Official

Request for Information - 2018/16599 - Looked after children

Thank you for your request for information received on 15/03/2018.

This will be processed in accordance with the appropriate access to
information regime.

Regards

FOI and DPA Officer
[1][Wandsworth Council request email]

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1. mailto:[Wandsworth Council request email]

Request for Information - 2018/16599 - Looked after children

I refer to your request for information received on 15/03/2018. Please
accept our apologies for the delay. Please see the information below in
response to your request: -

 1. What has your borough done to increase in-house foster carers?

We have a fully comprehensive recruitment strategy that covers internal
and external media.

 2. Have you undertaken a financial evaluation of the in-house service
over IFA provision?   If so, please share the outcome?

No

 3. How have you undertaken specific action to retain and sustain your
in-house foster carers?

Comprehensive package of support, mentoring scheme, regular supervision,
therapeutic support, an active foster carer association that is involved
as a critical friend and gives carers a voice which allows them to own the
service, competitive financial package. Hiring the right staff who are
committed to children and carers.

 4. How have you overcome situations where you have not been able to place
with either in-house or IFA foster carers?

Some children have been placed in residential homes as this is the right
provision whilst work is done to reintegrate them into a foster family.

 5. Do you purchase block residential placements? If so, how many?  Is
this a managed service (i.e. a children’s home solely for your
authority) or just a number of places within a home in your area?

No

 6. How many LAC did you have as at 28/02/18?

301

 7. Do you have an IFA framework?  If so, has this been a successful
exercise and/or what has been the learning?

No

 8. Has your borough been part of a collaborative partnership arrangement
with other boroughs for the provision of placements for children and
young people? If so, please describe the co-partnership model? How
effective has it been in providing placements for your Looked After
Chlldren?

Wandsworth is part of London Care Services that provides a model contract,
this has assisted in finding IFA and residential placements at a set
price. 

 9. How have you met the need for placements for children and young people
with very high levels of challenging needs and behaviours?

Wherever possible and appropriate we endeavour to place young people with
high needs in Wandsworth or in neighbouring boroughs so that a range of
in-house services and local health services can be accessed easily.  We
will also consider bespoke packages of care for young people that could
involve additional workers or activities and interventions. 

10. What proportion of children have placed out of borough in 2017/18 due
to a lack of suitable provision within your borough?

Wandsworth estimate that 70-75% of children have been placed out of
borough due to lack of suitable provision within the borough. The majority
of these children are placed in neighbouring boroughs. 

I hope this information meets your needs. If you do not understand the
information provided or wish to discuss anything further, please feel free
to contact me and I, or another member of the team will be able to assist
you.

Please note, all material provided by Wandsworth Council in response to
your request for information is for your personal, non-commercial use.
Wandsworth Council reserves all rights in the copyright of the information
provided. Any unauthorised copying or adaptation of the information
without express written confirmation from Wandsworth Council may
constitute an infringement of copyright. Any intention to re-use this
information commercially may require consent. Please forward any requests
for re-use of information to the FOI officer.

If you are dissatisfied with the information provided in relation to your
request you may make representations to the Chief Executive. 
Correspondence should be addressed to: 

Room 149, Wandsworth Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street, London, SW18 2PU

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: 

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

Regards

Liam Cooper
FOI & DPA Officer
Serving Richmond and Wandsworth Council

020 8871 8800
+ [1][email address]

[2]www.richmond.gov.uk / [3]www.wandsworth.gov.uk

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