Children removed from birth parents

1.Number of children permanently removed from their birth parents in last 5 years in Devon

A total of 261 children were permanently removed from birth parents as a result of Adoption Orders over the last five years.

A total of 155 children were permanently removed from birth parents as a result of Special Guardianship Orders (SGO’S) over the past five years.

Figures except SGO’s for 2016 – 2017 are available on the Local Authority Interactive Tool

A number of other children may have been removed from their birth parents for other reasons but this would require a manual review of hundreds of case files, with each one taking at least ten minutes, making a total in excess of the 18 hours specified under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Section 12 – Cost of Compliance, therefore this additional information is exempt.

2. Number of repeated removals of children from families in last 5 years in Devon (example: subsequent babies removed after previous removal)

We are defining “removals” as those in care under Care Orders or Police Protection orders and so are not counting those who came into care under short breaks or Section 20 Voluntary accommodated. By “Repeat” we are defining that as those children who came into care for a second (or more) time. Between 01/04/2012 – 31/03/17 we had 28 children who came into care 2 or more times.

3. The support/signposting offered to families who have repeated children removed from their care by Children’s services

Information about support and signposting for adoption and fostering is available on our public website.

4. The cost to children services of the removal and adoption of children per child this year

We do not hold or record information in such a way that we are able to report the cost of removal of children.
The total cost of adoption allowances so far this calendar year April 2017 – September 2017 is £513,541.

5. The cost to Children’s services of the removal and long term fostering of children per child this year

We do not hold or record information in such a way that we are able to report the cost of removal of children.

The cost of internal and external fostering placements as at the latest snapshot date 27.09.17 for all types of fostering placement for Looked after Children only are :

• Internal Fostering Placement – £20,400 per annum – this does not incidental costs of the placement including transport, Birthday, Christmas, Respite or overheads such as social work staffing.
• External Fostering Placement – £47,300 per annum – this will include the majority of incidental costs such as Birthday and Christmas allowance and transport but not overheads such as social work staffing.

6. The cost to Children’s services for specialist interventions such as psychology for children from points 4 and 5 in past year

We do not hold or record information in such a way that we are able to supply the information requested.

7. What the outcomes were for the Targeted families pilot previously run in Devon

We have interpreted the term “pilot” to mean Phase 1 of the Troubled Families Support Programme 2015  -the outcomes can be viewed on the document using the link provided.