Log onto PIMS:

Placement Information Management System:

PIMS is web based software designed to help Local Authorities make better 'Out of Authority' placements for children and young people. The system is a searchable database which records information on Education, Residential and Foster Care Placements in the North West. PIMS will hold information on leaving care placements. By improving intelligence on provision and supporting LAs in placing children and young people, PIMS will help improve outcomes for children and young people in the North West.

Providers can record vacancy information and the types of needs their provision can cater for and maintain up to date cost information. Providers who wish to register their provision should contact Placements Northwest.

Current Functionality in PIMS

PIMS is a work in progress and development is ongoing. Currently the program allows LAs to:

• Search for provision that matches children and young people's needs
• Identify key details for organisations and their establishments
• Return data to Placements Northwest online
• Search by distance from a specified address
• Read price information
• Link to OFSTED reports

Development and Extension of PIMS

Placement Northwest is currently developing in conjunction with Tribal phase 2 of PIMS. There are a number of minor fixes and tweaks to the system but the key enhancements are:

• Improved and streamlined registration process for providers (this has previously been referred to as accreditation)
• Establishments will be scored using registration information and OFSTED reports.
• Children and Young People Outcomes - PIMS will allow for outcomes based on Every Child Matters to be negotiated between Purchaser and Provider and recorded
• Children and Young People Outcomes - PIMS will allow for the identified outcomes to be scored. This score will be used to rate Establishments on their ability to meet mutually agreed outcomes.
• A streamlined and improved system for recording costs of provision
• Automated referral system