Amendments
August 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Initial Contacts and Referrals to the Children's Advice and Support Service (CASS) | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Assessments and the ASTI Teams | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Placements with Connected Persons | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been revised in response to Working Together to Safeguard Children (December 2023), and includes the ongoing development of the strategic leadership roles of Virtual School Heads (VSH) in promoting educational outcomes for children aged 0 to 18 who have, or previously had a social worker, and children in kinship care arrangements. |
| Staying Put Arrangements | This chapter has been amended to include a link to the Staying Put Policy, which has been relocated from main chapters to practice guidance section. |
| Children Involved in the Youth Justice System Additional National Guidance | Links have been added to Guidance: Use of Force, Restraint and Restrictive Practices in the Children and Young People Secure Estate and a Joint Thematic Inspection of Work with Children Subject to Remand in Youth Detention. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | Information has been added in Section 7, Assessment - Stage Two on carrying out risk assessments in regard to pets. |
| Supervision and Support of Foster Carers | This chapter has been updated to correct the frequency requirement for statutory supervision visits. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated. Information has been added into Section 18, Special Guardian Duty on the Death of the Child, that the relevant local authority should be notified if the child was previously a looked after child. |
| Arranging the Adoption of a Relinquished Child | This chapter has been updated to clarify the responsibilities of the child’s social worker and the adoption social worker. |
| Young Carers | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Serious Incident Notification Policy & Procedure (Child Safeguarding Practice & Review 'Panel') | This policy has been updated in line with Working Together To Safeguard Children 2023 requirement to complete notifications regarding care leavers. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | Section 14, Resolving Disagreements has been updated to include information on Guidance: Carry Out an Order in Special Educational Needs Cases. |
| Unaccompanied Children from Abroad and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been updated. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been revised and should be re-read. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | Information has been added in relation to family group decision-making in Section 1, Introduction and Time Limits and Section 5, Pre-Proceedings, and a link has been added to Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making Policy. |
| Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions (2024 Protocol) | This link has been updated. |
| Case Records and Retention | The Children's Services - Retention of Records table has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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| Next Update: February 2025 |
February 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Confidentiality Policy | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Resolution and Escalation Protocol | This file has been updated to an external link. |
| Family-led Practice | This chapter has been amended. A link has been added to Family-led Practice Information. |
| Placements in Residential Care | This chapter has been updated to include information from Guidance - Placing Children: Deprivation of Liberty Orders - guidance for providers, social workers and placement commissioners on placing children, subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL), in unregistered settings; and President of the Family Division Practice Guidance: Placements in Unregistered Children’s Homes in England or Unregistered Care Home Services in Wales. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Placements in Other Arrangements | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Health and Safety | Additional information has been added about online safety. |
| Independent Reviewing officer (IRO) Dispute and Escalation Procedure | This chapter has been amended. |
| Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters | This chapter has been refreshed and a link added to National Early Permanence Practice Standards (Coram Centre for Early Permanence). |
| Non-recent Abuse Policy and Practice Guidance | This has been renamed from 'Historical Abuse Policy' and a new PDF document has been added. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been amended to include information from Special Educational Needs and Disability: Improving Local Authority Decision Making - Report of the Administrative Justice Council’s Working Group on Special Educational Needs and Disability. Information has also been added into Section 15, Resolving Disagreements in relation to legal aid for foster carers and prospective adoptive parents in First Tier Tribunal appeals. |
| Capacity and Consent | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Unaccompanied Children from Abroad and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Information has been added in Section 4, Assessment and in Further Information on the National Age Assessment Board. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | Information has been added into Section 4, Care Orders and Supervisions Orders on a Care Plan of the Child Remaining at Home in relation to Supervision Orders, in line with Public Law Working Group (PLWG) Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems: Supervision Orders. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Children Receiving Services as Children in Need | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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August 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Our Vision and Purpose | This chapter has been updated, to include links to our document Our Support to Children and Families - Connections Count - How we 'Be' And What we Do and to our other core documents. |
| Decision to Look After | Section 3, Section 20 Accommodation has been updated in line with case-law. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | This chapter has been amended to include information from Annex to MOJ Circular 2022/03: Additional Information on Remand to Local Authority Accommodation (RLAA). |
| Health and Safety | Information in relation to allergies has been added into Section 6, Diet, Nutrition and Allergies. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | Information in relation to allergies has been added into Section 4, Health Plans. |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter has been amended to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Additional information has been added into Section 2, Positive Behaviour Support and Section 5.4, Recording of Sanctions. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been amended in relation to arrangements for the introduction of Personal Advisers. |
| Child Trust Funds (CTFs) and Junior Individual Savings Accounts (JISAs) for Children Who Are in Care Continuously for 12 Months Plus | This chapter has been refreshed and should be re-read. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern has been added. |
| Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted | This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern has been added. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated to reflect the updated Public Law Working Group Best Practice Guidance. This includes the new interim guidance, issued by the President of the Family Division, that addresses the lawful extension of care proceedings beyond 26 weeks. Section 6.3, Placement before a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is Granted has been added in line with guidance that states where there is no pre-existing relationship between the child and special guardians the child should be placed on an interim basis before the special guardianship order is made. |
| Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child in Care | This chapter has been amended to reflect that the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 raised the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales, with effect from 26 February 2023. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been updated to include information from Guidance: Area SEND Inspections Framework and Handbook (November 2022). |
| Unaccompanied Children from Abroad and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been updated and should be re-read. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been revised and should be re-read. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | Section 8, Court Hearings has been updated in line with A View From the President's Chambers: Relaunching the PLO (November 2022) and that section should be re-read. In Relevant Guidance, a link has been added to Pre-proceedings and Family Justice Hub (Research in Practice). |
| Section 7 and Section 37 Reports | This chapter has been amended in line with the ADCS /CAFCASS Policy on whether Cafcass or a local authority should prepare a section 7 report. Amendments have also been made in line with the protocol between Birmingham Family Court, HMCTS, Cafcass and Birmingham Trust (BCT) in Private Law Children's Cases March 2023. Please refer to the protocol for further information. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. Please also see the Practice Standard #2: Good Recording. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings | This chapter has been added. |
| Access to Secondary Healthcare (e.g. CYPMHS) Services - for Children in Care Living Out of Area | This chapter has been added. |
| Ofsted Inspection Framework | This chapter has been added. |
March 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been amended in relation to arrangements for the introduction of Personal Advisers. |
February 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | This chapter has been amended in line with the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey has been updated in line with the Cross-border Placements (Effect of Deprivation of Liberty Orders) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 and Cross-Border Placements (Effect of Deprivation of Liberty Orders) (Scotland) Regulations 2022: Practice Guidance, Notice and Undertaking Template. |
| Children and Young People in Care in Contact with Youth Justice Services | Section 2, Looked After Children who are Arrested has been updated in relation to appropriate adults. |
| Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Adoption Panel | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Adoption Support | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been amended to refer to Guidance issued by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been amended throughout in line with Management Guidance in Public Law Children Cases: March 2022. There are additional forms and guidance in the Practice Guidance area. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Leisure Activities | This chapter has been added. |
August 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | A new Section 4.3, Consent to the Use of Medication to Suppress Puberty has been added to reflect case-law. |
| Decision to Look After | This chapter has been substantially updated and should be re-read. |
| Care Planning | This chapter has been reviewed and refreshed and has been separated from Decision to Look After. |
| Placements in Foster Care | This chapter has been amended to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move (see Section 4, Placement Planning). |
| Placements in Residential Care | This chapter has been amended to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move (see Section 2.3, Placement Planning). |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | Section 6, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty When One or More of the Relevant Criteria Under Section 25 Children Act 1989 are Not Satisfied has been updated in line with case-law. |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | This chapter has been updated to add a note regarding transferring a child's belongings in appropriate luggage and includes a link to a link to NYAS, 'My Things Matter Report' (see Section 5, Administration / Process Issues). |
| Education of Children with a Social Worker, Children Looked After and Previously Looked After | This chapter has been updated to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education. Schools should have policies and processes in place to ensure all concerns about all adults working in or on behalf of the school or college (including supply teachers, volunteers and contractors) are dealt with promptly and appropriately. See Section 8.3, Protecting Children with a Social Worker, Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children from Adults Who May Pose a Risk to Them and/or Other Children in the School. |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been amended to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move (see Scope of This Chapter). |
| Private Fostering | This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. |
| Fostering Panel | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | Section 14, Resolving Disagreements has been updated in line with the First Tier Tribunal's extended powers to hear appeals and make non-binding recommendations about health and social care aspects of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, provided those appeals also include education elements. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been amended with updated information about financial support to families and reference to a 2021 High Court finding. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | Information has been added on the DHSC's Position on the Determination of Ordinary Residence Disputes Pending the Outcome of the Worcestershire Case. |
| Section 7 and Section 37 Reports | This chapter has been amended in line with the protocol between Birmingham Family Court, HMCTS, Cafcass and Birmingham Children's Trust (BCT) in Private Law Children's Cases December 2021. Please refer to the protocol for further information. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Equality and Diversity | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Risk Assessment and Planning | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Health and Safety | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Providing Personalised Care | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Training and Development of Foster Carers | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
January 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Initial Contacts and Referrals to the Children's Advice and Support Service (CASS) | Guidance contained in this chapter has been reviewed and updated as required to reflect guidance from the refreshed Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Capacity and Consent | A new Section 5.4, Consent to Life-ending Withdrawal of Medical Support has also been added to reflect High Court judgments. Section 2.1, Consent to Information Sharing has been updated to reflect revisions contained in the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | Section 1.3, Section 20 Accommodation has been revised in line with the Public Law Working Group (PLWG) Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | Information in relation to children under the age of 16 being placed in 'other arrangements' placements has been added into Section 3, Local Authority Accommodation. |
| Out of Area Placements | Section 6, Placements in Wales has been updated in line with updated Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review. |
| Placements with Parents | Section 1, Planned Placements has been updated to add information on placements in 'other arrangements'. |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey has been updated in line with updated Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review. Additional information has also been added in relation to placements in Scotland, in line with a High Court case. |
| Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers | A new Section 7.4, Consent to Life-ending Withdrawal of Medical Support has been added to reflect a High Court judgment. |
| Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Children in Care | This chapter has been refreshed and a link has been added to House of Commons Library Briefing Paper: Criminal Injuries Compensation for Victims of Child Abuse. |
| Advocacy and Independent Visitors | This chapter has been refreshed throughout. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been significantly amended to reflect the 'Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges (Ofsted)'; updated 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' (see Scope of this Chapter) and Sexual Harassment in Education – Briefing (House of Parliament Library) (see Section 8.2, Protecting looked after children from sexual harassment and child on child abuse). The chapter has also been amended to reflect Promoting the Education of Children with a Social Worker: Virtual School Head Role Extension. Information on the School Admission Code has been added in Section 6, When a Child Needs or Joins a New School. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | Section 2, Pathway Planning has been updated to note that, in relevant cases, immigration status should be included as a separate section on the Pathway Plan. This will help to ensure that young people who have been granted Pre-Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme apply to convert this to Settled Status at the appropriate. Pathway Plans should contain clear information about what action needs to be taken by whom and when to ensure that the young person's right to remain legally in the UK is not jeopardised. |
| Staying Put Policy | The chapter has been amended to provide guidance about "Staying Put" payments for young people who are undertaking basic training for the Armed Forces. |
| Family and Friends Policy | This chapter has been updated to highlight amendments to the School Admissions Code relating to support for children being raised by family and friends carers under a Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order, who struggle to get a school place during the year. |
| Private Fostering | This chapter has been amended throughout and should be re-read. |
| Relinquished Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect case-law setting out lessons for the future in non-notification cases. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated to reflect Practice Guidance on Special Guardianship published by the Family Justice Council. See Section 6.2, Special Guardianship Applications in Care Proceedings and new Section 17, Special Guardianship Orders in International Cases. |
| Short Breaks | Information in relation to the prohibition on looked after children under the age of 16 being placed in 'other arrangements' placements for the purposes of a short break has been added into Section 7, Short Break Settings. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been refreshed and updated and includes links to related reports from the House of Commons Library (see Section 15, Further Information and Statutory Guidance). |
| Unaccompanied Children from Abroad and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Further Information has been updated to include a link to Interim Guidance for Independent Child Trafficking Guardians, plus a link to Barnardo's ICTG Service referral information. A link to Regulation 27A Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended by Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021) has also been added. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | A link has been added to the Financial Support Policy for Families with No Recourse to Public Funds – for updated rates of financial support. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been revised throughout in line with the Public Law Working Group (PLWG) Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems. |
| Legal Planning Meetings | This chapter has been revised throughout in line with the Public Law Working Group (PLWG) Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Placements in Other Arrangements | This policy has been added to the manual. |
August 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Assessments and the ASTI Teams | This chapter has been amended to add a new Section 16, 16 and 17 year olds who may be Homeless and/or require Accommodation and reflects the issue of Homelessness and the vulnerability of young people identified in Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Capacity and Consent | This chapter has been updated to add information in relation to NICE Quality Standard: Decision-Making and Mental Capacity. |
| Placements in Residential Care | A note has been added in the scope box saying from September 2021, looked after children under 16 years of age cannot be accommodated in unregulated independent or semi-independent placements. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | A new Section 6, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty When One or More of the Relevant Criteria Under Section 25 Children Act 1989 are Not Satisfied has been added. |
| Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK | This guidance has been reviewed and updated throughout. Section 2.3, Insurance Cover has been updated to include details of how to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which provides access to reduced cost or free medical insurance in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Section 2.4, Obtaining a Passport has also been updated to link to reissued Home Office guidance for Local Authorities Children's Services Departments when Applying for Passports on Behalf of Children. |
| Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Children and Young People in Care in Custody | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Section 2.6 Care leavers leaving custody in Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG) 2020 (see Section 3.9, Planning for Release). |
| Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records | This chapter has been given a general refresh throughout and information added on applying for a copy of a birth certificate online. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been amended. Section 14, Resolving Disagreements has been updated to reference recent case-law holding that, as part of the mediation process, a parent/child/young person is entitled to bring along any supporter they wish, including a lawyer. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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February 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | Section 3, Placements of Children Under the Age of 13 Years has been updated to take into account revised DfE Guidance - Secure Children's Homes: How to Place a Child aged under 13. |
| Notifications of Significant Events for Regulated Settings and Services | This policy has been updated to reflect the latest Ofsted guidance for social care providers on the types of incident which they consider to be serious and which will therefore require notification to the regulatory authority. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | A revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. |
| Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers | A revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | A revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. |
| Unaccompanied Children from Abroad and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Further Information has been updated to include a link to Statutory Guidance Modern Slavery: How to Identify and Support Victims. |
September 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been updated and should be re-read. |
August 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Our Vision and Purpose | This chapter has been updated to include links to documents which outline our practice. |
| Assessments and the ASTI Teams | This chapter has been updated in line with the new digital referral system for reporting potential victims of Modern Slavery. |
| Notifications of Significant Events for Regulated Settings and Services | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Guidance for Children's Homes providers: Notifying Ofsted of a Serious Event (Ofsted, updated August 2019). |
| Education of Children in Care | This chapter has been updated to include OFSTED's Chief Inspector's emphasis on the requirements for placements for children with SENs. |
| Staying Put Policy | This chapter has been re-written and should be re-read. |
| Child Trust Funds (CTFs) and Junior Individual Savings Accounts (JISAs) for Children Who Are in Care Continuously for 12 Months Plus | This chapter has been re-written and should be re-read. |
| Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers | This chapter has been updated. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been reviewed and refreshed, and terminology has been updated where required. |
| Think Family Outcomes Plan and Reviews | This chapter has been updated. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | An update has been made in Section 1, Principles to draw attention to OFSTED's advice that Local Authorities should exercise due diligence in ensuring schools for pupils with SEN are registered with the DFE. The same diligence should be exercised on behalf of pupils with SEN. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This chapter has been amended to reflect the Ofsted Twitter Blog of 24/7/19 by Yvette Stanley, Ofsted's National Director for Social Care. The Blog highlights feedback from a number of inspections and explores what good recording should look like. (Ofsted: developments in children's social care – What makes an effective case record?). Please also see the practice guidance What Does Good Look Like? |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Storage of Data on Mobile Devices | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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April 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Historical Abuse Policy | This policy covers any allegations of child abuse, which occurred when the victim was a child, and which have been made when the victim is an adult. |
February 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Family Group Conferences | This chapter has been amended and should be re-read. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | This chapter has been amended to reflect Section 3 of the Care Planning and Care Leavers (Amendment) Regulations 2014. The Care Plan must identify whether there is reason to believe the child has been trafficked or is an unaccompanied asylum seeker (see Section 2.1, The Care Plan - Contents). |
| Social Worker Visits to Children in Care | This chapter has been amended to include a link to the Leaving Care and Transition Policy in relation to Personal Adviser visits to 'Relevant' or 'Former Relevant' young people. |
| Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews | This chapter has been reviewed and updated. The requirement for clear separation of the Child in Care Reviews and Secure Criteria Panels (which are sometimes known as Secure Reviews) has been emphasised. Clarifying whether the criteria for keeping a child in secure accommodation are met must come before a CIC review so the decision can inform the child's CIC review. The Secure Criteria Panel is not a substitute review process for a Child in Care Review. The CIC Review will be chaired by the child's named IRO, this person will have no role in the Secure Criteria Panel and subsequently any Criteria Panel Member will have no role in the child's CIC Review. It should be noted that a child/young person detained under the Mental Health Act or Remanded to Secure estate by the court do not need to be considered through Secure Criteria Panels, their detention is reviewed through different processes. |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance. These changes relate to the status of 'previous Child in Care'. A previous Child in Care is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales. A child previously in care is entitled to support from their school through the Designated Teacher (see Section 2.5, Children Who Achieve Permanence). |
| Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Children and Young People in Care in Custody | This chapter has been updated in relation to placing young people in custody, see Section 3.8, How to Request a Transfer or Placement Review. |
| Junior Individual Savings Accounts (JISAs) and Child Trust Funds (CTFs) | The policy has been updated. It should be re-read. |
| Supervision and Support of Foster Carers | This chapter has been updated to reflect in more detail the foster carer's role and responsibilities with respect to Fostering National Minimum Standards – Notification of Significant Events (see Section 1, Introduction) and relevant aspects of Schedule 6 The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 (see Section 2, Planned Supervision Visits). |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated to reference and reflect the Family Court Justice Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (see new Section 6.2, Special Guardianship Applications in Care Proceedings). |
| Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance | This chapter has been updated to note the Family Court Justice Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (May 2019). See Section 3, Special Guardianship – Matters to be Dealt with in Report to Court and final sections 11 and 12. |
September 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Consultation Policy | This chapter has been amended to highlight the importance of recording decisions on the child's file and along with the reasons. |
| Assessments and the ASTI Teams | This chapter has been revised to reflect updated guidance on Assessment in Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Family Group Conferences | This chapter has been amended and should be re-read. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | Additional information has been added in to Section 1.4, Section 20 Accommodation, in line with recent case-law. |
| Permanence Guidance | This chapter has been amended and should be re-read. |
| Placements with Parents | This chapter has been updated to note that this policy does not apply to children subject to Interim Care Orders where the placement is required by the court under Section 38(6) Children Act 1989 for the purposes of assessment |
| Children in Care Reviews | This chapter has been amended and should be re-read. |
| Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers | This has been amended throughout and sets out the process to follow and the required timescales. |
| Life Story Books Guidance | This chapter has been reviewed and should be re-read. |
| Later Life Letters | This chapter has been fully reviewed. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | Amendments have been made in:
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| Staying Put Policy | This chapter has been amended and should be re-read. |
| Children and Young People in Care in Contact with Youth Justice Services | This chapter has been updated in relation to placing young people in custody, see Section 7.7, How to Request a Transfer or Placement Review. |
| Junior Individual Savings Accounts (JISAs) and Child Trust Funds (CTFs) | The policy has been updated. It should be re-read. |
| Policy for the Provision of Accommodation to - Homeless 16 and 17 Year Olds | This policy has been reviewed and updated. It should be re-read. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | A link has been added to Attending an IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 9, Representations / Independent Review Procedure. |
| Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers | A link has been added to Attending an IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 6, Representations/Review Procedure. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | This chapter has been amended throughout and should be re-read. A link has also been added to Attending an IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 10, Representations / Independent Review Policy. |
| Adoption Panel | This guidance has been reviewed and updated. It should be re-read. |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter has been amended throughout. |
| Adoption Reviews | Section 5, The Conduct of Adoption Reviews (bullet point 1.f) has been amended to reflect the status of adopted children as being 'previously looked after' when considering their educational needs. A link to DfE guidance on Promoting the Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After children has also been added. |
| Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records | A link has been added to Attending and IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 3.2, Adoption Orders made on or after 30 December 2005. |
| Serious Incident Notification Policy & Procedure (Child Safeguarding Practice & Review 'Panel') | This policy was previously titled "Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child in Need)". |
March 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Social Worker Visits to Children in Care | A link has been added to Voice of the Child Practice Guidance to reflect the importance of taking the views and opinions of the child into account in visits. |
| Staying Put Policy | This chapter has been amended to include links to guidance to support good practice. |
| Junior Individual Savings Accounts (JISAs) and Child Trust Funds (CTFs) | This policy is currently being revised so has been moved to the Practice Guidance page. |
| Young People who Lack Capacity to Make Decisions | A link has been added to Voice of the Child Practice Guidance to reflect the importance of taking the views and opinions of the child into account in visits. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | In Related Guidance a link has been added to Research in Practice supporting information and guidance on the Social Work Evidence template (SWET). |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Dispute and Escalation Policy and Protocol Secure Accommodation | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
September 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Confidentiality Policy | This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Pre-Birth | The Pre-Birth Assessment Multi-Agency Protocol has been updated. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | This chapter has been updated to include a link in Section 6.5, Personal Education Plan (PEP) to the new guidance on PEPs in the Practice Guidance area. |
| Placements with Parents | This chapter has been updated to reflect that the DBS has no eligibility for a standard or enhanced check for birth parents or other adults living in the household. However, the Children's Trust has a requirement under the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England Regulations) 2010 to obtain information about unspent convictions and cautions before placing a child back with parents (see Section 1.2, Assessment and Checks before Placement). |
| Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children | Section 3, Exceptions has been revised to set out more clearly the circumstances where visiting requirements differ from those set out in Section 2, Normal Frequency. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | Section 2, Different Types of Contact has been updated to take account of the use of mobile communication with regards to contact. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | A new Section 3.5, Consent to Health Care Assessments has been added to the policy. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been updated to add clarification in relation to Qualifying Young People. See Section 1, Definitions. |
| Junior Individual Savings Accounts (JISAs) and Child Trust Funds (CTFs) | This policy will shortly be revised so has been moved to the practice guidance page. |
| Provision of Accommodation to Homeless 16 and 17 year olds | The link to Prevention of homelessness and provision of accommodation for 16 and 17 year old young people who may be homeless and/or require accommodation has changed as the guidance has been updated to reflect changes in homelessness and children's legislation. |
| Fostering Payments | This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| Adoption Panel | This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter has been amended following changes to the referral process. The supporting leaflet "Are you involved in writing Child Permanency Reports for adoption?" has also been updated. |
| Inter Country Adoption | Section 8, Home Study has been updated to include a link to GOV.UK Benefits. |
| Adoption Case Records | Section 3, Security Retention and Sharing of Records has been updated in line with Adoption and Care Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018, which provides that an adoption agency may disclose an adoption case record to another adoption agency for purposes related to either agency's functions as an adoption agency. Further information has been added in relation to adoption records where an Adoption Order is not made. |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child in Need) | This chapter has been amended to reflect that from 29 June 2018 local authorities in England must notify the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel within 5 working days of becoming aware of a serious incident. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Case Records and Retention | Section 1, The Case Record has been updated in line with Adoption and Care Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018, which permits the transfer of a copy of the child's case record (or part of that record) to another adoption agency when the local authority considers this to be in the interests of the child. |
| Access to Records | This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| Removed Chapters | |
|
|
April 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Young Carers | This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | Section 2.1, The Care Plan – Contents has been amended to reflect the additional 'permanence provisions' of the Care Plan (s.8 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amends section 31(3B) Children Act 1989) which a court is required to consider when deciding whether to make a Care Order. |
| Permanence Planning Guidance | Section 5, Assessing and Planning for Permanence has been updated to reflect the additional 'permanence provisions' of the Care Plan (under s.8 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amends section 31(3B) Children Act 1989) which a court is required to consider when deciding whether to make a Care Order. |
| Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings | This chapter has been amended to include links to local practice guidance and meeting template. |
| Placements with Parents | This chapter has been amended to remove reference to a working agreement as these are no longer in use for this process. Instead this policy stresses the need to arrive at an agreement with the parent/carer and ensure that a CIN Plan is in place and kept up to date and reviewed. |
| Looked After Reviews | This chapter has been amended to fully reflect the Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review with respect to the circumstances as to when a Looked After Review should be brought forward. The list is not exhaustive (see Section 2, Frequency of Looked After Reviews). |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | This chapter has been updated throughout and needs to be re-read. |
| Change of Name of a Looked After Child | This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | Section 8, After the Panel Recommendation has been updated to clarify that the decision as to the suitability of the applicant must be made within 7 working days of receipt of the panel's recommendation and final set of panel minutes. |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter has been amended to emphasise 'procedural fairness' as a key aspect of the adoption planning process in respect of ensuring parents are provided with information throughout, including the dates of placement/proposed changes of a child's Status, etc. This follows the outcome of a judicial review ([2017] EWHC 1041 (Admin)). (See new Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness). Section 1, Planning for Permanence has been updated to reflect the additional consideration (added by s.9 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amends section 1(4)(f) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002) into the list of considerations that whenever a court or adoption agency is coming to a decision relating to the adoption of a child), of the relationship which the child has with relatives, with any person who is a prospective adopter with whom the child is placed and with any other person in relation to whom the court or agency considers the relationship to be relevant. |
| Disruption of Adoptive Placements | This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. |
| Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters | Section 4.1, Duty to Consider Fostering for Adoption Placement has been updated to reflect the additional consideration (added by s.9 Children and Social Work Act 2017 into the list of considerations whenever a court or adoption agency is coming to a decision relating to the adoption of a child), of the relationship which the child has with relatives, with any person who is a prospective adopter with whom the child is placed and with any other person in relation to whom the court or agency considers the relationship to be relevant. |
| Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children | Section 3, Assessment has been updated with regards to: in advance of undertaking an age assessment for an unaccompanied asylum seeking child, local authorities must seek Home Office assistance with verifying the authenticity of identity documents e.g. travel documents or a birth certificate. A link to the relevant contact details for local authorities has been added. The statutory guidance has been updated to link to the DfE (2017) Care of Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Modern Slavery – statutory guidance for local authorities. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 is referenced in relation to age assessments. Also updated to stress the need to include the voice of the child. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | A link to Securing British Citizenship for Looked After Children (NRPF Network) has been added to this chapter. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | Section 4.2, Case Analysis has been updated to reflect the 'permanence provisions' of the Care Plan added by s.8 Children and Social Work Act 2017 (amending section 31(3B) Children Act 1989) which a court is required to consider when deciding whether to make a Care Order. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Overview of Deprivations of Liberty | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Mental Capacity Resource | This link has been added to the manual. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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August 2017
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Family and Friends Policy | A link has been added in Related Guidance to Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment: A good practice guide (FRG). A good practice guide on initial family and friends care assessments has been launched by Family Rights Group. The guide is a response to the lack of any minimum standards as to how such assessments, commonly called viability assessments, are conducted. |
| Case Records and Retention | This chapter has been reviewed to note the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse requires all institutions to retain their records relating to the care of children for the duration of the Inquiry (see Section 2, Retention and Confidentiality of Records). |
| Area Resource Panels | This chapter has been significantly updated and should be re-read. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been updated to reflect the outcome of a court judgement on Ordinary Residence that was included in DoH, Care and support statutory guidance (December 2016) (see Section 12, Funding Issues - Ordinary Residence). A link has been added into Section 15, Further Information to guidance on SEND: 19- to 25-year-olds' entitlement to EHC plans (DfE 2017). |
| Short Breaks | A link has been added to Friendship For All (The Children's Society). If a child or young person is disabled and/or in the care system, they are more likely to miss out on friendship causing them to be socially isolated. Professionals delivering foster care and short breaks services are invited to implement simple changes to practice and strengthen carer training to increase friendship in the lives of children. Friendship For All provides freely downloadable, nationally piloted and evaluated resources. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | This chapter has been amended to reflect the outcome of an Appeal Court hearing (2017) with respect to 'consent'. The court recognised that the term 'consent' itself was not used in Section 20. However, it described previous court observations as 'good practice guidance', emphasising its judgment should not alter the content or effect of these (see Section 1.4.1, Obtaining Parental Consent). A new Section 6.6, Maintaining Contact has also been added. Links have also been added to Section 20 Practice Guidance the new guidance on Consent in the Practice Guidance. |
| Placements with Connected Persons | A link has been added in Related Guidance to Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment: A good practice guide (FRG) - A good practice guide on initial family and friends care assessments has been launched by Family Rights Group. The guide is a response to the lack of any minimum standards as to how such assessments, commonly called viability assessments, are conducted. In Section 3, Approval of Immediate Placements of Looked After Children with Connected Persons has been updated to include matters that should be considered when placing a child with a Connected Person should include an initial risk assessment of any pets, together with the environment in which the pet is kept. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation | Section 4.1, Placement Request, Identification and Approval has been amended. Placements in Scotland: Schedule 1, Children and Social Work Act 2017 came into force in May 2017, which now enables local authorities to make placements in Secure accommodation under Sect 25 (1989 Children Act). The issue of restrictions to local authority support for children living abroad (Schedule 2, Children Act 1989) no longer apply to a child placed in secure accommodation in Scotland under Section 25. |
| Placements with Parents | Section 1.2, Assessment and Checks before Placement has been updated to include consideration should be given as to whether the home environment is safe for the child including where relevant, the need for a risk assessment of any pets and the environment in which they are kept. |
| Statutory Social Worker Visits to Children in Care | This chapter has been updated to strengthen the guidance relating to where visits should take place and their benefits. It should be re-read. |
| Advocacy and Independent Visitors | This chapter has been updated to add a link to the Children's Society 'Advocacy services for children and young people – a guide for commissioners'. This guide outlines the legislative requirements of local authorities in the provision of advocacy support to children in need and looked after children. |
| Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers | This chapter has been updated in relation to the role of the Independent Reviewing Officer in line with the Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review. In particular, the IRO being sensitive to the close and active involvement of parents of a child looked after in a series of Short Breaks and problem-solving where there might be difficulties or issues. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | A link has been added in Section 5, Further Information to Children's Attachment: Attachment in Children and Young People who are Adopted from Care, in Care or at High Risk of Going into Care - NICE Guidelines (NG26). This guideline covers the identification, assessment and treatment of attachment difficulties in children and young people up to age 18 who are adopted from care, in special guardianship, looked after by local authorities in foster homes (including kinship foster care), residential settings and other accommodation, or on the edge of care. It aims to address the many emotional and psychological needs of children and young people in these situations, including those resulting from maltreatment. |
| Supervision and Support of Foster Carers | Section 5, Support Provided by the Supervising Social Worker (During Placement) has been updated to reflect that the Safer Caring Plan, any changes in household circumstances along with any health and safety issues including the addition of any new pets and the environment in which they are kept should be reviewed as required. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | Section 5.3, Assessment has been updated to include where the applicants have pets, a risk assessment should be conducted and any associated risks should be taken into account with regard to the pet itself and where the pet is kept. Where necessary, an independent assessment should be undertaken by a vet to establish whether the dog falls within the scope of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter has been amended to change the need for a decision to be made within 7 days of receiving the Panel minutes and reports and not from the Panel meeting itself. A link has been added to the new chapter on Consent for Looked After Children. Also, in Related Guidance a link has been added to Contact After Adoption - Support materials for practitioners working on making positive post-adoption contact plans and supporting birth relatives and adopters through contact planning for their child. |
| Inter Country Adoption | Section 3, Initial Meeting has been updated. The DfE have published Intercountry Adoption and Resident Status Requirements which set out the minimum requirements, however entry clearance requirements vary depending upon the circumstances of each case and prospective adopters will need to obtain their own independent legal advice to establish the requirements that apply to their individual circumstances. In Section 4, Formal Approval, a link has been added to Intercountry adoption: means test form which contains information on how to apply for a fee reduction for people who wish to adopt a child from overseas and who earn £45,000 per year or less. In Section 12, After Approval information, a link has been added to the Intercountry Adoption Forms: checklist for adoption which details the paperwork adoption agencies must include in the intercountry adoption applications they submit to DfE. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been substantially revised to reflect the most recent national Special Guardianship Guidance (January 2017) and should be re-read in full. |
| Life Story Books Guidance | This guidance has been amended to include links to the new guidance on Contact, and to stress the important role that Contact workers play when contributing to Life Story Books. |
| Arranging the Adoption of a Relinquished Child | This chapter has been amended to include reference to parental consent and link to the new Chapter regarding Consent. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Consents for Looked After Children | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Foster Carer Reviews | This document has been added to the manual. |
April 2017
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Junior Individual Savings Accounts (JISA) for Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | This chapter has been substantially updated and should be re-read. |
March 2017
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child in Need) | This chapter has been updated and should be re-read. |
February 2017
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Assessments and the ASTI Teams | This chapter has been updated to reflect the outcome of a judgment following an application to remove a child at birth. The judge highlighted 'good practice steps' to undertaking pre-birth assessments and issuing care proceedings in respect of the removal of a child at birth, including the assessment process (see Section 11.1, Pre-birth 'Good Practice Steps'). |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | Links have been added to SEND Resources for Healthcare Professionals - DfE and DoH Publications on SEND covering a broad range of conditions and illnesses and the NICE Pathway - Transition from children's to adults' services. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | In Section 2, The Care Plan a requirement has been added include the need for a financial plan, which should include details of their Junior ISA, for children in care over 12 months. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation | This chapter has been amended to acknowledge the President of the High Court's judgement regarding applications in English courts for Secure Accommodation placements in Scotland (see Section 4.1, Placement Request, Identification and Approval). |
| Looked After Reviews | This chapter has been amended to note The Law Society guidance 'Attendance of solicitors at local authority Children Act Meetings' and their Code of Conduct where the child or family who attend reviews are supported by a legal representative (see Section 8, Independent Reviewing Officer's Responsibilities). |
| Holidays and School Trips Outside the UK | This chapter has been updated to include a link to advice from the Government and to encourage passport applications for all looked after children. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | A new Section 5, Further Information has been added. Links have been added to British Medical Association Consent Toolkit and Practice Guidance: Supporting Young People with HIV Testing and Prevention. |
| Adoption Case Records | A new Section 4, Unrestricting an Adoption File on Carefirst has been added on what to do if you wish to remove a restriction of a file on Carefirst. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated to clarify the level of parental responsibility extended to the Special Guardian. Further detail has been added with regard to who may apply for Special Guardianship. A link has also been added to the DfE Special Guardianship Guidance (2017). The DfE has updated the Special Guardianship Guidance to include details of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund as the Fund now covers therapeutic support for children, living in England, who were previously in care immediately before the making of a Special Guardianship Order and the Connected Person Foster Carers & Special Guardianship Order (SGO) Assessments. |
| Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters | In Section 4, Requirements Relevant to Fostering for Adoption - if, at any point during the planning of a Fostering for Adoption placement or if the child is already in such a placement, there is any change to the circumstances of prospective carers, including relatives, a planning meeting with the Fostering for Adoption carers and all professionals involved should take place to consider the new information at the earliest opportunity, so that the carers can make an informed choice about their position. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Pre-Birth Assessment Multi-Agency Protocol | The purpose of this guidance is to ensure that a clear system is in place to respond to concerns for the welfare of an unborn child and to maintain clear and regular communication within and between partner agencies. This joint protocol applies to all agencies but particularly all Children's Services staff (including social care and education), police, health (including mental health and substance misuse) and relevant Adult Services. It includes a pre-birth risk assessment tool. |
| Resolution and Escalation Protocol | Occasionally situations arise when workers within one agency feel that the actions, inaction or decisions of another agency do not adequately safeguard or promote the welfare of a child. The purpose of this protocol is to ensure that in such situations issues between agencies are resolved in a timely manner. |
| Junior Individual Savings Accounts (JISA) for Looked After Children | Junior ISA's are long term tax-advantaged saving accounts for Looked After Children up to the age of 18. The scheme was launched in November 2011 and aimed at young people who were not eligible for a Child Trust Fund. This covers the responsibility of the Trust for Looked After Children and is part of the financial planning developed as part of the care plan. |
| Connected Person Foster Carers & Special Guardianship Order (SGO) Assessments | This explains how we should work with children and their families when a child may need to be cared for away from their parents. |
| Relinquished Children | This chapter deals with the first stages of the adoption process for relinquished children, (i.e. identifying that a child should be placed for adoption) whilst identifying other key processes that should be progressed but which are expected for any child who is Accommodated or where the plan is for adoption. |
September 2016
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Family and Friends Policy | This chapter has been updated. Please note: the financial assisted arrangements for this section are currently under review with new guidance to be introduced in 2017. |
| Initial Contacts and Referrals to the MASH | A note has been added into Section 2, Referrals that all contacts and notifications where a service from children's social care, or a co-ordinated multi-agency response, may be needed to address concerns about a child's development or need for protection will be passed to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) for a response. |
| Assessments and the ASTI Teams | This chapter has been updated. Practitioners are reminded to consider any factors that may indicate that the child is or has been trafficked or a victim of compulsory labour, servitude and slavery. |
| Allocation of Work and Transfer between Teams | This chapter has been updated. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been updated to reflect the outcome of a judgment following an application to remove a child at birth. The judge highlighted what were thought to be 'good practice steps' to issuing care proceedings in respect of the removal of a child at birth (see Section 3.1, Pre-Birth Planning and Proceedings). Links have been updated to the revised Social Work Evidence Template (SWET). |
| Legal Planning Meetings | This chapter has been updated to reflect the outcome of a judgment following an Application to remove a child at birth. The judge set out what were thought to be 'basic and good practice steps' (see Section 2, Considerations). |
| Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) - Practice Guidance for Children's Services | This guidance is for social work staff and covers internal processes to support you in your work. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This chapter has been substantially updated and should be read in its entirety. |
| Access to Records | This chapter has been updated. In Section 1, Rights of Access: it is emphasised that: The Data Protection Act applies to both paper and manual records and records held electronically. It is important that electronic recording systems comply with the requirements for children and their families to easily find their story in a logical narrative and The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives people the right to see all types of other non-personal information held by children's services. Local authorities should publicise their access to records policy with clear information about how care leavers and others can apply for their records and access support services. Section 7, Applications by Parents has been completely rewritten. The chapter should be read in its entirety. |
| Think Family Outcomes Plan and Reviews | The practice guidance "Where there are Concerns about Children" has been added to the Practice Guidance for when there are significant concerns about the care of a child/children by their parents. |
| Private Fostering | This chapter has been updated. Practitioners are reminded that responsibility for private fostering now lies with the SGO Team in the Fostering Service. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | A link has been added Children and Young People's Continuing Care National Framework (DoH 2016). The guidance sets out the process for assessing, deciding and agreeing continuing care for children with complex health needs. The link to the Care and Support Statutory Guidance DoH (2016) has also been updated. This revised guidance also contains the Adult Safeguarding Guidance which replaces the No Secrets Guidance. |
| Direct Payments | This chapter has been updated including details of what happens when a young person is hospitalised (see Section 7, Hospital Stays). The Care and Support Statutory Guidance (2016) has been updated. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been updated throughout with the process to follow in Birmingham and needs to be re-read. A link has been added to the Human Rights Assessment Tool in the Practice Guidance. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | The practice guidance "Where there are Concerns about Children" has been added to the Practice Guidance for when there are significant concerns about the care of a child/children by their parents. Also, a link has been added to the ADCS Practice Guidance for the Use of Section 20 in the Practice Guidance. |
| Placements in Foster Care | This chapter has been updated. In Section 6, Support and Monitoring of Placements, a note has been added that: Any agreement to place a child in foster care or residential provision outside the Trust resources must be reconsidered annually (or more frequently in the case of high cost placements) by the External Placements Review Panel. The Head of Service will decide when each case should be referred to the Panel and will notify the social worker, who will complete and submit the request form. The request form is in the Practice Guidance. |
| Placements in Residential Care | This chapter has been amended and practitioners are reminded of the importance of ensuring that the placement provider can demonstrate how the placement will meet the needs of the child and that this is incorporated in the Placement Plan. Details have been added on Emergency Placements in Section 2.3, Placement Planning. In Section 3, Support, Monitoring and Ending of Placements - a note has been added that: any agreement to place a child in foster care or residential provision outside the Trust resources must be reconsidered annually (or more frequently in the case of high cost placements) by the External Placements Review Panel. The Head of Service will decide when each case should be referred to the Panel and will notify the social worker, who will complete and submit the request form. The request form is in the Practice Guidance. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation and Secure Accommodation | This chapter has been re-written and should be re-read. |
| Placements with Connected Persons | This chapter has been reviewed and updated. These provisions are to be used only in exceptional circumstances and where there are clearly defined reasons why a full foster carer assessment cannot be undertaken before a placement is made. There are further amendments throughout the chapter and it is recommended that the chapter be read in its entirety. |
| Advocacy and Independent Visitors | This chapter has been updated to indicate that the provider for independent visitors is The Children's Society. |
| Looked After Reviews | In Section 2, Frequency of Looked After Reviews, a note has been added: Any agreement to place a child in foster care or residential provision outside the Trust resources must be reconsidered annually (or more frequently in the case of high cost placements) by the External Placements Review Panel. This is in addition to the statutory review of the care plan. The Head of Service will decide when each case should be referred to the Panel and will notify the social worker, who will complete and submit the request form. The request form is in the Practice Guidance. |
| Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews | This chapter has been reviewed throughout and updated as required. Section 3, Chairing of Secure Accommodation Reviews has been amended as follows: The Secure Accommodation Panel should be chaired by a person independent of the care planning for the child, including line managers and the Independent Reviewing Officer. Given the need to focus on the Section 25, Children Act 1989 criteria issues, the chair should also be independent of any resource allocation, etc. and have sufficient experience and knowledge to carry out the task. This would generally be the Senior Quality Assurance Manager. An Independent Reviewing Officer may sit as one of the other two Panel members (not as part of the IRO function). |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | This chapter has been updated. The deciding offer for the cessation of a Section 20 is the Head of Service which in turn has to be authorised by the Director of Children's Services (or relevant Area Assistant Director acting on their behalf). Additional guidance for Section 20 under a voluntary arrangement has been added into Section 2.2, Decision Making. Also, a link has been added to the ADCS Practice Guidance for the Use of Section 20 in the Practice Guidance. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | This chapter has been substantially updated and should be read in its entirety. |
| Education of Looked After Children | A link has been added to 'Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools - Guidance (DfE, 2016)' which provides guidance on how to identify and support pupils whose behaviour suggests they may have unmet mental health needs. |
| Children Missing from Care | This chapter has been updated. There is local Practice Guidance on Children who go Missing from Home or Care in the Practice Guidance. All incidents in which a looked after child goes missing must be recorded on CareFirst – see the guidance in the Practice Guidance. |
| Staying Put Procedure | This chapter has been re-written and should be re-read. |
| Staying Put Policy | This chapter has been re-written and should be re-read. |
| Looked After Children and Young People Being Supported by Youth Justice Services | This chapter has been re-written and should be re-read. |
| Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody | This chapter has been re-written and should be re-read. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been amended in Section 5, Commissioning the Assessment to reflect the enhanced assessment and reporting requirements set out in the Special Guardianship (Amendment) Regulations 2016. See also Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance. |
| Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance | Section 3, Special Guardianship – Matters to be Dealt with in Report to Court has been revised and updated to reflect the enhanced assessment and reporting requirements (for all applications made from 29 February 2016 as set out in the Special Guardianship (Amendment) Regulations 2016. |
| Children's Services - Scheme of Delegated Decision Making | These details have been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Good Practice - Assessment Planning Intervention | This guidance has been added to the manual. |
| Electronic Recording of Meetings | This policy has been added to the manual. |
| Practice Evaluation Framework | This framework has been added to the manual. |
| Children who go Missing from Home or Care | This policy has been added to the manual. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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May 2016
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child in Need) | This chapter has been significantly updated and should be re-read. |
February 2016
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles | The overarching policy for the provision of social care services for children and families in Birmingham. |
| Confidentiality Policy | A link has been added into Section 1.4, Research, Audit and Monitoring to guidance on Research Governance under Appendices in the Practice Guidance. |
| Initial Contacts and Referrals | Details have been updated on the MASH, a link has been added to the Family Support Process Map in the Practice Guidance and a new Section 6, Transfer of Responsibility from the MASH has been added. |
| Assessments | A new Section 3, The Assessment and Short Term Intervention (ASTI) Team has been added and link has been added to the the Memorandum of Understanding on Young Carers is in the Practice Guidance. |
| Applications for Emergency Protection Orders | A note has been added that when the court makes an Emergency Protection Order, the social worker must apply to the Area Resource Panel for retrospective authorisation of the plan to apply for the order. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | A note has been added that Any decision to initiate care proceedings must be approved in advance by the Area Resource Panel. |
| Legal Planning Meetings | In Section 3, The decision to convene a Legal Planning Meeting will be made at an Area Resource Panel. The panel will challenge the request and confirm that all attempts at intervention to maintain and support the child within his/her family have broken down or that the child is likely to suffer significant harm if s/he remains with the family. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | In Section 7, Information about Children/their Families should Normally be Shared with them - when information is shared informally with children and/or their families the worker should record the date on which this has been done, what information has been shared and with whom. This can reduce the number of Subject Access Requests and the volume of information that needs to be shared formally later has been added. |
| Access to Records | In Section 3, Information about Children/their Families should Normally be Shared with them - when information is shared informally with children and/or their families the worker should record the date on which this has been done, what information has been shared and with whom. This can reduce the number of Subject Access Requests and the volume of information that needs to be shared formally later has been added. |
| Think Family Outcomes Plan and Reviews | In Section 4, Child in Need Planning Meeting, the minimum frequency of social work visits is two purposeful visits a month, except for cases in which there is a stable support plan such as a child with disability or a family with no recourse to public funds has been added. |
| Private Fostering | Section 2, Notifications to the Local Authority and Section 3, Action to be Taken on Receipt of Notification have been updated with details of the handling of Private Fostering Notifications. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | A link has been added to the Memorandum of Understanding on Young Carers is in the Practice Guidance. |
| Short Breaks | This chapter has been updated. Additional information has been added in Section 3.1, Child's Assessment due to guidance on assessments to be undertaken on family members as carers under the Children and Family Act 2014 and the Care Act 2014. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | A new Section 1.2, Admission in an Emergency has been added. Any Proposal to accommodate a child must be considered by the Area Resources Panel before permission is given, unless emergency admission is necessary. A link has been added to Guidance on writing a PEP, and the formats for recording them, are available on the City Council website. Additional guidance has been added into Section 1.4.1, on Obtaining Parental Consent to reflect a number of recent court judgements on the use of Section 20 and the importance of how parental consent is obtained. |
| Permanence Planning Guidance | This chapter has been updated to reflect the 2015 Statutory guidance "Permanence, long-term foster placements and ceasing to look after a child". |
| Placements in Foster Care | information has been added that all admissions and changes of placement for a looked after child requires authorisation from the Area Resource Panel. Added detail of the process for approving and making a long term foster placement. |
| Placements in Residential Care | A note has been added that any change of placement for a looked after child requires authorisation from the Area Resource Panel. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation | A new Section 2.1, Urgent Need for Placement has been added to Section 2, Decision to Place in Secure Accommodation. If it seems necessary to seek a secure placement for a child, the social worker will make a request to the Area Resource Panel for authorisation to arrange a Legal Planning Meeting. Details added on what needs to be considered at the Legal Planning Meeting. Any change of placement for a looked after child requires authorisation from the Area Resources Panel. |
| Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect the revised visiting requirements in respect of long term foster placements as set out in The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review. |
| Looked After Reviews | Information has been added to the chapter that any recommendation for a move from a previously stable placement, for a move to an external resource, for a change of placement that necessitates a change of education provision, or for an independent or expert assessment (not ordered by the Court) must be referred to the Area Resources Panel. |
| Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers | A reminder of the role of the IRO to monitor the local authority's performance of its functions in relation to the child's case, to meet with the child in private before the review and their right to adjourn a review meeting if they feel that the process would be unproductive. |
| Education of Looked After Children | A link has been added to Guidance on writing a PEP, and the formats for recording them, are available on the City Council website. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | This chapter has been updated in line with revised Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked After Children. |
| Behaviour Management and Safe Caring | A new Section 6, Specific Issues has been added that contains links to additional guidance in the Birmingham SCB Procedures on safeguarding issues. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention | This chapter has been updated and to cover some of the considerations in the use of restraint as it relates to the Deprivation of Liberty. |
| Staying Put | In Section 10, Staying Put arrangement must be approved in advance by the Area Resource Panel. |
| Adoption Support | This chapter has been amended in Section 9.8, adopters who have previously been foster carers may be paid remuneration for a transitional period. This must be agreed before the adoption order is made. |
| Intermediary Services for Individuals Who Have Been Adopted | Section 7.7, Offence has been added saying an intermediary agency that discloses information in contravention of the regulations is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated. The assessment of suitability of prospective special guardians has been moved in-house. |
| Allowances under a Child Arrangement Order | Details in this chapter have been updated in Section 6, Payment of Legal Fees to Enable an Application for a Child Arrangements Order or a Special Guardianship Order. |
| Life Story Books Guidance | The guidance has been updated with additional guidance and should be re-read. |
| Later Life Letters | In Section 2, Purpose of the Later Life Letter - a note has been added that If it is only possible to produce one letter, it should be suitable for a child aged in the mid-teens. |
| Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters | This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read.
Further changes added to this giving more detail on:
|
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | Some contact details have been updated and new new delegations for long term fostering; former looked after child in custody have been added. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Section 7 and Section 37 Reports | The process to follow, and the issues to be aware of, when the court asks the City Council to provide a Section 7 report or a Section 37 report. |
| Young Carers | The Local Authority is expected to take 'reasonable steps' to identify which children in their area are young carers, and if they have the need for support. The Local Authority must carry out an assessment if it appears that the young carer has the need for support. This assessment is called a Young Carer's Needs Assessment. |
| Area Resource Panels | The structure and role of the Area Resource Panels and the procedure for making a resource request. |
| Family Group Conferences | Family group conferences are a way to engage families in working with the local authority to address issues. This chapter describes the circumstances in which a social worker should consider arranging a family group conference and sets out the procedure for doing so. |
| Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children | A young unaccompanied asylum seeker is a child who is applying for asylum in their own right, is separated from both parents and is not being cared for by an adult who in law or by custom has responsibility to do so. This chapter describes the particular issues arising in referrals involving young unaccompanied asylum seekers. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This provides guidance to the local authority in assessing whether they have a duty to support families with children and former looked-after children who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF). It applies to situations in which a family has no legal entitlement to financial support or assistance from the state. If the family includes one or more children, they are likely to be children in need, and the local authority has a statutory duty under Section 17, Children Act 1989. |
| Access To Forward Thinking Birmingham – Procedure For Out Of City Placements | How to access CYPMHS services for a looked after child living in a placement outside Birmingham. |
| Ceasing to Look After | The Local Authority has a duty to ensure that when children have been Accommodated under Section 20 (Children Act 1989) and are discharged from, or leave care, that the discharge is in their best interests and that they will be safeguarded and their welfare will be promoted. Where a child has been Accommodated for 20 days or more, the decision should be made by a Nominated Officer, or Director of Children's Services if the child/young person is 16/17 yrs, and has been Accommodated under Section 20, before discharge. |
| Young People who Lack Capacity to Make Decisions | Issues that arise when a young person aged 16-17 may lack the capacity to make decisions about his/her own life, and guidance on how to make decision s on his/her behalf. |
| Arranging the Adoption of a Relinquished Child | This sets out the process to follow when a parent (usually the mother) wishes to relinquish a child for adoption. |
| Research Governance | Guidance on the process to follow in seeking approval to carry out children's social care research. |
