1.The number of registered Childrens Homes operated by the Local Authority as at 1st January 2019 and as at 1st January 2018;
One
2. The number of registered Childrens Homes operated by an Independent (private or voluntary) provider within your Local Authority as at 1st January 2019 and as at 1st January 2018;
2018 – 42
2019 – 41
3. The number of current looked after children (LAC);
751 ( January 15th) . This is the most recent easily reportable date, we understand the number has fallen slightly since this date.
4. The number of LAC currently placed within Local Authority Childrens homes;
Six
5. The number of LAC currently placed within Independent Childrens homes;
58 (end of January 2019)
6. In relation to any Frameworks you currently operate with Independent Childrens Home Providers, please provide the following information (including Provider name) about the number of LAC placed with Independent Childrens Homes, the average weekly fee paid for these placements, per type specified and whether the fees include any discounts agreed with said Provider. Please also advise the totals for all placements in each type specified i.e. total average weekly fee & total no of CYP in placement.
Please use the example format below and return in an excel spreadsheet if possible:
Framework
Name of Provider
Average weekly fee (multi-staffing)
Average weekly fee (1:1 staffing)
Average weekly fee (2:1 staffing)
Average weekly fee (solo)
Average weekly fee (other)
No of CYP in placement (multi-staffing)
No of CYP in placement (1:1 staffing)
No of CYP in placement (2:1 staffing)
No of CYP in placement (solo)
No of CYP in placement (other)
Discounts Agreed (type & %)
This response is for Question 6 and 7.
The staffing information is not held by Devon County Council but by our providers and as we estimate it would take in excess of 18 hours to identify, locate and collate the information, due to the number of providers and the differing ways they may record and store the data, consider it exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of information Act 2000 Section 12 Cost of Compliance.
We do hold financial information that we could use to identify average costs from. We are constantly working to seek balance on expenditure and quality through the purchase of services. The question asks for average costs under a specific service and through individual providers. There is a likelihood that other market providers would view this information and for those that are currently providing services that sit below our average costs they may seek to increase these as a result. Average costs are skewed by some high cost providers which means that any cost information provided would be a misrepresentation of the market.The information does not take into account any impacts on costs caused by the specific needs of a young person and additional services that will have been provided as a part of the overarching service. This further compounds any misrepresentation.
Because of this we consider that disclosure would prejudice the commercial interests of ourselves and our providers and is therefore exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Section 43(2) Commercially Confidential. As this is a qualified exemption we are also obliged to carry out a public interest test, and although there is a public interest in being open and accountable, and to encourage competition, on balance we believe there is a greater public interest in the non disclosure of this information, for the reasons given above, therefore we uphold the exemption.
7. As per question 6, please provide the same information; however, this time in relation to Non-Framework Providers i.e. where the Local Authority (LA) has placed with Independent Childrens Home Providers using a Spot Purchase mechanism because the Provider is not on a Framework with the LA. Please also advise the totals for all placements in each type specified i.e. total average weekly fee & total no of CYP in placement.
Spot Purchase (non-framework)
Name of Provider
Average weekly fee (multi-staffing)
Average weekly fee (1:1 staffing)
Average weekly fee (2:1 staffing)
Average weekly fee (solo)
Average weekly fee (other)
No of CYP in placement (multi-staffing)
No of CYP in placement (1:1 staffing)
No of CYP in placement (2:1 staffing)
No of CYP in placement (solo)
No of CYP in placement (other)
Discounts Agreed (type & %)
Please see above.