FOI Request - Foster Care Statistics
Request 101003353482
I am looking to obtain figures and facts surrounding the foster care sector. Please see the questions below.
Please note I am looking for foster care statistics, where it says "residential", this is mainly looking at looked-after children who would be in a residential facility.
1. How many people have registered to become a foster carer in the last 3 years? and of this number, how many have quit within 2 years of being registered?
2. What is the average annual cost per young person in residential care of looking after them in residential placements in the council area, compared with outside the council area? What is the average annual cost per young person in residential care of looking after them in placements in the council area, compared with outside the council area?
3. How many children that are looked after by the council and in residential care placements in the council area are in accommodation provided by third-party providers? Please provide the address of each facility, the name of each third-party provider, the total amount paid to each provider and the number of young people placed with each provider.
4. How many children that are looked after by the council and in residential care placements outside the council area are in accommodation provided by third-party providers? Please provide the address of each facility, the name of each third-party provider, the total amount paid to each provider and the number of young people placed with each provider.
Please do not provide the requested information in pdf format files. Please supply them in a machine-readable format such as CSV or Microsoft Excel.
Clarification sought 12-07-2023
Clarification received 18-07-2023
Response 10-08-2023
1. The number of fostering households that have been approved within the last three years is lower than 5*. None have de-registered within 2 years.
* Numbers of 5 or less have been redacted as low numbers may lead to the identification of individuals. This information is therefore exempt under Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Personal Information
2. Average Annual Cost in Council Area: £151,812
Average Annual Cost outside Council Area: £253,042
3. Currently 8 children / young people through one provider, Action for Children at 50 Land Street, Buckie AB56 1QS and 6 at Rowan Lea, Elgin, IV30 6FP. Regarding the amount paid to each provider, this information is commercially sensitive, so is therefore exempt under section 33(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002- Commercial Interests and Economy.
4.
| Provider | Address | Total Young People Placed | Weekly Cost |
| Bachlaw Projects | Upper Seaview, Cornhill, Aberdeenshire, AB45 2HJ | * | ** |
| Spark of Genius | Trojan House, Pegasus Avenue, Phoenix Business Park, Paisley, PA1 2BH | * | ** |
| Royal Blind School | 2a Robertson Avenue, Edinburgh, EH11 1PZ | * | ** |
| Hillside School | Main Street, Aberdour, KY3 0RH | * | ** |
| VSA Linn Moor | Peterculter, Aberdeen, AB14 0PJ | * | ** |
| Keilhill | Keilhill Cottages, King Edward, Banff, AB45 3LT | * | ** |
| Curo Salus | Wardhouse Farm, Forehouse Road, Kilbarchan, PA10 2PU | * | ** |
| Ocean View | 12 Provost Gordon Terrace, Banff, AB45 1FA | * | ** |
* Numbers of 5 or less have been redacted as low numbers may lead to the identification of individuals. This information is therefore exempt under Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Personal Information.
** This information is commercially sensitive, so is therefore exempt under section 33(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002- Commercial Interests and Economy.