The Cost Calculator shows the sequence of costs for each of a child’s placements during the chosen time period. Information on placement stability and costs are therefore simultaneously generated using the placement records of individual children. Users can specify analyses of placement costs by any or all of several long-term outcome measures, such as educational attainment (GCSE passes), exclusion from school and post-16 activity. Other outcome variables will be included in future versions.
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- Who is using the Cost Calculator?
- How does the Cost Calculator compare with other packages on the market?
- What is involved in implementing the Cost Calculator and what assistance is available?
- How does the Cost Calculator define emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) and children with disability (CWD)?
- Does the Cost Calculator distinguish between different placement providers and location within or outside the local authority area?
- Can the Cost Calculator use data on geographical distances and post-codes?
- How does the Calculator link costs to actual outcomes?
- How does the Cost Calculator link with statutory returns and performance indicators?
- Can the Cost Calculator predict future costs? What does the ‘What if’ analysis do?
- How can we ensure that only selected users are able to edit and delete data on children, placements and costs in the Cost Calculator?
- What if our financial information shows only the total paid to a carer, not the cost of each specific placement?
- Can we apply a different inflation rate to each cost component?
- The Calculator uses data based on weekly placement costs. What if our times period for payments differ?
- How does the Calculator handle historic costs?
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