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, Scheme of Delegation and Appendices


1. All Children

Caption: section 1 of contents
     

1.1

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.1.1 Early Help Framework  
1.1.2 Threshold Document - Continuum of Help and Support  
1.1.3 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.4 Capacity and Consent  
1.1.5 Equality and Diversity  
  See also: What is early help? Concepts, policy directions and multi-agency perspectives  


 

1.2

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.2.1 Contacts and Referrals  
1.2.2 Assessments  
1.2.3 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)  
  See also: Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Procedures  
1.2.4 Failure to Gain Access  


 

1.3

Child in Need

  
1.3.1 Child in Need - Levels of Intervention (LOI)  
1.3.2 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  


 

1.4

Legal Proceedings

  
1.4.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.4.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline  
1.4.3 Legal Planning Meetings Protocol and Guidance  
1.4.4 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol  
  See also: Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)  
  and Family 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.  


 

1.5

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.5.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.5.2 Whistleblowing  


 

1.6

Notifications

  
1.6.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)  


2. Case Management and Recording

Caption: section 2 of contents
     
2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
2.2 Case Records and Retention  
2.3 Access to Records / Subject Access Requests  
2.4 Confidentiality Policy  
2.5 Supervision Policy  
2.6 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.7 Need to Know Procedure  
2.8 Record Restriction Policy for LiquidLogic  
2.9 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
2.10 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  


3. Children in Particular Circumstances

Caption: section 3 of contents
     

3.1

Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

  
3.1.1 How to Access Support for Children and Young People with Disabilities  
3.1.2 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities  
3.1.3 Personal Budgets and Direct Payments  
3.1.4 Short Breaks  
3.1.5 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
3.1.6 Children and Young People's Continuing Care National Framework  


 

3.2

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
3.2.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
3.2.2 Mental Capacity  


 

3.3

Children from Abroad

  
3.3.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery  
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
3.5.2 Private Fostering  


 

3.6

Young Carers

  
3.6.1 Young Carers  


 

3.7

Relinquished Children

  
3.7.1 Relinquished Children  


4. Looked After Children

Caption:section 4 of contents
     

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
4.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children Updated
4.1.2 Decision to Look After  
4.1.3 Care Planning  
4.1.4 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.5 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Permanence Policy  
  and 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 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  
4.2.3 Placements in Foster Care  
4.2.4 Placements in Residential Care  
4.2.5 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds  
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 also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.2.12 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.2.13 Health and Safety Updated
4.2.14 Providing Personalised Care  


 

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 Child in Care 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  


 

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  
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  
4.6.5 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983  


 

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 Procedures for Young People Leaving Care  
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  


 

4.9

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
  See also: Youth Justice Board - Standards for Children in the Youth Justice System YJB and Probation Joint National Protocol for Transitions in England  
  and Youth Justice Board - Case Management Guidance  
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  
4.9.3 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance Updated


5. Fostering and Adoption

Caption: section 5 of contents
     

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 Training and Development of Foster Carers  
5.1.7 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Allegations Against Foster Carers Updated
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
  Regional Adoption Agency – adoption west  
5.2.1 Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals 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 Updated
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  


 

5.3

Special Guardianship

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


6. Contacts, Scheme of Delegation and Appendices

Caption: section 6 contents
     
6.1 Local Contacts  
6.2 Scheme of Delegation  
6.3 OFSTED Inspection Framework  
6.4 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.5 Amendments