EnfieldChildren's Services Procedures Manual

This chapter has been extensively revised and should be re-read.

This chapter has been amended, a new version of the Need to Know Form has been added.

This chapter has been updated in line with the new digital referral system for reporting potential victims of Modern Slavery.

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?).

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.

This chapter has been updated to take account of the new NRM digital referral form to report Modern Slavery.

This procedure has been updated to reflect revised guidance issued by Ofsted to Children’s Homes Providers in August 2019. The revised guidance sought to clarify what is meant by a ‘serious event’ in relation to a child living in a Children’s Homes with the aim of reducing the overall number of notifications made to Ofsted, and in particular reducing the number of repeat notifications made as a result of submitting additional / updated information.

This chapter has been updated to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019 which replaces the 2018 version. Section 8, Safeguarding the Looked After Child at School has been amended to include reference to Upskirting (which is now a criminal offence) and serious violence.

In Section 1.3, Role of the Local Authority, Virtual School Head (VSH), and School, OFSTED’s advice that Local Authorities should exercise due diligence in ensuring schools for LAC pupils are registered with the DFE has been added.

The Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child in Need) chapter has been updated throughout to reflect Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) and the process for reporting a serious incident to the Panel via the Child Safeguarding Notification System.

This chapter has been amended to confirm that after the private fostering arrangement ends that any request for support from the young person should be made to the local authority in which they are resident or where the education and training is provided.

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.

This chapter has been updated to note that this procedure 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.

A link has been added to the Leaving Care and Transition chapter in relation to Personal Adviser visits to 'Relevant' or 'Former Relevant' young people.

The requirement for clear separation of reviews (for clarifying whether the criteria for keeping a child in secure accommodation are met, and the child’s looked after review) has been emphasised. Clarifying whether the criteria for keeping a child in secure accommodation are met must come before a LAC review so the decision can inform the LAC review and they must be chaired by different individuals.

This chapter has been reviewed and updated throughout.

This chapter has been updated and revised. It incorporates changes introduced by the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and updated Keeping Children Safe in Education (2018). A new section has been added with regard to Unaccompanied Migrant Children, and the role of the Virtual School Head in relation to Previously Looked After children is emphasised.

This chapter has been updated to add information with regard to a care leaver's status as a victim of trafficking or UASC when preparing an assessment of need. Section 7, Reviews of Pathway Plans has been amended in relation to Relevant/Former Relevant young people moving to 'unregulated' accommodation. Section 8, Personal Advisers has been amended in relation to frequency of visits by Personal Advisers.

A link was added to Attending and IRM Panel: information sheets.

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 and relevant aspects of Schedule 6 The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011.

A link was added to Attending and IRM Panel: information sheets.

References to the Adoption Register and to Adoption Match have been amended following the Adoption Register suspension and the adoption agency Adoption Match (at the end of March 2019).

References to the Adoption Register and to Adoption Match have been amended following the Adoption Register suspension and the adoption agency Adoption Match (at the end of March 2019).

A link was added to Attending and IRM Panel: information sheets.

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 Special Guardianship applications in care proceedings).

This chapter has been updated to note the Family Court Justice Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (May 2019).

This chapter reflects statutory guidance in relation to children who are placed by health authorities or local authorities for more than 3 months in residential establishments for educational purposes and children placed in care homes or independent hospitals (including hospices) by health authorities or local authorities (Sections 85 and 86 of the Children Act 1989).

This chapter has been updated to reflect new guidance on assessments in the latest version of Working Together to Safeguard Children.

This chapter has been updated to reflect caselaw guidance regarding the local authority gathering, preserving and disclosing evidence in care proceedings.

This chapter has been updated to recognise the duty to notify the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel within 5 working days of becoming aware of a serious incident.

This chapter has been updated to reflect caselaw guidance regarding the local authority gathering, preserving and disclosing evidence in care proceedings.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the designated teacher to provide support to previously Looked After Children.

A new Section 6, Suitable Placements has been added. Details of the National Transfer Scheme Protocol for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Version 2.0 March 2018 have been added into Section 1, Introduction and Definitions.

This chapter has been revised in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance.

This chapter has been revised in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance.

This chapter has a new section on how to request a transfer or placement review.

This chapter has been updated to reflect amendments made by the Children and Social Work Act 2017 relating to the status of previously Looked After children.

This chapter has a new section on how to request a transfer or placement review.

This chapter has a new section on how to request a transfer or placement review.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the Designated Teacher for Looked After Children, to offer support to previously looked after children.

This chapter has been updated 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.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the designated teacher to provide support to previously Looked After Children.

This chapter has been added to the manual.

A new section has been added on Corporate Parenting in response to the DfE Applying Corporate Parenting Principles to Looked-after Children and Care Leavers – Statutory Guidance (Feb 2018). It includes the seven corporate parenting principles set out in the guidance.

This guidance has been updated and should be re read.

Section 4, Communication has been updated to include reference to parents with learning disabilities.

This chapter has been extensively revised with new Section 2, Assessing Children in Need and Section 6, Visits to Children in Need

This chapter has been updated to provide some emphasis on parents who lack capacity and added links to the President of the Family Division, Family Proceedings: Parents with a Learning Disability note, and a relevant link to working with parents who have a learning disability (see Section 2.1, Principles) and Practice Direction 3aa - Vulnerable Persons: Participation in Proceedings and Giving Evidence (see Case management in Section 4, Documentation).

This chapter has been updated with a link to the updated Need To Know proforma.

This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.

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.

This chapter has been updated to reflect the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.

This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.

This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.

This chapter has been reviewed and updated.

Section 5, Consent and Competency has been updated to include additional information on parental capacity to consent, in line with High Court case-law.

Additional information has been added in to Section 1.3, Section 20 Accommodation, in line with recent case-law.

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.

This chapter has been updated in to fully reflect the updated guidance 'Secure children's homes: how to place a child aged under 13 (July 2018)'. (See Section 6, Placements of Children Under the Age of 13 Years).

Section 2, Exceptions has been revised in to set out more clearly the circumstances where visiting requirements differ from those set out in Section 1, Normal Frequency.

Section 9, The Role of the Looked After Review in Achieving Permanence for the Child has been amended to reflect the outcome of a High Court Judgement in respect of children who were subject to Section 20 and where there were concerns of significant delays in their planning for permanence. The court noted the IROs' recognition and action over a number of reviews but acknowledged that a more robust response had been needed.

The LADO Referral Form for Allegations against Staff and Volunteers working with children has been updated.

Section 2, Different Types of Contact has been updated to take account of the use of mobile communication with regards to contact.

Links to Statutory Guidance have been updated.

The link to the 'Self help UK, Department of Health, Health Advice for Travellers' has been removed and replaced with a link to the 'European Health Insurance Card'.

A new Section 3.5, Consent to Health Care Assessments has been added.

This chapter has been updated in to reflect the provisions of the Children & Social Work Act 2017 and 3 new statutory guidance documents which require local authorities to offer Personal Adviser support to all care leavers up to the age of 25. Also, to publish their Local Offer for care leavers; and to have regard to seven 'corporate parenting principles'.

It has also been updated to add clarification in relation to the definition of Qualifying Young People, and to reflect the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.

This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.

Section 8, Home Study has been updated to include a link to GOV.UK Benefits.

Section 3, Security, Retention of 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.

This chapter has been reviewed.

This chapter has been fully reviewed.

This chapter has been updated to reflect the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman good practice points to follow when working with Special Guardians. A link to the full report 'Firm Foundations: Complaints about Council Support and Advice for Special Guardians (Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman) (May 2018)' has been added into the Relevant National Guidance section of this chapter.

A link to this resource has been added.

A link to this resource has been added.

This chapter has been added to the manual and replaces a previous one.

This link has been updated.

This chapter has been revised to set out in more detail the timetable and partnership requirements associated with effectively managing contacts and referrals.

This chapter 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.

This chapter has had links to DoH guidance and the Young Carers Trust updated.

A link to the NRPF guidance on securing British Citizenship for looked after child has been added.

This chapter 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.

This chapter has also been amended to reflect the additional 'permanence provisions' of the Care Plan.

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 Local Authority 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.

This chapter has been amended to fully reflect the Volume 2: care planning, placement and case review guidance and regulation with respect to the circumstances as to when a Looked After Review should be brought forward.

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.

The section on Planning for Permanence has also been updated to reflect the additional consideration (added by section 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.

This chapter has been updated to reflect the additional consideration (added by section 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.

This chapter has been updated in line with the requirement to notify Ofsted of any serious childcare incident using the Ofsted online notification form.

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).

A link to the Friendship for All project has been added.

A link to the NRPF Network has been added.

This chapter has been updated with a link to the Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment: A good practice guide.

This chapter has been to add clarity to the definition of private fostering with regards to the legislation and children under 16 who spend more than 2 weeks in residence during holiday time in a school.

This chapter has been updated with additional links to related guidance.

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 1.3.1, Obtaining Parental Consent).

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.

Section 3, Approval of Immediate Placements of Looked After Children 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. The Family Rights Group Good Practice Guide to Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment has also been added.

This chapter has been re-wriiten to emphasise the welfare component of the decision making and to distinguish it from Remands to Local Accomodation

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.

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, June 2015. 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.

This chapter has been re-titled (previously called Overnight Stays and Social Visits) and extensively updated.

A link to the NICE Guidance has been added.

This chapter has been revised.

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.

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.

This chapter has been updated with a link to the Contact After Adoption website.

Section 3, Initial Meeting 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 has been added on the Intercountry Adoption Forms: checklist for adoption which details the paperwork adoption agencies must include in the intercountry adoption applications they submit to DfE.

This chapter has been extensively revised and should be re-read.