Leaving care and discretionary payments

1. How many young people ceased to be looked after by Devon County Council on or after their 18th birthday during the following periods:

May, Jun, Jul 2020: 11
Feb, Mar, Apr 2020: 23
Nov, Dec 19 Jan 2020: 25
Aug, Sep, Oct  2019: 28
May,Jun,Jul 2019: 30

2. How many young people ceased to be looked after by Devon County Council and moved into accommodation considered suitable during the following periods:

May, Jun, Jul 2020: 11
Feb, Mar, Apr 2020: 23
Nov, Dec 2019 Jan 2020: 24
Aug, Sep, Oct 2019: 27
May, Jun, Jul 2019: 27

3. How many young people ceased to be looked after by Devon County Council and moved into accommodation considered unsuitable during the periods identified:

Disclosure of these totals during the specific periods identified in this and other questions in the context of this question would risk identifying the individuals concerned.  A disclosure of their personal identity would be a breach of the first data protection principle and this information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s.40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

4. How many young people ceased to be looked after by Devon County Council and moved into independent living during the periods identified:

Please see our answer to question 3 above.

5. How many young people ceased to be looked after by Devon County Council and moved into semi-independent accommodation, supported lodgings, ordinary lodgings, foyers or other accommodation during these periods:

May, Jun, Jul 2020: 3
Feb, Mar, Apr 2020: 7
Nov, Dec 2019, Jan 2020: 13
Aug, Sep, Oct 2019: 8
May, Jun, Jul 2019: 15

6. How many young people ceased to be looked after by Devon County Council and moved to living with parents or relatives during the periods identified:

Please see our answer to question 3 above.

7. How many young people ceased to be looked after by Devon County Council and continued living with former foster carers during the following periods:

May, Jun, Jul 2020: 6
Feb, Mar, Apr 2020: 12
Nov, Dec 2019, Jan 2020: 8
Aug, Sep, Oct 2019: 13
May, Jun, Jul 2019: 8

8. How many young people ceased to be looked after by Devon County Council and moved into emergency accommodation, bed and breakfast accommodation, were recorded as having no fixed abode/homeless, or their residence not known during the periods identified:

Please see our answer to question 3 above

9. How many young people ceased to be looked after by Devon County Council and whose accommodation information was not known during:

None

10. In response to the instruction from the Secretary of State and guidance noted above:
a. How many young people have had their current placements temporarily extended so that they do not have to leave care at this time?
b. How long on average have these placements been extended for?
c. Until what date is Devon County Council planning to continue abiding by the instruction that no young person should have to leave care?

a. There are current 96 young people who are living in extended care placements post 18 . This is not as a result of Covid 19 and is offered according to assessed needs
b. There is not an average time that can be provided as each placement is extended according to individual need
c. Devon County Council continue to respond to the needs of individual young people and ensure that appropriate care arrangements remain in place .

11. How many care leavers supported by Devon County Council have received a discretionary payment to cover items such as food, utilities and rent during the period April ‘ July 2020?
12. What was the average amount (£) provided as a discretionary payment during the period April ‘ July 2020?
13. What was the total amount (£) provided as discretionary payments to care leavers during the period April ‘ July 2020?

In response to question 11-13, we do not maintain a central database of this information.  To obtain this information would therefore require an individual review of all social care files, and in relation to question 12, a subsequent calculation of information which we do not currently hold. This would take in excess of the appropriate time limit of 18 hours.  We are therefore not obliged to provide this information pursuant to s.12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.