Accommodation Providing 'Care' vs Accommodation Providing 'Support'

Freedom of Information Request -Accommodation Providing 'Care' vs Accommodation Providing 'Support' for Looked After Children

We are writing under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('FOIA 2000') to request information regarding accommodation provided by your council to looked after children.

Looked after children

1. Please release the following information relating to the periods 01 January to 31 December of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

a. The number of children looked after by your council

b. The number of children looked after who were accommodated in placements where 'care' is not provided (i.e., they are only provided with 'support').(2)

c. The number of children looked after accommodated in placements where 'care' is not provided who are under 16 years' old.

Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

2. Please release the following information relating to the periods 01 January to 31 December of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Defined:

(1) As defined in section 22 Children Act 1989.

(2) By a placement providing 'care', we mean a children's home (as defined under s1(2) Care Standards Act 2000) or a foster placement (further to s22C(6)(a) and (b) Children Act 1989). By a placement providing 'support', we mean any placement where 'care' is not provided.

- 2 -
a. The number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children3 looked after by your council.

b. The number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children looked after by your council accommodated in placements where 'care' is not provided (i.e., they are only provided with 'support').

c. The number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children looked after accommodated in placements where 'care' is not provided who are under 16 years' old.

3. Please release the following information relating to the periods 01 January to 31 December of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

d. The number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children looked after by your council who are also child victims of trafficking.4

e. The number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children looked after by your council who are also child victims of trafficking accommodated in placements where 'care' is not provided (i.e., they are only provided with 'support').

f. The number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children looked after by your council who are also child victims of trafficking accommodated in placements where 'care' is not provided who are under 16 years' old.

If responding to all of these questions would exceed the costs limit imposed under section 12 FOIA 2000, please: (i) answer the questions which are you able to and/or provide a partial/limited response to the questions if necessary; and (ii) advise why a full response exceeds the cost limit and how the request should be refined, in accordance with your obligations under section 16 FOIA 2000.

Defined:

(3) As defined in the Immigration Rules (paragraph 352ZD)

(4) By child victim of trafficking, we mean any child who either: (i) has been referred into the National Referral Mechanism ('NRM'); (ii) has a positive reasonable grounds decision; or (iii) has a positive conclusive grounds decision.

Please find attached tables

Should you require the attachment mentioned above please contact customerinformationservice@lincolnshire.gov.uk with the below reference number and this can be provided.