FOI Request - High Cost Children Residential Placements

Request 101003734356

I am submitting this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to obtain information regarding the highest-cost residential placements for looked-after children within your authority.

Please provide the following details for the 2023/24 financial year (or the most recent available data):

High-Cost Residential Placements

1.  The highest weekly fee paid for a single residential children's home placement, excluding secure accommodation.

2.   The number of placements currently costing:
(a)  £10,000 - £19,999 per week
(b) £20,000 - £29,999 per week
(c) £30,000 - £49,999 per week
(d) £50,000 or more per week

3.  For placements exceeding £30,000 per week, please provide:

(a)  Whether the child is in a solo placement.
(b)  The staffing ratio (e.g., 2:1, 3:1, or higher).
(c)  The nature of the child’s needs (e.g., severe trauma, extreme aggression, sexual exploitation risk, severe mental health, etc.).
(d)  Whether the placement is in a children’s home, bespoke residential setting, or another arrangement.

Procurement and Contracting Details

4.  The total number of children in external residential placements funded by your council.

5.  The total annual expenditure on external residential children's home placements for the last financial year.

6.  The names of the top five providers receiving the highest payments from the council for residential children's home placements.

7.  Whether the council uses direct award placements, spot purchases, or only procures through framework agreements.

8.  If frameworks are used, which frameworks does the council procure children's residential placements from (e.g., South West Consortium, London Care Placements, etc.)?

9.  For placements made via spot purchase, please provide:

(a)  The total spend on spot-purchased placements in the last financial year.
(b) The number of children currently in spot-purchased placements.

Commissioning & Contract Negotiation Contacts

10.  Contact details for the person(s) responsible for awarding and negotiating contracts for children’s residential placements, including:
•  Name
•  Job title
•  Email address
•  Phone number

Response 31-03-2025

1. £8030.87

2. a) -d) None

3. None

4. 28

5. 2023/24 Total - £5,203,911

6. Aberlour Child Care Trust, Ocean View, Action for Children, Kibble, Rossie

7. Through frameworks, with spot purchase minimal.

8. Scotland Excel Framework 1121 - Children's Residential Care and Education, including Short Break Services. 

9. a) Nil response

b) The figures are low (Betwen 1 and 5) so that disclosure could risk identifying individuals. This information is therefore exempt under section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, 'personal information'.

10. Job title - Senior Commissioning Officer •  cfcommissioning@moray.gov.uk •  Phone number - 01343 563567

Please note, the officer's name is exempt under section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, 'personal information'.