1. Please could you supply the name, job title, email address and telephone number of the commissioner with responsibility for Looked After Children and/or placements in children's care homes.
John Mythen
Lead Specialist Placements & Quality Children & Adults
Civic Offices
Shute End
Wokingham
RG40 1BN
Mobile: 07713325290

Email: john.mythen@wokingham.gov.uk

For questions 2 through 6, please supply the following information for the financial years 2017/18 to 2020/21, and where possible, the budget or most up to date snapshot available for 2021/22.

2. Please provide the total number of children looked after by the local authority.
2017/18: 144
2018/19: 164
2019/20: 153
2020/21: 149

3. Please provide the local authority's total expenditure on placements for looked after children (q.2).

2017:
Fostering: £1,089,394
IFA: £653,217
Childrens Home Purchase: £2,039,856
Total: £3,782,467

2018:
Fostering:£1,499,306.
IFA: £339,673
Childrens Home Purchase: £1,769,204
Total: £3,608,182

2019:
Fostering: £1,650,606
IFA: £223,679
Childrens Home Purchase: £3,501,714
Total: £5,376,000

2020:
Fostering: £1,473,815
IFA: £85,043
Childrens Home Purchase: £2,386,212
Total: £3,945,069

4. Of the total number of children looked after by the local authority (q.2) please provide the number of placements in children's homes (not including secure units or hostels).
2017/18: 15
2018/19: 17
2019/20: 18
2020/21: 22

5. Of the number of children looked after by the local authority in children's homes (q.4) please provide the number placed inside the local authority boundary (in area) and the number placed outside the local authority boundary (out of area).
2017/18: 2 in area, 3 out of area
2018/19: 3 in area, 14 out of area
2019/20: 3 in area, 15 out of area
2020/21: 4 in area, 18 out of area

6. Please provide the number of children looked after by the local authority in:
a) In placements inside the local authority boundary, in 'own provision' (operated by the local authority)
2017/18: 2
2018/19: 3
2019/20: 3
2020/21: 4

b) In placements outside the local authority boundary, in 'own provision' (operated by the local authority)
None.

c) In placements inside the local authority boundary, in 'private provision' (operated by the independent sector)
None.

d) In placements outside the local authority boundary, in 'private provision' (operated by the independent sector)
2017/18: 13
2018/19: 14
2019/20: 15
2020/21: 18

7. Please provide the highest, average, and lowest weekly fee currently paid for LAC in a children's home.
Highest: £4,056.00
Lowest: £2,107.50
Average: £3,310.12