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1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

  1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles May 14, 2025
  2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationMay 14, 2025
  3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityJanuary 21, 2025

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

  1. 1.2.1Early Help and Targeted SupportMay 14, 2025
  2. 1.2.2Threshold Document - Continuum of Help and Support May 14, 2025
  3. 1.2.3Capacity and ConsentMay 14, 2025
  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 14, 2025
  2. 1.3.2AssessmentsMay 14, 2025
  3. 1.3.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)May 14, 2025

1.4Child in Need

  1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsMay 14, 2025

1.5Legal Proceedings

  1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersMay 14, 2025
  2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 23, 2022
  3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsJanuary 21, 2025
  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 RepresentationsMay 14, 2025

1.7Notifications

  1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)May 14, 2025

2.Case Management and Recording

  1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesMay 14, 2025
  2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionJanuary 21, 2025
  3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsJanuary 21, 2025
  4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 14, 2025
  5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsMay 14, 2025
  6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffJanuary 21, 2025
  7. 2.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesMay 14, 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 DisabilitiesMay 14, 2025
  2. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsMay 14, 2025
  3. 3.1.3Short BreaksMay 14, 2025
  4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsMay 14, 2025
  5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 14, 2025

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 SlaveryMay 14, 2025
  2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsJanuary 21, 2025

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 14, 2025

3.5Family and Friends / Kinship Care

  1. 3.5.1Kinship CareMay 14, 2025
  2. 3.5.2Private FosteringMay 14, 2025
  3. 3.5.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMay 14, 2025

3.6Young Carers

  1. 3.6.1Young CarersMay 14, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

  1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenMay 14, 2025

3.8Mental Health

  1. 3.8.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 14, 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 ChildrenJanuary 21, 2025
  2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterMay 14, 2025
  3. 4.1.3Care PlanningMay 14, 2025
  4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildMay 14, 2025
  5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceJanuary 21, 2025
  6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsJanuary 21, 2025
  7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenJanuary 21, 2025
  8. 4.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningJanuary 21, 2025
  9. 4.1.9Providing Personalised CareJanuary 21, 2025
  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 14, 2025
  2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsJanuary 21, 2025
  3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareMay 14, 2025
  4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareMay 14, 2025
  5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsMay 14, 2025
  6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsMay 14, 2025
  7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesMay 14, 2025
  8. 4.2.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationMay 14, 2025
  9. 4.2.9Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersMay 14, 2025
  10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersMay 14, 2025
  11. 4.2.11Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
  12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyMay 14, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

  1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenJanuary 21, 2025
  2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsMay 14, 2025
  3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsMay 14, 2025
  4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersJanuary 21, 2025
  5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsMay 14, 2025
  6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsMay 14, 2025

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

  1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsMay 14, 2025
  2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)May 14, 2025

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 14, 2025
  2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKMay 14, 2025
  3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesJanuary 21, 2025

4.6Health and Wellbeing

  1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansMay 14, 2025
  2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJanuary 21, 2025
  3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMay 14, 2025
  4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintMay 14, 2025

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

  1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildMay 14, 2025
  2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildJanuary 21, 2025

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

  1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionMay 14, 2025
  2. 4.8.2Staying PutMay 14, 2025

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesMay 14, 2025
  2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyMay 14, 2025
  3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceMay 14, 2025

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

  1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelMay 14, 2025
  2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringMay 14, 2025
  3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersMay 14, 2025
  4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalMay 14, 2025
  5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersJanuary 21, 2025
  6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJanuary 21, 2025
  7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersMay 14, 2025
  8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMay 14, 2025

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

  1. 5.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersMay 14, 2025
  2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelMay 14, 2025
  3. 5.2.3Placement for AdoptionMay 14, 2025
  4. 5.2.4Adoption SupportMay 14, 2025
  5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsJanuary 21, 2025
  6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsMay 14, 2025
  7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsMay 14, 2025
  8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedMay 14, 2025
  9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionMay 14, 2025
  10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionMay 14, 2025
  11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsMay 14, 2025
  12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsJanuary 21, 2025
  13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesMay 14, 2025
  14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceMay 14, 2025
  15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersMay 14, 2025
  16. 5.2.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersMay 14, 2025
  17. 5.2.17Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

5.3Special Guardianship

  1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersMay 14, 2025
  2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceJanuary 21, 2025

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

  1. 6.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersMay 14, 2025
  2. 6.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkAugust 20, 2024
  3. 6.0.3Working Together to Safeguard Children

Last Updated: May 14, 2025

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