FOI request (FOI-93261595)

Out of Area Return Home Interviews

Requested Fri 26 October 2018
Responded  Tue 30 October 2018

I am writing to request information regarding provision of Return Home Interviews for looked after children who have been placed out of area and are reported missing. Please find questions attached.

ECRC Freedom of Information Request

October 2018

Out of area placements

1. How are Return Home Interviews (RHIs) delivered to looked after children who are placed outside of your local authority area? (please tick)

a) RHIs are completed by the third sector organisation that also deliver them to children within our local authority area

b) RHIs are completed by someone in our children's services but never their social worker

c) RHIs are completed by someone in our children' services and that could be their social worker

d) RHIs are completed by the young persons' social worker

e) We spot purchase from the host local authority's RHI service

f) We spot purchase from another service

g) We do not offer RHIs to this group

h) Combination of the above

i. If yes please provide further information:

i) Other

i. If yes please provide further information:

2.a. How many children in the care of your local authority were placed out of area between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018?

2.b. How many children who were placed out of area went missing between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018?

2.c. Of that figure how many were offered a RHI?

2.d. How many received a RHI?

3. Does your local authority offer RHIs to looked-after children from other local authorities who are placed in your local authority area? (please tick)

a. Yes

b. No

c. On a case-by-case basis

i. If so please give more detail:

4. If you selected 'yes' or 'no' to the previous question please could you tell us which agency is responsible for delivering RHIs to this group of young people?

a. A Third sector agency Yes/No

b. A team based within your local authority Yes/No

c. We provide a spot purchasing service Yes/No

5.a. How many looked after children and young people were placed in your local authority area by other local authorities between 31 March 2017 and 1 April 2018?

5.b. How many of these children and young people received a RHI?

6. Please tell us more about your return interview service for children placed out of area. Would you like to see any changes in national guidance? What are the barriers to effective provision? What is working well in your area?

Response

Information not held

This area is dealt with by East Sussex County Council Children's Services, please visit their website for further information: www.eastsussex.gov.uk