Our Ref: 9105  

Dear Enquirer,

INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your request for information which will be dealt with under
the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, we
will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

If you have any queries about this matter please contact us. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Please note, that due to the recent outbreak of Covid-19, there may be a
delay in responding to your request. We appreciate your patience at this
busy period.

Kind regards

Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk

Our Ref: 9105   

Dear Enquirer,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST

I refer to your Freedom of Information request in relation to children in
care with no accommodation.

Right of Access

Section 1(1) of the Act provides any person making a request for
information to a public authority is entitled.

(a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds
information of the description specified in the request (which Section
1(6) of the Act designates as the "duty to confirm or deny"), and

(b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to him.

The right is to obtain access to the information itself and not to the
document or record which contains it.

The Act creates a general right of access to information held by public
authorities subject to various exemptions.

Northumberland County Council confirms that it holds the information you
have requested, please see the following information in response.

Additional information note: Emergency Alternative Placement Arrangements 

When are these used 

In response to the regional and national placement sufficiency challenges,
in Northumberland we always try to think creatively in relation to
placement options but there are occasions when all options are exhausted
and there is no alternative. These placements are only used as a very last
resort when no other placement options can be sourced for a young person,
usually in an emergency. They are only used for the shortest possible time
pending the location of an appropriate regulated placement. 

What are they 

A cottage or other rental property is sourced when required. The property
is staffed on a rota basis from a preferred care provider with additional
staffing support offered from the local authority residential and support
services as required.  

There is an agreed set of processes, guidance and requirements for staff
for these arrangements and when the arrangements are set up, a senior
manager chairs the initial meeting to ensure that all staff involved with
the young person are fully aware of requirements, expectations and plans
to meet the young person’s needs during the time in the property. Static
lodges are used only when seasonal demand prevents us from sourcing
appropriate cottage accommodation in the required location.  

Monitoring 

There is a high level of senior management oversight of these
arrangements, given the emergency, unregulated and short term nature of
the situation to ensure they are as effective as possible in meeting the
immediate needs of the young person and to ensure all efforts are being
made to source an appropriate placement.  

Taking into consideration the above we would respond as follows:

1. Since 2017 how many times have children in care found themselves in a
position where no accommodation was available?

Records are available covering the financial years 2018/19, 2019/20 and
2020/21. Short term accommodation was provided as follows:

Period  No of Children
18/19 11
19/20 20
20/21 17

2. How many times have the council hired static caravans for these
children and for what period of time?

Period No of Children Average No of Days Care
18/19 1 56
19/20 7 13
20/21 8 30

3. How many times have the council hired hotels or B&B's for these
children and for what period of time?

Period No of Children Average No of Days Care 
18/19 2 2
19/20 5 3
20/21 1 1

Complaints

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request an internal review by writing within 2 months
from the date of this response to the Information Governance Office:

Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]

Information Commissioner

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a
right by Section 50 of the Act to apply to the Information Commissioner
for a decision as to whether your request has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act at:

The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Tel: 0303 123 1113
Email: [email address]

There is no charge for making an appeal.

Yours faithfully

FOI Coordinator -
Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk