Contents


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This contents list is sub divided into the following sections, each Section contains relevant Chapters/Procedures: (Click on the title to jump to the Section you require):

  1. All Children
  2. Case Management and Recording
  3. Prevention and Family Support
  4. Children in Particular Circumstances
  5. Looked After Children
  6. Fostering and Adoption
  7. Appendices

In Dorset, we say 'Children in Care' but in these procedures we refer to 'Looked After Children' or 'LAC' as this is how legislation and regulation refers to the children.


1. All Children

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles  
1.1.2 Confidentiality Policy  
1.1.3 Equality and Diversity  
1.1.4 Whistleblowing Policy  
1.1.5 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.6 Family and Friends Care Policy  
1.1.7 Quality Assurance and Performance Framework  
  See also: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


 

1.2

CAF and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Threshold Tool - Levels of Need & Continuum of Support
(Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership (SCP) Policies and Procedures)		  
1.2.2 Capacity and Consent  
  See Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library  


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Contacts  
1.3.2 Assessments  
1.3.3 The Local Protocol for Assessment  
1.3.4 Section 47 Enquiries  


 

1.4

Court Proceedings

  
1.4.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.4.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
1.4.3 Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings  
1.4.5 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings (October 2013)  
1.4.6 Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings  
1.4.7 Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS)  


 

1.5

Miscellaneous

  
1.5.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child In Need)  
1.5.2 Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation  


 

1.6

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.6.1 Complaints and Representations  


2. Case Management and Recording

2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
2.2 Case Records and Retention  
2.3 Access to Records / Subject Access Requests  
2.4 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.5 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care Staff  
2.6 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  


3. Prevention and Family Support

3.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  
3.2 Private Fostering  


4. Children in Particular Circumstances

4.1

Children with Disabilities

  
4.1.1 Children who are Disabled Service  
4.1.2 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
4.1.3 Direct Payments  
4.1.4 Short Breaks  
4.1.5 Young Carers  
4.1.6 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.1.7 Providing Personalised Care  


 

4.2

Children from Abroad

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


 

4.3

Relinquished Children

  
4.3.1 Relinquished Children  


 

4.4

Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983

  
4.4.1 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 Updated


5. Looked After Children

5.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
5.1.1 Decision to Look After  
5.1.2 Care Planning  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  
5.1.3 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
5.1.4 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children  
  See also: Dorset Corporate Parenting Strategy  
5.1.5 Permanence Planning Guidance  
5.1.6 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
5.1.7 Placements in Foster Care  
5.1.8 Placements in Residential Care Updated
5.1.9 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
5.1.10 Out of Area Placements  
5.1.11 Placements with Connected Persons  
5.1.12 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Updated
5.1.13 Placements with Parents  
5.1.14 Placements Outside England and Wales  
5.1.15 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
5.1.16 Placements in Other Arrangements Updated
5.1.17 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
5.1.18 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  


 

5.2

Monitoring and Reviews

  
5.2.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children Updated
5.2.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
5.2.3 Looked After Reviews  
5.2.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers  
5.2.5 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
5.2.6 Notifications of Significant Events  


 

5.3

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
5.3.1 Contact with Parents and Siblings  
5.3.2 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)  


 

5.4

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
5.4.1 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
5.4.2 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Updated
5.4.3 Children and Young People Aged 0 - 25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
5.4.4 Leisure Activities  


 

5.5

Health and Wellbeing

  
5.5.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
5.5.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
5.5.3 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
5.5.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  
5.5.5 Health and Safety Updated


 

5.6

Identity

  
5.6.1 Change of Name of a Looked After Child  
5.6.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child  


 

5.7

Leaving Care and Transition

  
5.7.1 Leaving Care and Transition Updated
5.7.2 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  
5.7.3 Staying Put  
5.7.4 Staying Put Policy  
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  


 

5.8

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
5.8.1 Youth Justice Board National Standards and Case Management Guidelines  
5.8.2 YOT and Children's Social Services Practitioner Responsibility Flowchart  
5.8.3 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
5.8.4 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
5.8.5 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance  
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  


6. Fostering and Adoption

6.1

Fostering Services

  
6.1.1 Fostering Panel  
6.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
6.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
6.1.4 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
6.1.5 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
6.1.6 Training and Development of Foster Carers  
6.1.7 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
6.1.8 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
6.1.9 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters Updated


 

6.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
  NOTE: Procedures for children placed with Aspire for adoption can be accessed via the Aspire Adoption Services website which is attached to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Children's Services Procedures Manual.  
6.2.1 Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters  
6.2.2 Adoption Panel  
6.2.3 Placement for Adoption  
6.2.4 Adoption Support  
6.2.5 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
6.2.6 Adoption Reviews  
6.2.7 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
6.2.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
6.2.9 Inter Country Adoption  
6.2.10 Non Agency Adoption  
6.2.11 Adoption Case Records  
6.2.12 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
6.2.13 Intermediary Services - Dorset Currently Offers a Limited Service  
6.2.14 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders  
6.2.15 Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  
6.2.16 Life Story Books Guidance  
6.2.17 Later Life Letters  
  See also: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  


7. Appendices

7.1 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
7.2 Dorset Scheme of Nomination and Delegated Authority for Children's Services  
7.3 Ofsted Inspection Framework New
7.4 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
7.5 Amendments