We write to request the following information under the FOIA in relation to assessments of, and the provision of support to, families with No Recourse to Public Funds (“NRPF”) seeking access to support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. If you require any further clarification as to our request, kindly inform us promptly and we would be happy to assist.

Contact details
1.Does your local authority have a separate team dealing with requests for support under section 17 Children Act 1989, for example an ‘NRPF team’?
No

2. If yes, please provide contact details for this team (telephone and email)
Not applicable

3. If no, please confirm where referrals for such support should be directed to and provide contact details (telephone and email)
MASH team. Triage@wokingham.gov.uk if have children

4. Please also provide contact details for the relevant legal team supporting children’s services or dedicated NRPF team (telephone and email)
Joint legal team

Policies
5. Do you have any guidance or policy documents or other such written material in respect of undertaking assessments and providing support pursuant to section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to families with no recourse to public funds (including documents specific to this issue, or of more general application but covering this issue)?
Our Children’s Serviced Procedure Manual has a chapter on Families with No Recourse to Public Funds. Section 5 of this chapter provides guidance on the approach that should be taken, including when assessing need under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989.

6. If yes, please provide us with a copy.
https://www.proceduresonline.com/wokingham/childcare/p_no_recourse_public.html

Assessments
7. How many families requested assessments under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022?
We don’t collect this info so can only give the total amount of S17 assessments completed not those that are related to NRPF

8. How many of the families identified in question 7 received financial support under section 17 following their assessment?
4 families

9. How many of the families identified in question 7 received accommodation under section 17 of the Children Act following their assessment?
4 families

10. How many of the families identified in question 7 had no recourse to public funds (either because of a restriction on their leave to remain or because they were undocumented)?
One was undocumented and 3 had restrictions on their leave to remain.

11. How many families with no recourse to public funds received financial support under section 17 following their assessment?
We are not able to report on this

12. How many families with no recourse to public funds received accommodation under section 17 following their assessment?
As per answer 9

13. What were the five most common reasons for refusing support under section 17 of the Children Act? Please note that we are not requesting personal information. Answers can be general, such as ‘not in need’ or ‘immigration status’
Would be not in need

Subsistence
14. What types of subsistence support does the local authority provide (e.g. cash, prepayment cards, vouchers)?
Cash

15. What criteria are used to determine the type of subsistence support? Please provide any policies or guidance if available.
Child in need criteria

16. If the local authority pays a fixed rate of financial support, what is this rate?
We don’t pay a fixed rate – its according to need.

17. Does the local authority provide any additional payments, such as for young children, pregnant mothers, or maternity grants? If yes, please specify.
No

18. If the answers to question 16 and/or 17 are yes, how have the figures been reached (e.g. by reference to section 4 support)?
Not applicable