Care leavers (Aged 18 to 21) placed in supported accommodation who receiving floating support - Find a freedom of information request

I am writing to make a formal request under the Freedom of Information Act for access to the following information:

Please Note: The following questions are about care leavers (Aged 18 - 21) placed in supported accommodation who receiving floating support, these young people come under the Leaving Care Act 2000.

1) Who are the currently supported accommodation providers you use for 18+ floating support and accommodation?

2) What provider out of your current list of supported accommodation providers has the majority of your care leavers?

3) What is the minimum support hours LA require for 18-21 care leavers in supported accommodation?

For example, a min of 2 hours.

4) What is the current minimum cost LA pays for 18+ floating accommodations? (Accommodation Only) for example, £500PW per placement depending on support needs.

5) How many service users were placed with your LA between the years 2022 - 2023?

6) What are the practical postcodes your LA placements team require for 18+ service users?

7) What are the current issues your LA's placement team face when it comes to placing 18+ service users in supported accommodation?

8) What is the placements teams' budget per week for 18+ placements?

For example, £620PW per placement including 3 support hours.

9) What is the procedure for your LA if a provider wishes to join both on-tender & off-tender providers list?

10) What are the main KPI's (key performance indicators) your LA placements team use to separate a good semi-independent service to a bad one specifically for 18+ service users?

11) What are the main factors your LA Placements team use to ascertain whether a placement / provider is a good match for 18+ service users?

12) What is the LA's budget for support hours specifically per hour for 18+ service users?

For example £21.50 per additional support hour.

13) What type of accommodation is needed but in short supply for your LA placements team ? I.e. studio's, shared, 2 bed flats etc.

14) What is the LA placements team budget per week for the following accommodation: Studio, 1 bed Flat, 2 bed flat, Shared Accommodation.

15) When does the LA plan to publish their next tender for 18+ placements?

16) What is LA's standard procedure before placing an 18+ service user with a provider for the first time? Who are the current providers you use for 18+ unstaffed accommodation?
 

I can confirm that the information requested is held by Lincolnshire County Council. I have detailed below the information that is being released to you.

1) LCC have not commissioned any floating support placements for care leavers in supported accommodation. LCC have either accommodation only placements, intensive housing management or staffed Youth Housing provision for care leavers.

2) LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support. Locate accommodate the highest number of care leavers aged 18-21 in accommodation-only provision.

3) LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support. LCC have either accommodation only placements or for those receiving support on staffed sites the support hours would vary depending on the needs of the young person.

4) LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support.

5) LCC placed no care leavers in supported accommodation with floating support.

6) LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support. For those placed in other provision types, there are no practical postcode requirements, but placements should be in locations with access to education, employment and transport links.

7) LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support. For those placed in other provision types, there is a lack of availability of accommodation in the young person’s preferred area.

8) LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support. There is no budget for other placement types as any placements are needs-led.

9) Lincolnshire County Council’s LCCPlacements team manage children’s services independent placements via an Open Select List (OSL) procurement mechanism. There is an OSL for ‘Supported Accommodation’ which is used to commission provisions for 16-17 year olds and care leavers as required. The OSL re-opens on ProContract once a year (currently within a 5- year timespan) to allow new providers to apply to join the OSL. Providers are evaluated and if accepted, are able to receive referrals in advance of other suppliers. Admittance to the OSL is no guarantee of business, and contracts are not put in place until a placement is agreed. Providers are always able to request to join our all-provider list by emailing their details to LCCplacements@lincolnshire.gov.uk – these providers receive referrals after the OSL providers have had a chance to review and are notified when the OSL re-opens if they wish to apply.

10) LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support. For those placed in other provision types, KPI’s for all supported accommodation include engagement in EET, suitable accommodation post-18, positive move-on, ability to meet needs of the young people.

11) LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support. For those placed in other provision types, this is varied and dependent on the needs of the individual.

12) N/A - LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support.

13) LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support. For those placed in other provision types, solo placements for young people with complex needs.

14) N/A - LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support.

15) OSL re-opening for all supported accommodation placements will be published Summer 2024. A tender for the Youth Housing provision will be published 2025.

16) LCC Placement’s Team would request necessary document from any provider to evidence safeguarding, ability to meet needs, accommodation information and a breakdown of placement costs when making a spot purchase placement with a provider for the first time. LCC have no care leavers placed in supported accommodation with floating support.

LCC providers for accommodation only placements and intensive housing management are Locate Accommodation, Maze Independent Care, and Kenley Group.