1. The number of Stage 2 children’s social care complaints currently delayed beyond the statutory 65 working day timescale, and the length of each delay.

2. Details of efforts made in the last 12 months to recruit or appoint Stage 2 investigators and Independent Persons (e.g. number of recruitment attempts, adverts placed, or agencies approached).

3. Any contingency plans, policies, or procedures the Council has in place when Stage 2 investigators cannot be appointed within statutory timescales.

4. The cost to the Council in the last 12 months of commissioning external investigators for Stage 2 complaints, compared with the estimated cost of conducting investigations internally.