Council DoLS Service Provision.

The request was partially successful.

Dear Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council,

Please can you provide the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:

1 - How many assessments under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were conducted during the period 01/05/2009 to 01/05/2017 by the following:

a.) Council employed Best Interest Assessors.
b.) Independent Best Interest Assessors (not employed directly by the Local Authority).
c.) Mental Health Assessors.
d.) Assessments allocated to 3rd part recruitment agency contracts.

2- Total budget spend on the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards from 01/05/2009 to 01/05/2017, broken down to include:

a.) The total council spend on DoLS assessments split between employed Best Interest Assessors, Independent Best Interest Assessors, Mental Health Assessors and/or recruitment agencies for the period 01/05/2009 to 01/05/2017
b.) Price paid per BIA assessment.
c.) Price paid per Mental Health Assessment for DoLS.
d.) Total DoLS team budget for 2017-2018.
e.) Details of the current DoLS team members by name / job title and number of qualified Best Interest Assessors working in your local authority. Please include contact details for the current MCA/DoLS Service lead and DoLS team manager.

Yours faithfully,

A.G. Johnson

Accesstoinformation, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Dear A G Johnson,

Thank you for your request for information regarding ‘Depravation of Liberty' (reference number 01987). Your request was received on the 09/05/2017 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and/or Environmental Information Regulation 2004.

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 will proceed to deal with your request.

If you have any queries about this request, please contact Information Governance on 01254 585651. Alternatively, our email address is [Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council request email].

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Kind Regards,

Heather Wolstenholme
Information Governance Officer
Email: [email address]
Tel: 01254 585651

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Accesstoinformation, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear A.G Johnson,

Thank you for your request for information regarding ‘Deprivation of Liberty' (reference number 01987).

Please find our response below.

FOI Request reponse below:

ADULT SOCIAL CARE:

1 - How many assessments under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were conducted during the period 01/05/2009 to 01/05/2017 by the following:

a.) Council employed Best Interest Assessors.

335 assessments allocated to in-house Best Interest Assessors.

b.) Independent Best Interest Assessors (not employed directly by the Local Authority).

245 assessments allocated to Independent Best Interest Assessors

c.) Mental Health Assessors.

580 assessments allocated to Mental Health Assessors

d.) Assessments allocated to 3rd part recruitment agency contracts.

0 assessments allocated to 3rd party recruitment agency contracts

2- Total budget spend on the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards from 01/05/2009 to 01/05/2017, broken down to include:

a.) The total council spend on DoLS assessments split between employed Best Interest Assessors, Independent Best Interest Assessors, Mental Health Assessors and/or recruitment agencies for the period 01/05/2009 to 01/05/2017

To provide a breakdown of costs for the period 1/5/09 to 1/5/17 would exceed the 18 hours. However it was possible to provide a breakdown of the last 3 financial years for Independent Best Interest Assessors and Mental Health Assessors within the time scale and this is shown below. We do not split out the costs for our council employed workers for carrying out DoLs assessments from their other work.

Independent BIAs MHAs

Financial Year 2014-15 £ 9,255.35 £30,108.80
Financial Year 2015-16 £71,836.43 £51,328.40
Financial Year 2016-17 £ 6,766.08 £37,075.66

b.) Price paid per BIA assessment.

The average cost is £300 plus mileage costs

c.) Price paid per Mental Health Assessment for DoLS.

Local Mental Health Assessors £150 + £25 LCFT administration fee
The average cost for an independent or other authority area Mental Health Assessor is £180

d.) Total DoLS team budget for 2017-2018.

£121,800 which includes non-staffing costs and two dedicated DoLs officer costs

e.) Details of the current DoLS team members by name / job title and number of qualified Best Interest Assessors working in your local authority. Please include contact details for the current MCA/DoLS Service lead and DoLS team manager.

There are currently 2 dedicated DoLs officers, who work within the Safeguarding team. Currently there are 24 active qualified BIA's within Adult Social Care.
The Head of Service responsible for this area is Paul Lee, Head of Safeguarding and Specialist Services, 10 Duke St, Blackburn, BB2 1DH. Email [email address] Tel (01254) 666428

CHILDREN’S SOCIAL CARE:

Children’s Social Care have only begun to carry out DoLs assessments within the last year, during which 5 assessments were carried out by in-house BIA’s. We do not split out the costs to our council employed workers for carrying out DoLs assessments from their other work. Similarly we do not split out any other DoLS costs from our main budget therefore we are unable to provide any separate financial information.

If you have any queries regarding your request for information then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to: Information Governance Manager, Information Governance, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, G Floor, Town Hall, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 7DY or email [Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council request email].                                                                   
 
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. 
 
Please find attached our 'have your say' feedback policy. 

Kind Regards,

Information Governance Team
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

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