Amendments
October 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles | This chapter has been revised in line with the updated Working Together December 2023. |
| Contacts and Referrals | This chapter has been revised in line with the updated Working Together December 2023. |
| Assessments | This chapter has been revised in line with the updated Working Together December 2023. |
| Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) | This chapter has been revised in line with the updated Working Together December 2023. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | Information has been added in relation to family group decision-making. |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24) | This chapter has been updated in line with the revised Working Together and a new section added on the death of the care Leaver up to and including the age of 24. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | The information on registering an appeal with the first-tier Tribunal has been updated in line with case law. |
| Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings | Information has been added in relation to OFSTED and CQC joint registration guidance. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Links to sources of further information have been updated. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been revised throughout and legal definitions expanded. |
| Placements with Connected Persons | The guidance on who can be placed with a connected person has been revised. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This chapter has been revised in line with working together to note that notifications should be made following the death of a care leaver up to the age of 24. |
| 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 | This chapter has been updated to note that if a young person in a Staying Put arrangement dies up to and including the age of 24, notifications should be made in accordance with the (Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24 Procedure). |
| Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers | Information on OFSTED checks has been added. |
| Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | Information with details on how to request information about an applicant from Ofsted has been added to Section 3, Stage One-The Pre-Assessment Process. |
| Placement for Adoption | The information on procedural fairness has been updated in line with case law. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | Guidance has been included on the responsibilities of a special Guardian following the death of a child to notify the relevant authority if the child was previously looked after. |
| OFSTED Inspection Framework | A link has been added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework | This chapter explains the responsibility of the NHS ICB to provide Continuing Care and the importance of information sharing in this assessment process. |
| Next Update: April 2025 | |
April 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | The information on Resolving Disagreements has been updated to include information on: Guidance: Carry Out an Order in Special Educational Needs Cases. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | A link has been added to the BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. |
| Connected Persons (Family and Friends) Care Policy | The information on different situations whereby children may be living with family and friends carers has been updated to include information about Ukrainian children being cared for by family and friends in the UK. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | The information on the Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty has been updated throughout in line with Revised Practice Guidance on the Court’s Approach to Unregistered Placements (October 2023) and Revised National Listing Protocol for Applications that Seek Deprivation of Liberty Orders Relating to Children under the Inherent Jurisdiction. |
January 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | This list has been updated. |
November 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | This list has been updated. |
October 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | This chapter has been amended to reflect changes in relation to assessing legal capacity. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been revised 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 in relation to legal aid for foster carers are prospective adopters in first-tier Tribunal appeals. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Information has been added in relation to the National Age Assessment Board. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Home Office increase in financial support to individuals waiting to find out if they will be given asylum in the UK. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | The information on Ordinary Residence has been updated in line with case law. |
| Decision to Look After | The information on section 20 accommodation has been updated. |
| 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. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | The information on the Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty was 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 |
| Placements in Other Arrangements | This chapter has been updated throughout to reflect supported accommodation for 16-17 year olds becoming regulated by Ofsted. |
| Health and Safety | Additional information has been added about online safety. |
| 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 throughout to include sections on school exclusion. Please note this chapter was previously entitled Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been updated to note that with effect from 1 April 2023, the leaving care allowance increased from £2,000 to £3,000. |
| Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters | This chapter has been revised throughout revised and a link added to National Early Permanence Practice Standards (Coram Centre for Early Permanence). |
| Enfield Youth Justice Plan 2023 - 2024 | This PDF document has been updated. |
| YJS Risk Management Guidance (including Safety and Well-being) | This document has been updated. |
| Enfield Resettlement Policy | This document has been updated. |
| Joint Working Protocol Youth Justice Service & Children's Social Care | This document has been updated. |
| Joint Working Protocol Youth Justice Service and Special Educational Needs and Disability Service | This document has been updated. |
| YJS CVYJ Recording & Uploads Guidance | This document has been updated. |
| Safeguarding Adolescents Strategy 2023 - 2026 | This PDF document has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| OFSTED Inspection Framework | This chapter has been added to the manual and provides the details of the OFSTED inspection framework for the range of different children's services. |
| Principles of Induction and Assessment within Youth Justice Service | This document has been added to the procedures manual. |
| YJS Resources and Pathways for Interventions (for both OOCD and Post Court) | This document has been added to the procedures manual. |
| Y2A Panel Terms of Reference | This document has been added to the procedures manual. |
| Serious Incident Notification / Community Safeguarding or Public Protection Process | This document has been added to the procedures manual. |
August 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children's Services Threshold Guidance | This guidance has been updated. |
| London Borough of Enfield - Case Transfer Policy | The Case Transfer Policy has been updated. |
April 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | The relevant guidance section has been updated with additional links. The section on court hearings has been updated in line with A View From the President’s Chambers: Relaunching the PLO (November 2022). |
| Case Records and Retention | This chapter has been updated in the light of the conclusion of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. |
| 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). |
| Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings | This chapter has been updated to include information from the UK Social Work Practice in Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People report. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been updated to include a link to Self-harm: Assessment, Management and Preventing Recurrence NICE Guidance in the Further Information section. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | This chapter has been updated to include additional information on remands to Local Authority accommodation. |
| Health and Safety | Information on allergies has been added to the diet and nutrition section. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | Information on allergies has been linked in this chapter. |
| Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child | This chapter has been revised in relation to the change of law which has raised the age of marriage to 18 years. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been revised to include information from the OFSTED inspection framework. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | This chapter has minor revisions to the text to aid clarity. |
| Adoption Panel | This chapter has minor revisions to the text to aid clarity. |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter has minor revisions to the text to aid clarity. |
| Adoption Support | This chapter has minor revisions to the text to aid clarity. |
| Disruption of Adoptive Placements | This chapter has minor revisions to the text to aid clarity. |
| Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted | This chapter has minor revisions to the text to aid clarity. |
| 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 Special Guardianship Order is made, was 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. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| A Guide to Child First – Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (October 2022) | The link to this new guidance has been added. |
October 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been amended to note that from February 2022, the Home Office announced that participation in the National Transfer Scheme is to become mandatory for all councils with responsibility for Children's Services. The Home Office will take into account a range of factors when deciding the number of children that will be allocated to a specific local authority including the proportion of unaccompanied asylum seeking children. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been updated to refer to Guidance issued by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. |
| Decision to Look After | The chapter previously entitled 'Decision To Look After and Care Planning' has been split to focus on the different functions of this process. |
| Care Planning | The chapter previously entitled 'Decision To Look After and Care Planning' has been split to focus on the different functions of this process. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | Section 3, Supervised Contact has been updated to reflect a finding by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman that the supervisor's observations of the contact must be clearly recorded in the child's record and shared with the parents within 3 months of the visit. |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter provides guidance on managing behaviour, which includes supporting positive behaviour, de-escalation of conflicts and discipline. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint | This chapter has been revised throughout and information added on Children and Young People with Extra Support Needs and actions to be taken after Applying Restraint. |
| Fostering Panel | Minor amendments have been made throughout. |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | This list has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Equality and Diversity | This procedure summarises the local authority's commitment to provide inclusive and equal services to a diverse range of children and young people, and to promote equality and diversity as part of our recruitment and employment practices. |
| Risk Assessment and Planning | This chapter gives general guidance principles of risk assessments so there is evidence of risk being assessed and that this is proportionate, this has particular relevance for foster carers and residential staff. |
| Providing Personalised Care | This chapter outlines the principles for providing personalised care for children and young people. |
| Health and Safety | This chapter explains what needs to be in place when assessing a foster/residential home in relation to health and safety issues. |
| Leisure Activities | This chapter outlines the principles for providing leisure activities for Looked After Children. |
May 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| London Borough of Enfield - Case Transfer Policy | The Case Transfer Policy has been updated. |
April 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | Section 4.3, Consent to the Use of Medication to Suppress Puberty has been updated in accordance with case law. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | A link to the general guidance on electronic court bundles (e-bundles) has been added. |
| Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings | This chapter replaces the one previously entitled 'Legal Planning Meetings', information has been updated and revised throughout. |
| Complaints and Representations | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Children's Statutory Complaint Process: Guide for Practitioners (Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman). |
| Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations | This chapter has been updated in line with case law. |
| Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff | This chapter has been revised in the light of best practice guidance. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | Section 15, 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 Plans. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Information has been added about the National Transfer Scheme Protocol for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | The information about the use of Section 20 Accommodation has been revised in line with The Public Law Working Group recommendations to achieve best practice in the Child protection and Family Justice System. |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | This chapter has been updated to add a note regarding the transfer of a child's belongings inappropriate luggage and includes a link to the NYAS My Things Matter report. |
| Placements with Parents | A link to the Public Law Working Group guidance on Best Practice guidance has been added. |
| Placements in Foster Care | This chapter has been updated to add a note regarding the transfer of a child's belongings inappropriate luggage and includes a link to the NYAS My Things Matter report. |
| Placements in Residential Care | This chapter has been updated to add a note regarding the transfer of a child's belongings inappropriate luggage and includes a link to the NYAS My Things Matter report. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty has been updated in line with case law. |
| 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. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | Information has been added in relation to children under the age of 16 being placed in 'other arrangements' placements. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | 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. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been updated to add a note regarding the transfer of a child's belongings inappropriate luggage and includes a link to the NYAS My Things Matter report. |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | This list has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Placements in Other Arrangements | This chapter describes the process for placing children in regulated and unregulated settings that are deemed "other arrangements". |
December 2021
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Enfield Youth Justice Plan 2021 – 2023 | The latest statutory annual youth justice service plan relating to the provision of youth Justice services. |
| YOS Risk Management Guidance (including Safety and Well-being) | This guidance summarises the arrangements for the assessment and management of the risks posed by or to the young people who we work with and must be read by all staff. |
| YOS High Risk Panel (HRP) Policy/Procedure | The high risk panel provides a coordinated approach to the management of high risk cases and level I MAPPA threshold. |
| Case Management Guidance | National guidance. |
| YOS Trauma Informed Practice Guidance | This guidance seeks to ensure that the young people and families who work with the YOS are offered a supportive and robust intervention, using a trauma informed approach enhance practices and processes have been introduced to support the new ways of working with Enfield YOS service users. |
| Youth Justice: The Scaled Approach | National guidance. |
| AssetPlus Guidance for Practitioners | This guidance gives YOS practitioners an easy reference point to understand how the AssetPlus framework operates and how practically practitioners work through AssetPlus from the Information gathering and analysis required within the relevant modules and how this is then translated into the Intervention Plan and subsequent expectations of practitioners and counter-signing managers regarding reviewing information and the plan according to either timescales or if the circumstances of the young person change significantly. The full guidance is embedded within this document (below) and should be referred to if practitioners require more detailed information. |
| Team Around Child/Family Process TAC/TAF | The Enfield YOS Team Around the Child/Family (TAC/TAF) Planning Meeting is crucial to ensure that there is effective planning of the intervention to be delivered. |
| Referral Order Guidance | National guidance. |
| Enfield Enhanced Constructive Resettlement Policy | Enfield YOS focus their resettlement practice on shifting a child's identity from pro-criminal to pro-social. This document embeds the principles of the enhanced constructive resettlement offer Enfield YOS deliver to detained children returning to our community. |
| Joint Protocol for Managing the Cases of Young People Moving from Youth Offending Teams to Probation Services | National guidance. |
| Youth 2 Adult Transitions Flowchart | This document is a graphic depiction of the timescales for the completion of a transition plan. |
| Joint Working Protocol Youth Offending Service & Children's Social Care | This document provides a local practice guidance for partnership working between the Enfield Youth Offending Service and children social care teams where young person may be open to both services. |
| Joint Working Protocol Youth Offending Service & Enfield SEND Services | This document has been developed to ensure that children and young people within youth justice system are supported through effective information sharing and coordination of support of children special education needs and disabilities by the Youth Offending and Special Education Needs services. |
| YOS CVYJ Recording & Uploads Guidance | This document sets out the principles of case recording and expectations. |
| YOS Duty Policy and Procedure | This document sets out the policy and practice for providing duty cover during working hours. |
| Case Allocation and Case Load Management Practice Guidance | This document supports effective case management for managers and caseworkers. |
| Management Oversight Policy | This document provides practice guidance for management oversight within delivery of Youth Offending Services. It sets out clear expectations for our local practice whilst helping case workers and managers to understand their responsibilities. |
| Case Management Supervision Format | This document sets out the expectations for casework management and supervision. |
| Practice Framework National Standards for the Management of Offenders for England and Wales | National guidance. |
| Safeguarding Adolescents from Exploitation Strategy 2019 – 2022 | This strategy sets out the multi-agency approach to safeguarding adolescents from exploitation, abuse and violence in Enfield. |
| Removed Chapters | |
|
|
November 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | This list has been updated. |
October 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | Section 4.3, Consent to the Use of Medication to Suppress Puberty has been updated and a new Section 5.4, Consent to Life-ending Withdrawal of Medical Support has 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. |
| Contacts and Referrals | Links to the Early Help Hub and other local guidance have been refreshed and updated. |
| Assessments | This chapter has been amended to add a new section on 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. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | The link has been updated to the SWET (updated April 2021). Section 2, Pre-Proceedings has been updated to include information in relation to pre-birth assessments and planning where the mother has learning disabilities. It has also been updated to reflect Practice Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council). See Section 9, Expectations of the Local Authority by the Court in particular. |
| Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations | This guidance has been reviewed and updated. |
| Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff | This guidance has been reviewed and updated. |
| Short Breaks | This chapter has been updated in accordance with revised care planning, placement and case review statutory guidance. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | A link has been added to the Independent Child Trafficking Guardians Referral Form. In areas where the ICTG service has been implemented, if the social worker considers a child to be a potential victim of modern slavery, they should refer them to the ICTG service by completing the online referral form. Section 6.1, Placement Options has been updated in relation to placements in 'other arrangements'. Section 4, Assessment has been updated in relation to Age Assessments. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been updated to note that the High Court held that immigration caseworkers, when deciding whether to accept that the applicant is 'destitute or at risk of imminent destitution' are required to 'have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare' of any children involved in the application, in accordance with section 55 Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. |
| Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds who may be Homeless and/or require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer | This chapter has been updated to add a link to Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG) to support the development of joint protocols that can help local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of care leavers (see new Section 4, Housing Protocols for Care Leavers). |
| Connected Persons (Family and Friends) Care Policy | A new Section 7, Education has been added containing information on the School Admission Code. |
| Relinquished Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect case-law setting out lessons for the future in non-notification cases. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | A new Section 2, Ordinary Residence has been added. |
| Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children | This chapter has been refreshed and a link added to House of Commons Library Briefing Paper: Criminal Injuries Compensation for Victims of Child Abuse. |
| Placements with Parents | This chapter has been updated with regard to unregulated placements. |
| Placements in Residential Care | This chapter has been updated to note that from September 2021, looked after children under 16 years of age cannot be accommodated in unregulated independent or semi-independent placements. |
| 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 Outside England and Wales | Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey has been updated to include additional information has 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. |
| Advocacy and Independent Visitors | Links to advocacy services in Enfield have been added and the chapter has been revised throughout. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | Information on when a child needs or joins a new school has been updated and information added on the School Admission Code. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | Section 6, 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. It has also been updated with a link to Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG) to support the development of joint protocols that can help local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of care leavers. Additional content has therefore been added in a new Section 8, Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers as well as Section 7, Reviews of Pathway Plans and Section 13, Where Care Leavers Live or Move to a Different Local Authority Area. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been revised. In Section 12, The Special Guardianship Support Plan, information has been added on the School Admission Code. It has also 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 16, Special Guardianship Orders in International Cases. |
April 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
Capacity and Consent |
This chapter has been updated to include Information in relation to NICE Quality Standard: Decision-Making and Mental Capacity, and information on a High Court case in relation to consent in the context of the use of medication to suppress puberty. |
| Case Recording and Policy Guidance | This chapter replaces the previous "Recording Policy and Guidance" and the information has been extensively revised. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | Section 15, 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. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | This chapter has been updated to include information on the use of the 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. The link to the Secure Children's Home website has also been updated. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect changes from the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK | This has been 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. It 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. |
| Fostering Service Statement of Purpose 2020 - 2023 | The Fostering Statement of Purpose has been updated. |
| Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers | A revised link to the information sheets on how to prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers has been added. |
| Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers | A revised link to the information sheets on how to prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers has been added. |
| Adopt London North - Statement of Purpose | The statement of Purpose for Adopt London North has been added. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | A revised link to the information sheets on how to prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers has been added. |
| Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records | This chapter has been revised and information added on applying for a copy of a birth certificate online. |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | This list has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
October 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Complaints and Representations | The information contained in this procedure has been extensively revised throughout. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Section 11, Further Information has been updated to include a link to Statutory Guidance Modern Slavery: How to Identify and Support Victims. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been revised and updated. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | Section 6, Placements of Children under 13 years has been updated following publication of revised DfE guidance. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This chapter 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. |
| Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services | The link to Case management guidance has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | In this chapter, guidance is offered in relation to the various situations in which consent is likely to be sought, with reference to previous legal judgements. This is a potentially complex practice arena and if the practitioner is in any doubt about gaining consent, they should always seek further advice from managers and legal advice must be sought as necessary. |
| Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff | The use of social media in a social care and safeguarding environment is a developing area. Cases and reviews have discussed the use of social media in social work practice. There is, however, currently no specific government guidance on the issue. This chapter is designed to highlight some of the issues to be considered, with links to additional information. It is not intended to provide any legal advice, and legal advice must be sought as appropriate. Local Authorities and Courts may have local protocols in place on the use of social media/service of documents. |
| Storage of Data on Mobile Devices | This chapter provides guidance on the storage of personal data (including photographs) on mobile devices. 'Personal data' is any information about an identifiable living individual. 'Mobile devices' includes memory sticks, mobile telephones including smartphones, tablet technologies, netbooks and laptops. |
June 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Child in Need Plans and Reviews | This chapter has been extensively revised and should be re-read. |
May 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child | This chapter has been amended, a new version of the Need to Know Form has been added. |
April 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Assessments | This chapter has been updated in line with the new digital referral system for reporting potential victims of Modern Slavery. |
| 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?). |
| 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. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been updated to take account of the new NRM digital referral form to report Modern Slavery. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | 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. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | 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. |
October 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been amended to reflect changes from 'Practice Direction 27a - Family Proceedings: Court Bundles (Universal Practice to be applied in the High Court and Family Court)' in relation to the required maximum length of certain court documents (unless otherwise specifically directed by the court). In addition, further detail has been added with respect to the Final Care Plan. |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child | 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. |
| Private Fostering | 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. |
| 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. |
| Placements with Parents | 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. |
| Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children | 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. |
| Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews | 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. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This chapter has been reviewed and updated throughout. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | 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. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | 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. |
| Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers | A link has been added to Attending and IRM Panel: information sheets. |
| 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 and relevant aspects of Schedule 6 The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011. |
| Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers | A link has been added to Attending and IRM Panel: information sheets. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | 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). |
| Placement for Adoption | 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). |
| Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records | A link has been added to Attending and IRM Panel: information sheets. |
| 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 Special Guardianship applications in care proceedings). |
| Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and 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). |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings | 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). |
April 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Assessments | This chapter has been updated to reflect new guidance on assessments in the latest version of Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been updated to reflect caselaw guidance regarding the local authority gathering, preserving and disclosing evidence in care proceedings. |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child | 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. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This chapter has been updated to reflect caselaw guidance regarding the local authority gathering, preserving and disclosing evidence in care proceedings. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | 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. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | 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. |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | This chapter has been revised in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance. |
| Permanence Planning Guidance | This chapter has been revised in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | This chapter has a new section on how to request a transfer or placement review. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | 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. |
| Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services | This chapter has a new section on how to request a transfer or placement review. |
| Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody | This chapter has a new section on how to request a transfer or placement review. |
| Adoption Support | 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. |
| Adoption Reviews | 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. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | 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. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds who may be Homeless and/or require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
October 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles | 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. |
| Children's Services Threshold Guidance | This guidance has been updated and should be re read. |
| Assessments | Section 4, Communication has been updated to include reference to parents with learning disabilities. |
| Child in Need Plans and Reviews | This chapter has been extensively revised with new Section 2, Assessing Children in Need and Section 6, Visits to Children in Need |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | 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). |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child | This chapter has been updated with a link to the updated Need To Know proforma. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK 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 / Subject Access Request | This chapter has been updated to reflect the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Confidentiality Policy | This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations | This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Connected Persons (Family and Friends) Care Policy | This chapter has been reviewed and updated. |
| Relinquished Children | Section 5, Consent and Competency has been updated to include additional information on parental capacity to consent, in line with High Court case-law. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | Additional information has been added in to Section 1.3, Section 20 Accommodation, in line with recent case-law. |
| 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. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | 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). |
| Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children | 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. |
| Looked After Reviews | 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. |
| Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers | The LADO Referral Form for Allegations against Staff and Volunteers working with children has been updated. |
| 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. |
| Education of Looked After Children | Links to Statutory Guidance have been updated. |
| Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK | 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'. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | A new Section 3.5, Consent to Health Care Assessments has been added. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | 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 UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Adoption Panel | This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| 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 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. |
| Life Story Books Guidance | This chapter has been reviewed. |
| Later Life Letters | This chapter has been fully reviewed. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | 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. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Deprivation of Liberty | A link to this resource has been added. |
| A Guide to the Mental Capacity Act | A link to this resource has been added. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been added to the manual and replaces a previous one. |
April 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Single Point of Entry (SPOE) | This link has been updated. |
| Contacts and Referrals | This chapter has been revised to set out in more detail the timetable and partnership requirements associated with effectively managing contacts and referrals. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | 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. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has had links to DoH guidance and the Young Carers Trust updated. |
| Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children | A link to the NRPF guidance on securing British Citizenship for looked after child has been added. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | 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. |
| Permanence Planning Guidance | This chapter has also been amended to reflect the additional 'permanence provisions' of the Care Plan. |
| 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 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. |
| Looked After Reviews | 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. |
| 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. 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. |
| Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters | 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. |
October 2017
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child | This chapter has been updated in line with the requirement to notify Ofsted of any serious childcare incident using the Ofsted online notification form. |
| 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). |
| 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 Further Information to guidance on SEND: 19- to 25-year-olds' entitlement to EHC plans (DfE 2017) (see Relevant Guidance). |
| Short Breaks | A link to the Friendship for All project has been added. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | A link to the NRPF Network has been added. |
| Family and Friends Care | This chapter has been updated with a link to the Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment: A good practice guide. |
| Private Fostering | 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. |
| Enfield Young Carers Assessment Process | This chapter has been updated with additional links to Relevant Guidance. |
| 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 1.3.1, Obtaining Parental Consent). |
| 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. |
| Placements with Connected Persons | 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. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | This chapter has been rewritten to emphasise the welfare component of the decision making and to distinguish it from Remands to Local Accommodation. |
| 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. |
| Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays) | This chapter has been re-titled (previously called Overnight Stays and Social Visits) and extensively updated. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | A link to the NICE Guidance has been added. |
| Change of Name of a Looked After Child | This chapter has been revised. |
| 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 updated with a link to the Contact After Adoption website. |
| Inter Country Adoption | 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. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been extensively revised and should be re-read. |
