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1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

  1. 1.1.1Achieving for Children Mission, Values and PrinciplesDecember 11, 2024
  2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationDecember 20, 2024
  3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022

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

  1. 1.2.1MASH / SPA and Early HelpOctober 17, 2024
  2. 1.2.2Threshold DocumentOctober 17, 2024
  3. 1.2.3Capacity and ConsentMay 21, 2024

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsOctober 17, 2024
  2. 1.3.2AssessmentsOctober 18, 2024
  3. 1.3.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)October 17, 2024
  4. 1.3.4SCP GuidanceOctober 16, 2024

1.4Child in Need

  1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsDecember 16, 2024
  2. 1.4.2Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024
  3. 1.4.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024

1.5Legal Proceedings

  1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersFebruary 7, 2024
  2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 23, 2022
  3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsAugust 19, 2024
  4. 1.5.4Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
  5. 1.5.5Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

  1. 1.6.1Complaints and RepresentationsOctober 18, 2024
  2. 1.6.2Raising Concerns at Work (Whistleblowing)October 18, 2024

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)October 18, 2024

2.Case Management and Recording

  1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
  2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionOctober 18, 2024
  3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsDecember 20, 2024
  4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
  5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsDecember 20, 2024
  6. 2.0.6Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesDecember 20, 2024
  7. 2.0.7Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffMarch 28, 2024

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities

  1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesApril 8, 2025
  2. 3.1.2Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsApril 8, 2025
  3. 3.1.3Direct PaymentsMay 21, 2024
  4. 3.1.4Short BreaksDecember 16, 2024
  5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 2024

3.2Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  1. 3.2.1Deprivation of Liberty
  2. 3.2.2Mental Capacity

3.3Children from Abroad

  1. 3.3.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryApril 8, 2025
  2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsDecember 17, 2024

3.4Homelessness

  1. 3.4.1Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferOctober 18, 2024

3.5Kinship Care

  1. 3.5.1Kinship CareApril 8, 2025
  2. 3.5.2Private FosteringDecember 17, 2024

3.6Young Carers

  1. 3.6.1Young CarersApril 8, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

  1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenDecember 17, 2024

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenApril 8, 2025
  2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterOctober 9, 2024
  3. 4.1.3Care PlanningOctober 18, 2024
  4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 19, 2023
  5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceOctober 18, 2024
  6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsDecember 17, 2024
  7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenFebruary 7, 2022
  8. 4.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 23, 2022
  9. 4.1.9Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022

4.2Placements

  1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsDecember 17, 2024
  2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsDecember 17, 2024
  3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareDecember 17, 2024
  4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareSeptember 19, 2023
  5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 19, 2023
  6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsDecember 20, 2024
  7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesDecember 20, 2024
  8. 4.2.8Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
  9. 4.2.9Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationDecember 20, 2024
  10. 4.2.10Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersSeptember 23, 2024
  11. 4.2.11Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersOctober 18, 2024
  12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyApril 8, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

  1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenDecember 20, 2024
  2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsOctober 18, 2024
  3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsApril 8, 2025
  4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersDecember 20, 2024
  5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsDecember 20, 2024
  6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsAugust 19, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

  1. 4.4.1Family Time with Parents/Adults and SiblingsApril 8, 2025
  2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)December 20, 2024

4.5Education, School Trips and Holidays

  1. 4.5.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenApril 8, 2025
  2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKApril 17, 2024

4.6Health and Wellbeing

  1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansDecember 20, 2024
  2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJuly 26, 2022
  3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
  4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintOctober 18, 2024
  5. 4.6.5Leisure ActivitiesMarch 23, 2022

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

  1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildFebruary 7, 2024
  2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

  1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionApril 8, 2025
  2. 4.8.2Staying PutOctober 18, 2024

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesDecember 20, 2024
  2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyOctober 18, 2024
  3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceApril 8, 2025

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

  1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelJuly 26, 2022
  2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringJuly 26, 2022
  3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersApril 8, 2025
  4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
  5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersDecember 20, 2024
  6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
  7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersApril 8, 2025
  8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersApril 8, 2025

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

  1. 5.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersApril 8, 2025
  2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelMarch 17, 2023
  3. 5.2.3Placement for AdoptionApril 8, 2025
  4. 5.2.4Adoption SupportMarch 18, 2024
  5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 31, 2023
  6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsJuly 26, 2022
  7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsNovember 28, 2023
  8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedApril 8, 2025
  9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
  10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
  11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsFebruary 8, 2022
  12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsJuly 26, 2022
  13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesJuly 26, 2022
  14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
  15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
  16. 5.2.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersAugust 25, 2023

5.3Special Guardianship

  1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersApril 8, 2025
  2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 23, 2024

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

  1. 6.0.1Local ContactsOctober 16, 2024
  2. 6.0.2List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersOctober 16, 2024
  3. 6.0.3Ofsted Inspection FrameworkApril 8, 2025
  4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
  5. 6.0.5Amendments to this Manual

Last Updated: April 8, 2025

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