The target for 2014/15 (annual measure) for the percentage of children looked after on 31 March who have had three or more placements during the year was 9.5% (lower is better). Conwy’s actual performance for 2015/16 was 10.6%, as 18 children out of a total of 170, had moved placement twice or more during the year.
Stability of placements is quantified through the performance indicator SCC/004 “The percentage of children looked after on 31 March who have had three or more placements during the year.” The target is 9.5%. (Lower is better).
Conwy’s actual performance for 2014/15 was 11.4%, as 18 children out of a total of 158, had moved placement twice or more during the year.
For 2015/16, performance improved to 10.6%, (18 children out of 170).
Some of the placement moves which have counted against us for the purposes of the indicator are; between Residential Placements and Secure Units, rehabilitation plans back to parents or friends/family, bringing children back into “in-house” Foster Care, and moves from high-cost residential placements to Glan yr Afon; all of which were deemed to be in the child’s best interests.
Detailed analysis of 2015/16 data reveals a large number of young people with high level and complex needs. The majority of children in care in Conwy have stable placements. Of the 138 children in Foster Care placements[1] in 2014/15, 113 remained in the same placement throughout the entire year, 20 had one placement move, and 4 had two placement moves. Only 1 had three moves.
A ‘Placement Strategy 2015-18’ has been developed which includes recommendations to monitor placement moves and breakdowns in a more robust and analytical manner. The data will be reviewed on a regular basis with additional qualitative data to be provided by Team Managers as to why moves have taken place.
[1] This excludes those in Kinship care. A kinship carer is an adult who is looking after the child or children of a relative or friend on a full time basis.