Contents


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This contents list is sub divided into the following sections, each Section contains relevant Chapters/Procedures: (Click on the title to jump to the Section you require):

  1. All Children
  2. Case Management and Recording
  3. Children in Particular Circumstances
  4. Looked After Children
  5. Fostering and Adoption
  6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices


1. All Children

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles Updated
1.1.2 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.3 Equality and Diversity  


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Early Help  
1.2.2 Capacity and Consent  
  Also see: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision  


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Contacts and Referrals Updated
1.3.2 Assessments Updated
1.3.3 Local Protocol for Assessment  
1.3.4 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) Updated
  See also: Newham Safeguarding Children Partnership  
1.3.5 Allocation of Work and Transfer between Teams  


 

1.4

Child in Need

  
1.4.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  
1.4.2 Family Group Conferences  


 

1.5

Legal Proceedings

  
1.5.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.5.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
1.5.3 Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings  
1.5.4 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol  
1.5.5 Legal Assessments and Placement Panel  
  See also: Cross-border Child Protection Cases: The 1996 Hague Convention  
1.5.6 Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS)  


 

1.6

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.6.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.6.2 Whistleblowing Updated


 

1.7

Notifications

  
1.7.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24) Updated
1.7.2 Child Death Notifications and Serious Incidents - Initial Process  


2. Case Management and Recording

2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
2.2 Case Records and Retention  
2.3 Access to Records  
2.4 Confidentiality Policy  
2.5 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.6 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  


3. Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1

Children with Disabilities

  
3.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
3.1.2 Personal Budgets and Direct Payments Updated
3.1.3 Short Breaks  
3.1.4 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
3.1.5 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework New


 

3.2

Safeguarding

  
3.2.1 Child Sexual Exploitation  
3.2.2 Domestic Abuse  
3.2.3 Missing  
3.2.4 LADO  


 

3.3

Children from Abroad

  
3.3.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
3.3.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  


 

3.4

Homelessness

  
3.4.1 Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds who may be Homeless and/or require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer


 

3.5

Family and Friends Care

  
3.5.1 Kinship Care Updated
  See Looking after someone else's child (GOV.UK)  
3.5.2 Private Fostering  
3.5.3 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New


 

3.6

Young Carers

  
3.6.1 Young Carers  


 

3.7

Relinquished Children

  
3.7.1 Relinquished Children  


 

3.8

CFCS

  
3.8.1 CFCS Protocol  


 

3.9

Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty

  
3.9.1 Mental Capacity Act  
3.9.2 Deprivation of Liberty  
3.9.3 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 Updated


4. Looked After Children

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
4.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children  
4.1.2 Decision to Look After  
4.1.3 Care Planning  
  Also see: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  
4.1.4 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.5 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
4.1.6 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.7 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.1.8 Providing Personalised Care  
4.1.9 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  


 

4.2

Placements

  
4.2.1 Placements with Parents  
4.2.2 Placements with Connected Persons Updated
4.2.3 Placements in Foster Care  
4.2.4 Placements in Residential Care  
4.2.5 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Updated
4.2.6 Out of Area Placements  
4.2.7 Placements Outside England and Wales  
4.2.8 Placements in Other Arrangements  
4.2.9 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.2.10 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.11 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
  See: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
  and: Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
4.2.12 Health and Safety  


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

  
4.3.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children  
4.3.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
4.3.3 Looked After Reviews  
4.3.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers  
4.3.5 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
4.3.6 Notifications of Significant Events Updated


 

4.4

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.4.1 Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings  
4.4.2 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)  


 

4.5

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.5.1 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Updated
4.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
4.5.3 Leisure Activities  


 

4.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
4.6.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
4.6.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
4.6.3 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
4.6.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  


 

4.7

Change of Name and Marriage

  
4.7.1 Change of Name of a Looked After Child  
4.7.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child  


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

  
4.8.1 Leaving Care and Transition  
4.8.2 Staying Put  
4.8.3 Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers Updated
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  


 

4.9

Youth Justice

  
  See also: Youth Justice Board National Standards and Case Management Guidelines  
4.9.1 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.9.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.9.3 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance Updated


5. Fostering and Adoption

5.1

Fostering Services

  
5.1.1 Fostering Panel  
5.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Updated
5.1.4 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.5 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
5.1.6 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.7 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
5.1.8 FOSTAD Scheme  
5.1.9 Applications for Financial Support for Adaptations or Extensions to Achieve Permanency for Looked After Children  
5.1.10 Delegated Authority  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
5.1.11 Training and Development of Foster Carers  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
5.2.1 Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters Updated
5.2.2 Adoption Panel  
5.2.3 Placement for Adoption  
5.2.4 Adoption Support  
5.2.5 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.6 Adoption Reviews  
5.2.7 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
5.2.9 Inter Country Adoption  
5.2.10 Non Agency Adoption  
5.2.11 Adoption Case Records  
5.2.12 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
5.2.13 Intermediary Services  
5.2.14 Life Story Books Guidance  
5.2.15 Later Life Letters  
5.2.16 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
  Also see: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  


 

5.3

Special Guardianship

  
5.3.1 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders Updated
5.3.2 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  


6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

6.1 Local Contacts  
6.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
6.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.4 Ofsted Inspection Framework  
6.5 Amendments