Looked after children 2017

The request was successful.

Dear Northumberland County Council,

1. How many children became 'looked after' in your local authority in 2017?

2. Of the children in Q1, how many were in a group of siblings of two or more (I would like the number of children, not the number of groups)?

3. How many of the children that became 'looked after' in your local authority in 2017 were initially placed in Kinship Care/Connected Persons care?

4. How many looked after children in your local authority are currently placed following care proceedings:
a) with long term LA foster carers
b) in kinship care foster placements

5.a. How many applications to be a kinship carer did you receive in 2017 in respect of children subject to Care Proceedings?

5.b. How many of those (5.a.) applications were successful?

6. How many children in your local authority were made the subject of Special Guardianship Order following Care Proceedings in 2017?

7. How many of your local authority's current foster carers are prepared and approved to be long term foster carers of sibling groups of:
a) 2
b) 3 or more

Yours faithfully,

Christina Savage

Northumberland County Council

1 Attachment

Our Ref: 3717  

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 / Environmental
Information Regulations 2004.

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.

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

Christina Savage

Dear Northumberland County Council,

I would like to re-submit my request, covering a slightly different period of time namely the financial year and not the calendar year:

1. How many children became 'looked after' in your local authority in the financial year of 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017?
2. Of the children in Q1, how many were in a group of siblings of two or more (I would like the number of children, not the number of groups)?
3. How many of the children that became 'looked after' in your local authority in 2016/2017 were initially placed in Kinship Care/Connected Persons care?
4. How many looked after children in your local authority are currently placed following care proceedings:
a) with long term LA foster carers
b) in kinship care foster placements
5.a. How many applications to be a kinship carer did you receive in 2016/2017 in respect of children subject to Care Proceedings?
5.b. How many of those (5.a.) applications were successful?
6. How many children in your local authority were made the subject of Special Guardianship Order following Care Proceedings in 2016/2017?
7. How many of your local authority's current foster carers are prepared and approved to be long term foster carers of sibling groups of:
a) 2
b) 3 or more

Yours faithfully,

Christina Savage

Northumberland County Council

1 Attachment

Our Ref: 3717   

Dear Enquirer,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST

I refer to your Freedom of Information request in relation to looked after
children.
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.

1. How many children became 'looked after' in your local authority in the
financial year of 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017? 246
2. Of the children in Q1, how many were in a group of siblings of two or
more (I would like the number of children, not the number of groups)? 125
3. How many of the children that became 'looked after' in your local
authority in 2016/2017 were initially placed in Kinship Care/Connected
Persons care? 121 
4. How many looked after children in your local authority are currently
placed following care proceedings:
a) with long term LA foster carers? less than 5
b) in kinship care foster placements 23
5.a. How many applications to be a kinship carer did you receive in
2016/2017 in respect of children subject to Care Proceedings?  107
5.b. How many of those (5.a.) applications were successful?  48
6. How many children in your local authority were made the subject of
Special Guardianship Order following Care Proceedings in
2016/2017? 34 (SGO) (further 24 with outcome of Supervision Order/SGO)
7. How many of your local authority's current foster carers are prepared
and approved to be long term foster carers of sibling groups of:
a) 2  6
b) 3 or more  0
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: 01625 545 745
Email: [email address]

There is no charge for making an appeal.

Yours sincerely

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