Dear Yohannes,

Thank you for your request for information regarding ‘Private Fostering’ (reference number 07201). Your request was received on the 15/03/21 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and/or Environmental Information Regulations 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.

Please note that our response to Freedom of Information Requests (FOIs) may take longer for us to complete at the moment because of COVID-19 implications.

The ICO has advised that although they are unable to extend statutory timescales, they will advise people that they may experience understandable delays when making FOIs, EIRs or SARs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is your request essential?

While your statutory right of access remains unchanged, our resources may be diverted away from usual compliance or information rights work at this time. Therefore, we would ask that where possible, before submitting any requests for information that you check our website first to see what may be already published and available.

Prioritising essential services

If you cannot find the information please be aware that under current circumstances and our need to prioritise essential services to ensure the wellbeing of our residents, you may experience a delay in your response.

Following guidance from the ICO, we will keep requestors informed of any delays and will respond as soon as resources allow. We will also be keeping up to date on guidance from the ICO as the situation changes to ensure that we comply with any changes or amendments to information rights practice.

For further information on your information rights at this time please see ico.org.uk.

If you have any queries about this request, please contact Information Governance on 01254 585852. 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

show quoted sections

Dear Yohannes

Thank you for your request for information regarding Private fostering (reference number 07202).

Unfortunately it is taking a little longer than anticipated to collate a response.

I am therefore writing to request a short extension period of one week.

Please accept my sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Fatima Makken
Apprentice Information Governance Officer
Email: [email address]
01254 222527

show quoted sections

Dear Yohannes

Thank you for your request for information regarding ‘Private fostering’ (reference number 07202); Please see our response attached/below. If you have any queries regarding your request for information then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Q1) Over the stated period, on how many separate occasions did a member of the public contact your council to inform you they suspected that a child was living in a private fostering arrangement (that hadn't been reported)? In order to report such a suspected private fostering arrangement, people are often directed to a council's children safeguarding board/children's services team (or similar) or encouraged to fill out a form (such as via a Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub) on the local authority's website. Please can you break down Q1 in terms of what type of person reported the private fostering arrangement (for example, but not limited to school/teacher, neighbour)

We report April – March as a calendar year. In 2019/20 1 x Police, 3 x relative, 1 x Hospital, 5 known to BwD CSC. In 2020/21 2 x relative & school, 1 x parent, 1 neighbour, 1 x school, 4 known to BwD CSC.

1a) How many of the children living under such private fostering arrangements were found to have a disability (please specify what kind- such as autism, down syndrome- if that information, indeed, is recorded and retrievable under the constraints of the act)

We do not hold this information as we do not record on our system

1b) Following the subsequent completion of the Private Fostering Assessment (or similarly titled) form, how many placements were found to be prohibited?

None

1c) How many of the private foster carers had convictions recorded on their DBS disclosure form? Could you please breakdown all the above information in a table and on a case to case basis over the requested period.

None

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request for information 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, 3rd Floor, Old 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,

Fatima Makken
Information Governance Officer
Email: [email address]
01254 222527

show quoted sections