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1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

  1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles May 20, 2024
  2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationMay 20, 2024
  3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityApril 11, 2024

1.2Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  1. 1.2.1Early Help Framework May 20, 2024
  2. 1.2.2Threshold Document - Continuum of Help and Support May 20, 2024
  3. 1.2.3Capacity and ConsentMay 20, 2024
  4. 1.2.4Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsMay 20, 2024
  2. 1.3.2AssessmentsNovember 18, 2024
  3. 1.3.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)November 18, 2024
  4. 1.3.4Local Protocol for AssessmentTo Follow
  5. 1.3.5Allocation of Work and Transfer between TeamsTo Follow
  6. 1.3.6Multi-Agency Safeguarding Children Procedures

1.4Child in Need

  1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsMay 20, 2024

1.5Legal Proceedings

  1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersApril 11, 2024
  2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineNovember 18, 2024
  3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsApril 11, 2024
  4. 1.5.4Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
  5. 1.5.5Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
  6. 1.5.6Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS) - This hosts a series of practical resources, such as templates, tools and practice guidance, which will be of interest to those working in the family justice system.

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

  1. 1.6.1Complaints and RepresentationsApril 11, 2024
  2. 1.6.2Whistleblowing

1.7Notifications

  1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, and Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)May 20, 2024

2.Case Management and Recording

  1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesMay 20, 2024
  2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionApril 11, 2024
  3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsJune 2, 2025
  4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyNovember 18, 2024
  5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsApril 11, 2024
  6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffApril 11, 2024
  7. 2.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesJune 2, 2025

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

  1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
    Updated
    June 2, 2025
  2. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsNovember 18, 2024
  3. 3.1.3Short BreaksMay 20, 2024
  4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings
    Updated
    June 2, 2025
  5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkNovember 18, 2024

3.2Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  1. 3.2.1Deprivation of Liberty
  2. 3.2.2Mental Capacity

3.3Children from Abroad

  1. 3.3.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryJune 2, 2025
  2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsApril 11, 2024

3.4Homelessness

  1. 3.4.1Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferMay 20, 2024

3.5Family and Friends / Kinship Care

  1. 3.5.1Kinship Care
    Updated
    June 2, 2025
  2. 3.5.2Private FosteringMay 20, 2024
  3. 3.5.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingNovember 18, 2024

3.6Young Carers

  1. 3.6.1Young CarersJune 2, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

  1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenJune 2, 2025

3.8Mental Health

  1. 3.8.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983June 2, 2025

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children
    Updated
    June 2, 2025
  2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterNovember 18, 2024
  3. 4.1.3Care PlanningApril 11, 2024
  4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildNovember 18, 2024
  5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceApril 11, 2024
  6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsApril 11, 2024
  7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenApril 11, 2024
  8. 4.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningApril 11, 2024
  9. 4.1.9Providing Personalised CareApril 11, 2024
  10. 4.1.10NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People
  11. 4.1.11Promoting Wellbeing and Positive Identity for a Child or Young Person Who is Looked After: A Quick Guide for Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners

4.2Placements

  1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsMay 20, 2024
  2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsApril 11, 2024
  3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareNovember 18, 2024
  4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareNovember 18, 2024
  5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsMay 20, 2024
  6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsApril 11, 2024
  7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesApril 11, 2024
  8. 4.2.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationMay 20, 2024
  9. 4.2.9Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersApril 11, 2024
  10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersJune 2, 2025
  11. 4.2.11Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
  12. 4.2.12Health and Safety
    Updated
    June 2, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

  1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenApril 11, 2024
  2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsMay 20, 2024
  3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsJune 2, 2025
  4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersApril 11, 2024
  5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsApril 11, 2024
  6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsApril 11, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

  1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsJune 2, 2025
  2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)April 11, 2024

4.5Education, School Trips and Holidays

  1. 4.5.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenMay 20, 2024
  2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKMay 20, 2024
  3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesApril 11, 2024

4.6Health and Wellbeing

  1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansNovember 18, 2024
  2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsApril 11, 2024
  3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementApril 11, 2024
  4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintApril 11, 2024

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

  1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildApril 11, 2024
  2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildApril 11, 2024

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

  1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and Transition
    Updated
    June 2, 2025
  2. 4.8.2Staying PutNovember 18, 2024
  3. 4.8.3Financial Arrangements for Care LeaversTo Follow

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesMay 20, 2024
  2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyMay 20, 2024
  3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance
    Updated
    June 2, 2025

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

  1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelApril 11, 2024
  2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringApril 11, 2024
  3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers
    Updated
    June 2, 2025
  4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalApril 11, 2024
  5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersApril 11, 2024
  6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersApril 11, 2024
  7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster Carers
    Updated
    June 2, 2025
  8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersApril 11, 2024

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

  1. 5.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters
    Updated
    June 2, 2025
  2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelApril 11, 2024
  3. 5.2.3Placement for Adoption
    Updated
    June 2, 2025
  4. 5.2.4Adoption SupportMay 20, 2024
  5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsApril 11, 2024
  6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsApril 11, 2024
  7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsApril 11, 2024
  8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted
    Updated
    June 2, 2025
  9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionNovember 18, 2024
  10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionApril 11, 2024
  11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsApril 11, 2024
  12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsApril 11, 2024
  13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesApril 11, 2024
  14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceNovember 18, 2024
  15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersNovember 18, 2024
  16. 5.2.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersApril 11, 2024
  17. 5.2.17Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

5.3Special Guardianship

  1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersMay 20, 2024
  2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceApril 11, 2024

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

  1. 6.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersApril 11, 2024
  2. 6.0.2Ofsted Inspection Framework
    Updated
    June 2, 2025
  3. 6.0.3Local ContactsTo Follow
  4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children

Last Updated: November 18, 2024

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