Dear Ms Sanderson

FOI Request ref:  5270 / Contracts for Children's Services

Thank you for your request for information about the above. Your request
was received on 5/3/2015 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We always aim to respond as quickly as possible, and in this case will do
so no later than 2/4/2015, which is the 20 working day deadline. The
deadline is counted from the first working day we receive it, not the date
a letter is written / posted or an email sent.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will
let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be
required to pay before we proceed in dealing with your request.

Please quote the above reference number in any communication regarding
this request.

Yours sincerely

Amilia Holland

Customer Information Adviser

East Sussex County Council

Communities Economy and Transport Directorate

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

East Sussex BN7 1UE

Phone: 01273 482913
Fax: 01273 481208

email: [1][East Sussex County Council request email]   web: [2]www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

P  please consider the environment - do you really need to print this
email

This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in
error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy
it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this
when replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council
may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with
relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made.

You can visit our website at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[East Sussex County Council request email]
2. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

Dear Ms Sanderson

FOI Request ref:  5270 / Contracts for Children's Services

Thank you for your request for information about the above. Your request
was received on 5/3/2015 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We always aim to respond as quickly as possible, but we do need you to
clarify your request before we will be able to process it.

With regards to the ‘in house’ stated in questions 1 and 3 (shown below),
are you referring to East Sussex County Council’s own list of providers
used for external placements when children cannot be placed with
Children’s Services own recruited foster carers?

1. Do you currently have your own "In House" Service, preferred  suppliers
list or master vendor contract in place for your children  in care?

3. If you have your own "In House" Service, do you ever spot  purchase to
support this service and would the service ever be put  out for tender?

Your request is on hold pending receipt of your clarification. Please
quote the above reference number in any communication regarding this
request.

Yours sincerely

Amilia Holland

Customer Information Adviser

East Sussex County Council

Communities Economy and Transport Directorate

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

East Sussex BN7 1UE

Phone: 01273 482913
Fax: 01273 481208

email: [1][East Sussex County Council request email]   web: [2]www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

P  please consider the environment - do you really need to print this
email

This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in
error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy
it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this
when replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council
may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with
relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made.

You can visit our website at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[East Sussex County Council request email]
2. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

Dear Ms Sanderson

FOI Request ref:  5270 / Contracts for Children's Services

Thank you for your request for information about the above. Your clarified
request was received on 12/3/2015 and I am dealing with it under the terms
of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We always aim to respond as quickly as possible, and in this case will do
so no later than 2/4/2015, which is the 20 working day deadline. The
deadline is counted from the first working day we receive it, not the date
a letter is written / posted or an email sent.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will
let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be
required to pay before we proceed in dealing with your request.

Please quote the above reference number in any communication regarding
this request.

Yours sincerely

Jeremy Coleman

Customer Information Officer

East Sussex County Council

Communities Economy and Transport Directorate

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

East Sussex BN7 1UE

Phone: 01273 482913
Fax: 01273 481208

email: [1][East Sussex County Council request email]   web: [2]www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

P  please consider the environment - do you really need to print this
email

This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in
error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy
it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this
when replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council
may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with
relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made.

You can visit our website at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[East Sussex County Council request email]
2. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

Dear Ms Sanderson

FOI Request ref:  5270 / Contracts for Children's Services

Thank you for your request for information about the above. Your request
was received on 5/3/2015 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I have been asked to seek further clarification from you.

Do all the questions raised only refer to the supervised contact service?

Your request is on hold pending receipt of your clarification. Please
quote the above reference number in any communication regarding this
request.

Yours sincerely

Jeremy Coleman

Customer Information Officer

East Sussex County Council

Communities Economy and Transport Directorate

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

East Sussex BN7 1UE

Phone: 01273 482913
Fax: 01273 481208

email: [1][East Sussex County Council request email]   web: [2]www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

P  please consider the environment - do you really need to print this
email

This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in
error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy
it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this
when replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council
may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with
relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made.

You can visit our website at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[East Sussex County Council request email]
2. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

Dear Ms Sanderson

 FOI Request ref:  5270 / Contracts for Children's Services

Thank you for your request for information about the above. Your clarified
request was received on 16/3/2015 and I am dealing with it under the terms
of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We always aim to respond as quickly as possible, and in this case will do
so no later than 8/4/2015, which is the amended 20 working day deadline,
taking into account the period on hold awaiting your clarification. The
deadline is counted from the first working day we receive it, not the date
a letter is written / posted or an email sent.

Please quote the above reference number in any communication regarding
this request.

Yours sincerely

Amilia Holland

Customer Information Adviser

East Sussex County Council

Communities Economy and Transport Directorate

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

East Sussex BN7 1UE

Phone: 01273 482913
Fax: 01273 481208

email: [1][East Sussex County Council request email]   web: [2]www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

P  please consider the environment - do you really need to print this
email

This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in
error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy
it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this
when replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council
may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with
relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made.

You can visit our website at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[East Sussex County Council request email]
2. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

Dear Ms Sanderson

FOI Request ref:  5270 / Contracts for Children's Services

Thank you for your request for information about the above, which has been
dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your
request and our response are set out below. Please note that any
information we provide is subject to the copyright and reuse of
information terms and conditions set out at the bottom of this email.

REQUEST

I would like to enquire about your Supervised Contact Service.

1. Do you currently have your own "In House" Service, preferred  suppliers
list or master vendor contract in place for your children  in care?

2. If you have a contract in place, when will this be due for  renewal and
what is your process for announcing, advertising and  applying for this
opportunity?

3. If you have your own "In House" Service, do you ever spot  purchase to
support this service and would the service ever be put  out for tender?

4. What is the council's annual spend on outsourced agencies for 
supervised contact for 2012 - 2013 and 2013 - 2014?

5. What is the name and contact details for the procurement and  placement
officer who is responsible for this service?

RESPONSE

1.    Supervised Contact is predominantly delivered by our own staff, e.g.
those employed by East Sussex County Council (in-house as we would
describe it).

2.    We may - on occasions - spot purchase from Foster Care Agencies who
are on our Preferred Provider Framework for foster care placements and who
will offer us this additional service. This framework is in place until
the 31^st October 2016.  All opportunities with a value of more than £100k
are advertised on our shared services e-portal:

[1]http://www.sesharedservices.org.uk

3.    Where the providers on our framework aren’t able to provide
supervised contact as required, we would spot purchase off- framework.
There are no plans to put this service out to tender.

4.    2012/13:  £495,773

2013/14:  £234,037

5.    Sally Carnie

Head of Looked After Children’s Services

[2][email address]

Tel: 01323 647197

I hope that this answers your enquiry. If you believe that the County
Council has not complied with the FOI Act in responding to your request,
you may ask for an internal review. If you wish to do so, please set out
the grounds of your appeal in writing to:

Philip Baker, Assistant Chief Executive, East Sussex County Council,
County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex. BN7 1UE.

or by email to him at [3][email address]

Please quote the FOI reference number in any communication regarding this
particular request.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you then
have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision
unless you have exhausted the County Council’s internal review procedure
as described in the previous paragraph. The Commissioner can be contacted
at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Tel: 0303 123 1113.  [4]www.ico.org.uk

Yours sincerely

Amilia Holland

Customer Information Adviser

East Sussex County Council

Communities, Economy and Transport

W1D, County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

East Sussex BN7 1UE

Phone: 01273 482913
Fax: 01273 481208

email: [5][East Sussex County Council request email]   web: [6]www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi

P    please consider the environment - do you really need to print this
email

Copyright and Re-Use of information

1. Providing you with documents under the Freedom of Information Act does
not give you an automatic right to re-use those documents in a way that
would infringe copyright – for example by making multiple copies, or by
publishing / issuing copies to the public.

2. Copyright in the information is owned by East Sussex County Council
and/or its contractor(s) unless otherwise stated. Brief extracts of the
material can be reproduced under the “fair dealing” provisions of the
Copyright Design and Patents Act 1988 (S.29 and S.30) for the purposes of
research for non-commercial purposes, private study, criticism, review and
news reporting.

3. We do not give permission for this information to be used for the
purposes of direct marketing.

4. If you wish to use this information then, in accordance with the
Regulations on the Re-use of Public Sector Information 2005, you must
first ask our permission. Such re-use may or may not involve the granting
of a licence and the application of a Fee.

This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may
contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in
error please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy
it to anyone else.

E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this
when replying. All communications sent to or from the County Council
may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with
relevant legislation.

Although East Sussex County Council has taken steps to ensure that this
e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we can take no responsibility
if a virus is actually present and you are advised to ensure that the
appropriate checks are made.

You can visit our website at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.sesharedservices.org.uk/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.ico.org.uk/
5. mailto:[East Sussex County Council request email]
6. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/foi