1. Demand & Referrals
a) How many parent and child assessment placements have been commissioned by your council in the last three years? (Please provide a yearly breakdown.)
b) How many families are currently waiting for a parent and child assessment placement?
c) How many referrals were declined due to lack of spaces?
d) What is the average wait time for securing a placement?
e) Has the council had to place families outside the borough due to lack of availability? If so, how many cases per year?

2. Costs & Funding
a) What is the average weekly cost of a parent and child assessment placement, broken down into:
One parent & one child
Two parents & one child
Additional children
High-need placements (e.g., mental health or substance misuse cases)
b) Are there additional costs charged by providers for extra services?
c) How much did the council spend in total on parent and child assessment placements over the last three years?
d) What is the budget allocation for parent and child assessment services for the upcoming financial year?

3. Current Providers & Contracting
a) How many Ofsted-registered Parent & Child Assessment Units does the council currently work with?
b) Does the council have a preferred supplier framework, and if so, how can new providers apply?
c) Does the council use a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) or open tender process for new providers?
d) When is the next contract renewal date for parent and child assessment placements?
e) Does the council actively seek new providers, or must new providers wait for a contract renewal opportunity?

4. Placement Outcomes & Challenges
a) What is the average duration of stay in a parent and child assessment unit?
b) What percentage of placements result in the parent retaining custody of their child?
c) What are the top three reasons for placement breakdowns?

5. Payment & Financial Support
a) Are payments made in advance, during placement, or upon completion?
b) Does the council provide any financial support for providers setting up new assessment centres (e.g., grants, funding, or partnership opportunities)?

6. Key Contacts & Contracting Process
a) Who is the main contact person or department responsible for commissioning Parent & Child Assessment placements? (Please provide names, email addresses, and phone numbers where possible.)
b) Who should new providers contact to start the process of becoming an approved provider?
c) Does the council hold market engagement events for new providers? If so, when is the next scheduled event?

7. Mental Health & Specialist Services
a) Does the council currently commission Parent & Child Assessment Centres that specialise in mental health needs?
b) How many placements in the past three years required mental health-specific support?

8. Future Demand & Strategic Planning
a) Does the council have any forecasted increase or decrease in demand for Parent & Child Assessment placements over the next 3-5 years?
b) Is the council planning to reduce reliance on external providers by creating in-house Parent & Child Assessment Centres?
c) Are there any policy changes expected in the next 12-24 months that will impact Parent & Child Assessment placements?