See answers to previous information requests

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would appreciate your assistance by providing the following brief information regarding the commissioning and placement of Looked After Children aged under 16 into residential homes from your local authority:

1. Name, direct email address, and direct dial contact number for the manager responsible for placements of Looked After Children into residential homes.
Daniel Savage. Home Finding and Quality assurance Manager. Daniel.Savage@wokingham.gov.uk 0118-974-6000

2. General generic departmental email address used specifically for receiving communication with providers for referrals to source placements of Looked After Children aged under 16.
The Home Finding Team - thehomefindingteam@wokingham.gov.uk

3. Does your local authority currently use a specific framework for residential placements for Looked After Children aged under 16? If yes, please provide the framework's name and the email address or precise details of whom to contact for information on joining this framework.
South Central Framework – Southampton are the lead. Contact Jess Eades (jessica.eades@southampton.gov.uk)

4. Does your local authority make direct placements with residential providers, or are placements exclusively commissioned through a framework or placement portal? If exclusively via a framework or portal, please specify which one is used?
Placements are attempted through Framework via South Central. In some instances, there isn’t capacity within Framework provisions so Spot Purchase arrangements are made. This is an absolute last resort and only attempted once all framework potentials have been exhausted

5. How many children under 17 years old (inclusive) are currently placed in Ofsted residential children’s homes by the local authority on spot purchase arrangements?
As of April 2025 – we have 26 accessing spot purchase providers