018 42
2018 – 2019 51

2) How many children’s homes places are available in the local authority area for looked-after children ‘ and how many places go unused
a) each month
b) annually –

We do not hold annual figures or any information about how many places go unused.

Please provide data where possible for each of the last 3 financial years. (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)

Year and Month Number of beds
2016 – April 212
May 187
June 105
July 107
August 160
September 136
October 136
November 133
December 133
2017 – January 134
February 134
March 133
April 133
May 133
June 137
July 144
August 145
September 145
October 145
November 147
December 133
2018 January 133
February 130
March 133
April 135
May 135
June 135
July 135
August 138
September 138
October 138
November 138
December 138
2019 January 138
February 134
March 138

3) How many looked-after children were placed by the local authority into temporary accommodation during the year in each year of the last three financial years. (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)
a) Where possible also provide the accommodation used ‘ for example, B&Bs, caravans, hostels, barges etc.
b) Where possible please also provide the duration children spent in these placements in days.

We may hold this information but consider that given the number of placements, the date range requested, and the different information sources to review the total time needed to identify, locate and compile the information would be well in excess of the 18 hours specified under the Freedom of information Act 2000 Section 12 – Cost of Compliance.

We have published a previous response that may provide some additional information.

4) How many looked-after children were placed by the local authority in registered children’s homes (K2 accommodation) during the year in each of the last 3 financial years. Of those children how many:
a) were placed into accommodation within the authority area
b) were placed into accommodation outside of the authority area
i. For those children placed out of area please provide information on the distances children were placed in miles. For example numbers of children placed 0-10 miles, 11-20 miles, 21-30 miles, 31-40, 41-50 miles, 51-100miles, 100+ miles.

2016 – 2017 2017 – 2018 2018 – 2019
Number placed in K2 104 96 110
Of which placed in local authority area 51 41 50
Of which placed outside local authority area 53 55 60
Of which placed within 0 – 10 miles * * *
Of which placed within 11 – 20 miles * * *
Of which placed within 21  -30 miles * * *
Of which placed within 31 – 40 miles * * 8
Of which placed within 41 – 50 miles * * *
Of which placed within 51 – 100 miles 12 13 12
Of which placed over 100 miles 25 29 28

The use of the * symbol indicates that we hold the information but as disclosure may identify individuals and therefore breach their rights under Data Protection laws we consider the information is exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Section 40 (2) Personal Data.

5) How many looked-after children were placed into unregulated children’s homes accommodation and/or semi-independent children’s homes not subject to children’s homes regulation (H5 accommodation) during the year in each of the past three financial years.
a. Where possible please provide the ages of children at the time of placement in the following
i. Under 16
ii. 16-17
iii. 18

Year Number of children placed in H5 accommodation Under 16 16-17 18
2016 – 2017 71 4 67 0
2017 – 2018 70 4 66 0
2018 – 2019 122 3 119 0