16+ Looked after Children Placement Costs and Data Information

Thank you for your email message. We aim to respond to all requests under
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information
Regulations 2004 within 20 working days. More information about the way we
deal with information requests is on our web site at
[1]www.merton.gov.uk/foi
 
Information Governance Team
London Borough of Merton.
020 8545 4634
 
 
 

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Dear Ms Wilson,

Freedom of Information Act 2000 / Environmental Information Regulations
2004 Information request

We have now considered your information request as set out below. 

You asked:

1) How many 16 and 17 year old looked after children is your local
authority responsible for currently?  53

2) How many 16 and 17 year old looked after children in your local
authority are currently placed out of area? 29

3) How many 16 and 17 year old looked after children were accommodated  in
spot purchased placements (off framework/contracted arrangements) in the
22/23 financial year?  6 YP(16/17 year olds) were placed on spot purchases
from March 22 – April 23 (including those in Residential Childrens Homes,
Semi-independent accommodation and Foster placements.)

4) What was the cost of placements/supported accommodation for 16 and 17
year olds per week for the 22/23 financial year? 

a) lowest cost - £813

b) highest cost - £11,346.70

c) average cost - £2,723.61 (please not that this average is significantly
skewed due to a couple of high cost placements).

5) Are there sufficient placements in your local authority area for 16 and
17 year old looked after children who  have a high level of complex needs?
London Borough of Merton would welcome more placement options for children
with highly complex needs in our local area. At this time, placement
options for are limited nationwide.

If you have any queries or concerns about this please contact me.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request or wish to
appeal against the decision to exempt any part of your request, you should
request an Internal Review at [1][Merton Borough Council request email] or
write in to Freedom of Information team, Merton Council, Civic Centre,
Morden, SM4 5DX.

If you escalate to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) without
following the council’s internal review process, the ICO will refer you
back to the council to enable the correct process to be followed.

You can also appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
[2]https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/offi...

There is no charge for making an appeal.

Yours sincerely

Debbie Maleci

CLLF FOI Requests

Children, Longlife Learning & Families

London Borough of Merton

Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, SM4 5DX

[3]www.merton.gov.uk

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Please help to reduce waste and do not print this message unless you
really need to.
This message, including any attached files, is intended just for the use
of the individual or organisation to whom it is addressed. Unauthorised
use (for example disclosure, storage or copying) is not permitted. If you
are not the intended recipient please destroy all copies and inform the
sender by return email. Any views or opinions expressed in email are
solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of
Merton Council. Merton Council reserves the right to monitor, record and
retain any incoming and outgoing emails for security reasons and for
monitoring internal compliance with the Merton Council policy on staff
use. Email monitoring and/or blocking software may be used and email
content may be read. Merton Council may be required to disclose this email
(or any response to it) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 unless
the information in it is covered by one of the exemptions in the Act. The
message may contain information that is confidential or sensitive; you
should handle it accordingly.
Please view the council's privacy notice at
https://www.merton.gov.uk/legal/privacy-...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[merton%20borough%20council%20request%20email]
2. https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/offi...
3. http://www.merton.gov.uk/