Looked After Children in Residential Care
Please provide the following information relating to looked-after children placed in residential care, covering each of the last 10 available financial years (i.e. 2015/16 to 2024/25, or the most recent 10 years for which records are held). Where data is not recorded by financial year, please provide it by calendar year and state the periods covered. For the purposes of this request, "independent/private providers" means any residential children's home, secure unit, or other residential placement provider that is not owned or directly operated by the council, including for-profit and voluntary/third-sector providers. Section 1 - Looked-after children overview 1.1 Total number of children looked after by the council, as at 31 March (or nearest reporting date) of each year. 1.2 Total number of looked-after children placed in residential care (of any type), for each year. 1.3 Number and percentage of children in residential care placed in council-owned/operated homes versus independent/private sector providers, for each year. Section 2 - Expenditure and fees 2.1 Total annual expenditure on residential placements with independent/private providers, for each year. 2.2 Total annual expenditure on all looked-after children placements of every type (for comparison), for each year. 2.3 Average weekly cost/fee paid per child for placements with independent/private residential providers, for each year. 2.4 The highest (maximum) weekly or nightly fee paid to any single independent/private residential provider for an individual child's placement in each year, and, if held, a brief non-identifying description of the need/placement type driving that cost. 2.5 The lowest (minimum) weekly fee paid to an independent/private residential provider, for each year. 2.6 Year-on-year percentage change in the average fee paid to independent/private providers. Section 3 - Providers and contracts 3.1 The number of distinct independent/private residential care providers/companies used by the council, for each year. 3.2 The names of the independent/private providers used in each year, where not exempt from disclosure. 3.3 Whether placements were made via block contract/framework agreement, spot-purchase, or other arrangement, and the number of children placed under each arrangement type, for each year. 3.4 A copy of, or link to, any current approved provider list or framework agreement covering children's residential placements. Section 4 - Location and capacity 4.1 Number of children placed with independent/private providers outside the council's own local authority area, and number placed outside Wales entirely, for each year. 4.2 Number of council-owned/operated residential children's homes in operation, and their total registered bed/place capacity, for each year. 4.3 Number of independent/private children's residential homes located within the council's own area that the council has placed children with, regardless of where those children originate. Section 5 - Demand and sufficiency 5.1 Number of occasions per year where the council was unable to secure an in-house placement and used an independent/private provider due to lack of internal capacity. 5.2 Number of children with complex needs (e.g. emotional/behavioural difficulties, disability) placed with independent/private providers, for each year, where recorded separately. 5.3 Average length of stay for children in independent/private residential placements, for each year, if held. 5.4 Age breakdown (by age band) of children in independent/private residential placements, for each year, if held. Section 6 - Strategic documents and forward plans 6.1 A copy of, or link to, the council's most recent Sufficiency Statement/Strategy for looked-after children (or equivalent statutory placement-sufficiency document). 6.2 Any budget forecast or projected spend on independent/private residential placements for the next 1-3 financial years, if held. Where possible, please provide the year-by-year figures in spreadsheet format (Excel or CSV), with one row per year. If any part of this request would exceed the appropriate cost limit under section 12 of the Act, please tell me which parts could be answered within the limit, or contact me to discuss narrowing the request, rather than refusing it in full. If any information is withheld under an exemption, please confirm which exemption applies and your reasoning, as required under the Act.