FOI request (FOIR-692090620)

Highest-cost residential placements

Requested Sun 02 March 2025
Responded Wed 05 March 2025

I am submitting this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to obtain information regarding the highest-cost residential placements for looked-after children within your authority.

Please provide the following details for the 2023/24 financial year (or the most recent available data):

High-Cost Residential Placements

1. The highest weekly fee paid for a single residential children's home placement, excluding secure accommodation.

2. The number of placements currently costing:

a. £10,000 - £19,999 per week

b. £20,000 - £29,999 per week

c. £30,000 - £49,999 per week

d. £50,000 or more per week

3. For placements exceeding £30,000 per week, please provide:

a. Whether the child is in a solo placement.

b. The staffing ratio (for example, 2:1, 3:1, or higher).

c. The nature of the child's needs (for example, severe trauma, extreme aggression, sexual exploitation risk, severe mental health, and so on).

d. Whether the placement is in a children's home, bespoke residential setting, or another arrangement.

Procurement and Contracting Details

4. The total number of children in external residential placements funded by your council.

5. The total annual expenditure on external residential children's home placements for the last financial year.

6. The names of the top five providers receiving the highest payments from the council for residential children's home placements.

7. Whether the council uses direct award placements, spot purchases, or only procures through framework agreements.

8. If frameworks are used, which frameworks does the council procure children's residential placements from (for example, South West Consortium, London Care Placements, and so on)?

9. For placements made via spot purchase, please provide:

a. The total spend on spot-purchased placements in the last financial year.

b. The number of children currently in spot-purchased placements.

Commissioning and Contract Negotiation Contacts

10. Contact details for the person(s) responsible for awarding and negotiating contracts for children's residential placements, including:

a. Name

b. Job title

c. Email address

d. Phone number

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Response

Information not held.

Children's Services are dealt with by East Sussex County Council, please visit their website for further information:

https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk