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WakefieldCouncil Children and Young People Service Online Procedures

Contents

Children and Young People Service Policies, Values and Principles

 

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This contents list follows the Journey of the Child (Click on the title to jump to the Section you require):

  1. All Children
  2. Recording, Case Management and Supervision of Staff
  3. Children in Particular Circumstances
  4. Children in Care
  5. Fostering and Adoption
  6. Appendices

1. All Children

1.1

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.1.1 Wakefield Early Help Strategy  
1.1.2 Multi-Agency Continuum of Need - Supporting Children, Young People and Families
(Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership)		  
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


 

1.2

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.2.1 Contacts and Referrals  
1.2.2 Single Assessment Plan and Practice Guidance  
1.2.3 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)  
  See also: West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures  
1.2.4 Family Group Conferencing  
1.2.5 Transfer Protocol  
1.2.6 Guidance: Use of Social Media Sites (Facebook) by Social Care Staff in the Course of Their Work  
1.2.7 Capacity and Consent Updated


 

1.3

Child in Need

  
1.3.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  


 

1.4

Legal Proceedings

  
1.4.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.4.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline  
  See also: Gateway to Care Panel Terms of Reference and Guidance for Practitioners  
1.4.3 Legal Planning Meetings  
1.4.4 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings (October 2013)  
1.4.5 Supervision Orders in Care Proceedings  
1.4.6 Care Plans in Court Proceedings  
1.4.7 Cross-Border Child Protection Cases Under the 1996 Hague Convention  
 

See also:

 


 

1.5

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.5.1 Wakefield Council Compliments and Complaints  
1.5.2 Whistleblowing  


 

1.6

Notifications

  
1.6.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Child in Care and Child in Need)  


 

1.7

Safeguarding in Children's Social Care

  
  See also: West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures  
1.7.1 West Yorkshire Joint Protocol for Children Missing from Home or Care  
  See also: Wakefield Operating Guidance for Children Missing from Home and Care  
1.7.2 Special Domestic Abuse Practitioner (SDAP) Operating Protocol  
1.7.3 Wakefield District Domestic Abuse Service (WDDAS): Referral Process and Referral Form  
1.7.4 Wakefield District Domestic Abuse Service (WDDAS) Process Regarding Attendance at Initial Child Protection Conferences  
1.7.5 Child Protection Conference Procedures, Standards and Dispute Resolution Process  

2. Recording, Case Management and Supervision of Staff

2.1

Recording

  
2.1.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
2.1.2 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.1.3 Case Records and Retention  
2.1.4 Access to Records / Subject Access Requests  
2.1.5 Confidentiality Policy  
2.1.6 Telephone Requests for Disclosure of Information About Service Users  


 

2.2

Supervision

  
2.2.1 Supervision and Appraisal Policy for the Children's Workforce (intranet access required)  

3. Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1

Children with Disabilities and Complex Care Needs
3.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities - under review QUERY
3.1.2 Complex Care Needs Team  
3.1.3 Direct Payments  
3.1.4 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings Updated
3.1.5 Short Breaks  
3.1.6 Wakefield Short Breaks Procedures Handbook  


 

3.2

Children from Abroad

  
3.2.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
3.2.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  


 

3.3

Homelessness

  
3.3.1 Wakefield Council Policy and Procedures for the Provision of Accommodation to Homeless 16 and 17 year old Young People  


 

3.4

Family and Friends Care

  
3.4.1 Kinship Care (Family and Friends) Policy  
3.4.2 Family and Friends Care  
3.4.3 Private Fostering  


 

3.5

Young Carers

  
3.5.1 Young Carers  


 

3.6

Relinquished Children

  
3.6.1 Relinquished Children  


 

3.7

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
3.7.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
3.7.2 Mental Capacity  
3.7.3 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983  
  See also: Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) Briefing  

4. Children in Care

  See: Wakefield Children in Care Strategy (2021 - 2024)  

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning
4.1.1 Wakefield Council Sufficiency Strategy (2022-2024)  
4.1.2 Guidance on Section 20 Children Act 1989  
4.1.3 Decision to Look After  
4.1.4 Care Planning  
4.1.5 Gateway to Care Panel Terms of Reference and Guidance for Practitioners  
4.1.6 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.7 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Early Permanence Placements (One Adoption)  
4.1.8 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.9 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  


 

4.2

Placements

  
4.2.1 Placements with Parents  
4.2.2 Placements with Connected Persons  
4.2.3 Placements in Foster Care (excluding Short Breaks but including Externally Provided Placements)  
4.2.4 Placements in Residential Care  
4.2.5 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds  
4.2.6 Out of District Placements  
4.2.7 Children Placed within Wakefield by another Local Authority  
4.2.8 Placements Outside England and Wales  
4.2.9 Placements in Other Arrangements Updated
4.2.10 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation Updated
4.2.11 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.12 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
  See also: Wakefield Supported Independent Living Manual and Children in Care in Contact with Youth Justice Services  


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

  
4.3.1 Social Worker Visits to Children in Care  
4.3.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
4.3.3 Children in Care Reviews  
4.3.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers  
4.3.5 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
4.3.6 Notifications of Significant Events  


 

4.4

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.4.1 Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings  
4.4.2 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)  


 

4.5

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.5.1 Promoting the Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children  
4.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
4.5.3 Passports for Children in Care  


 

4.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
4.6.1 Health Care Assessments and Health Action Plans Updated
4.6.2 GPs, Dentists and Opticians  
4.6.3 Personal Care and Relationships  
4.6.4 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
4.6.5 Countering Bullying and Harassment Policy and Procedure for Looked After Children  
4.6.6 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  
4.6.7 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.6.8 Health and Safety Updated
4.6.9 Leisure Activities  
  See also: Promoting Wellbeing and Positive Identity for a Child or Young Person Who is Looked After: A Quick Guide for Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners (SCIE)  


 

4.7

Change of Name and Marriage

  
4.7.1 Change of Name of a Child Looked After  
4.7.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child Looked After Updated


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

  
4.8.1 Leaving Care and Transition Updated
4.8.2 Wakefield Local Offer for Care Leavers (2022)  
4.8.3 Staying Put  
4.8.4 Looked After Children Joining the Armed Forces  
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Children in Care in Custody  


 

4.9

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
  See also: Standards for Children in the Youth Justice System and YJB and Probation Joint National Protocol for Transitions in England  
4.9.1 Children in Care in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.9.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Children in Care in Custody  
4.9.3 Electronic Monitoring (Tagging of Children and Young People)  
4.9.4 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance Updated
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  

5. Fostering and Adoption

5.1

Fostering Services

  
  See: Fostering Service Statement of Purpose - under review  
5.1.1 Fostering Panel  
5.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
5.1.4 Smoking Policy and Guidance  
5.1.5 Conflict of Interest in Fostering  
5.1.6 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.7 Supervision, Support and Training of Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Training and Development of Foster Carers  
5.1.9 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.10 Allegations or Concerns about Foster Carers or Members of their Household - under review  
5.1.11 Foster Carer Handbook  
5.1.12 Capital Programme Assistance to Carers  
5.1.13 Wakefield Fostering Service Skills Payment Scheme (2023/2024) - under review Updated
5.1.14 Foster Carer Allowances  
  See also: Early Permanence Placements (One Adoption)  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
  See also: One Adoption West Yorkshire Statement of Purpose  
5.2.1 Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters (One Adoption)  
5.2.2 Adoption Panel (One Adoption)  
5.2.3 The Child's Journey - Placement for Adoption (One Adoption)  
5.2.4 Adoption Support  
5.2.5 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements (One Adoption)  
5.2.6 Adoption Reviews  
5.2.7 Disruption of Adoptive Placements (One Adoption)  
5.2.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted (One Adoption)  
5.2.9 Inter Country Policy (One Adoption)  
5.2.10 Non Agency Adoption (One Adoption)  
5.2.11 Adoption Case Records  
5.2.12 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records (One Adoption)  
5.2.13 Intermediary Services (One Adoption)  
5.2.14 Life Story Books Guidance (One Adoption)  
5.2.15 Later Life Letters (One Adoption)  
5.2.16 Early Permanence Placements (One Adoption)  
  See also: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  


 

5.3

Special Guardianship

  
5.3.1 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders Updated
5.3.2 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  

6. Appendices

6.1 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.2 Ofsted Inspection Framework New
6.3 Amendments