1. How many children were in care on October 30th in 2023, 2021, 2019 and 2013?
2023 – 905
2021 – 823
2019 – 781
2013 – 694
2. How many active foster carers were there on the above dates?
2023 – 316
2021 – 345
2019 – 357
2013 – Devon County Council do not hold this information.
Please note, these figures are without foster to adopt and temporary approved Regulation 24 foster carers.
3. In the above years, how many foster carers left?
2023 – 30 mainstream and 23 friends and family
2021 – 22 mainstream and 17 friends and family
2019 – 18 mainstream and 11 friends and family
2013 – 17 mainstream
Please note, these figures are without foster to adopt.
4. How many were recruited?
2023 – 19
2021 – 25
2019 – 20
2013 – 26
Please note, these figures are without foster to adopt and temporary approved Regulation 24 foster carers.
5. How many children were in residential care (children’s homes) on the above dates?
2023 – 95
2021 – 103
2019 – 84
2013 – 49
6. What was the average cost per child per year?
2023 – £259,563
2021 – £259,563
2019 – £248,070
2013 – Devon County Council do not hold this information.
7: What is the annual budget spent on independent fostering agencies? Please provide an overall figure and an average per child for the above dates.
We do not hold this information by calendar year, but per financial year:
2023/24 – £8,632,020 (anticipated spend)
2021/22 – £8,667,243
2019/20 – £7,021,817
2013/14 – Devon County Council do not hold this information
Average per child on 18/10/2023 – £55,484
Average per child on 31/10/2021 – £51,026
Average per child on 28/10/2019 – £48,220
2013 – Devon County Council do not hold this information
8: What is the average annual cost spent on social services-employed foster carers? Please provide an overall figure and the figure per child for the above dates.
We do not hold this information by calendar year, but per financial year:
2023/24 – £11,322,700 (anticipated spend)
2021/22 – £11,266,766
2019/20 – £10,202,489
2013/14 – Devon County Council do not hold this information
Average per child on 18/10/2023 – £19,344
Average per child on 31/10/2021 – £19,945
Average per child on 28/10/2019 – £20,525
2013 – Devon County Council do not hold this information
9. For the same dates, how many children were in unregulated placements? Please provide the figure for under and over 16 years of age
| Date | Under 16 years old | 16 years and over |
| 30/10/23 | 31* | 91 |
| 30/10/21 | 3 | 53 |
| 30/10/19 | 5 | 53 |
| 30/10/13 | 2 | 122 |
* In the majority the ‘unregulated’ classification appears in place where children are currently with family members awaiting Regulation 24 approval. We have defined unregulated as a child in a placement type of ‘other’ or ‘semi-independent living not subject to children’s homes regulations’.