See answers to previous information requests

Please would you provide details of the Local authority’s expenditure on unregulated care arrangements for children. For this request, “unregulated care “refers to placements or services that are not registered with the appropriate regulatory body (including unregulated or bridging care arrangements). Specifically, I request the following information:

1. The total expenditure incurred by the local authority on unregulated or bridging care services for each of the last three years (or the most recent data held)

2. The number of individuals whom unregulated or bridging services were commissioned.

3. Where available, the average weekly cost per individual for such services.

4. The average duration of unregulated care arrangements, where this information is recorded.

5. The circumstances under which unregulated or bridging care is commissioned (e.g. hospital discharge delays, lack of regulated provision, emergency placements).

6. Any internal guidance, or criteria used by the authority when commissioning unregulated/bridging care.