Children’s Services Policies, Values and Principles |
This chapter has been slightly updated. |
Assessments |
This chapter has been updated to reflect the outcome of a judgment following an application to remove a child at birth. The judge highlighted ‘good practice steps’ to undertaking assessments and issuing care proceedings in respect of the removal of a child at birth, including the assessment process (see Section 11.1, Pre-birth ‘Good Practice Steps’). Updated material has also been added regarding the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit. |
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline |
This chapter has been updated to reflect the outcome of a judgment following an application to remove a child at birth. The judge highlighted what were thought to be ‘good practice steps’ to issuing care proceedings in respect of the removal of a child at birth (see Section 3.1, Pre-birth Planning and Proceedings). |
Legal Planning Meetings |
This chapter has been updated to reflect the outcome of a judgment following an application to remove a child at birth. The judge set out what were thought to be ‘basic and good practice steps’ (see Section 2, Considerations). |
Case Records and Retention |
A reference and link to a letter from the Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse has been added to this chapter. |
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities |
The link to the DOH Care and Support Statutory Guidance has been updated to the 2016 edition. |
Direct Payments |
The link to the DOH Care and Support Statutory Guidance has been updated to the 2016 edition. |
Families with No Recourse to Public Funds |
A link to NRPF Connect has been added to this chapter. |
Decision to Look After and Care Planning |
A link has been added to the ADCS/Cafcass Practice Guidance for the Use of Section 20. |
Placements in Secure Accommodation |
Section 4.1, Placement Request, Identification and Approval, has been revised to reflect the current process by which Secure Placements are sought. This section has also been extended to acknowledge the President of the High Court’s judgement regarding applications in English courts for Secure Accommodation placements in Scotland. |
Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers |
The link to the Fostering Network Toolkit has been revised as it now accessible only to Fostering Network members and requires a separate log-in. The link to the BMA Consent Toolkit has also been updated. |
Looked After Reviews |
This chapter has been amended to note The Law Society guidance ‘Attendance of solicitors at local authority Children Act Meetings’ and their Code of Conduct where the child or family who attend reviews are supported by a legal representative (see Section 8, Independent Reviewing Officer's Responsibilities). |
Education of Looked After Children |
The listing of government guidance documents above has been revised and updated. |
Staying Put |
A link has been added to 'Staying Put: What Does it Mean for You? (Catch 22 National Care Advisory Service)'. The link to the 'Good Practice Guide' has been also been updated. |
Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers |
Revisions (as requested by Norfolk) have been made throughout this chapter. |
Applications for Special Guardianship Orders |
Section 1, Introduction, has been revised to clarify the extent of authority which is afforded to Special Guardians. Section 2, Who May Apply? has also been revised. Links to the DfE Special Guardianship Guidance (2016) and the Adoption Support Fund have also been added. |
Visits to Children and Young People |
This chapter has been added to this manual. |
Postnatal Care Care Up to 8 Weeks After Birth (NICE) |
A link to this guidance has been added to the manual. |
Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations |
This chapter has been added to this manual. |
- The Use of Written Agreements in Norfolk Children's Services;
- Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children.
|
Assessments |
Section 2, The Purpose of Assessment, has been updated to make reference to the Modern Slavery Act 2015. A link has been also added (above) to legislation. |
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline |
Links to the ADCS website have been revised and updated. |
Legal Planning Meetings |
This chapter has been revised to reflect the guidance regarding the appropriate use of S20 issued by Judge Munby P in the matter of N (Children) (Adoption: Jurisdiction) [2015] EWCA Civ 1112. |
Recording Policy and Guidelines |
This chapter has been revised and updated throughout and should be re-read in full. A link to Norfolk’s Recording Timescale Framework For Children’s Social Care has also been added. |
Case Records and Retention |
The Children's Services - Retention of Records table has been updated. |
Access to Records |
This chapter has been revised and updated throughout and should be re-read in full. |
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities |
A link to the 0 to 25 SEND Code of Practice: A Guide for Health Professionals – Advice for Clinical Commissioning Groups, Health Professionals and Local Authorities has been added to this chapter. |
Direct Payments |
This chapter has been revised and updated. A new Section 7, Hospital Stays has also been added. |
Short Breaks |
This chapter has been fully updated to bring it in line with the Children and Families Act 2014, DfE, Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0-25 years Statutory Guidance for Organisations who work with Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (2015) and DfE, The Children Act 1989 guidance and regulation - Volume 2: care planning, placement and case review regulations (2015). |
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children |
Section 3, Assessment, has been revised to make reference to trafficking and the Modern Slavery Act 2015. A reference and links have also been added to ADCS/Home Office “good practice documents” regarding age assessment. |
Families with No Recourse to Public Funds |
Section 2, Role of the Local Authority, has been revised to make reference to issues that may indicate that the child is or has been trafficked or a victim of compulsory labour, servitude and slavery. |
Decision to Look After and Care Planning |
This chapter has been revised to reflect the guidance regarding the appropriate use of Section 20 issued by Judge Munby P in the matter of N (Children) (Adoption: Jurisdiction) [2015] EWCA Civ 1112. Links have also been added to relevant chapters. |
Ceasing to Look After a Child |
This chapter has been revised to reflect recent judicial guidance regarding the appropriate response to discharge requests. |
Permanence Planning Guidance |
Section 3.7, Long-term Fostering has been revised in the interests of clarity. |
Placements in Residential Care |
This chapter has been revised throughout in the interests of clarity and should be re-read in full. |
Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation |
This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Placements with Connected Persons |
This chapter has been substantially revised and updated and should be re-read throughout. |
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children |
This chapter has been revised and updated throughout and should be re-read in full. |
Advocacy and Independent Visitors |
This chapter has been revised and updated throughout and should be re-read in full. |
Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews |
This chapter has been revised and updated throughout and should be re-read in full. |
Notifications of Significant Events |
The hyperlinks in this chapter have been updated. |
Contact with Parents / Adults and Siblings |
This chapter has been revised and updated throughout and should be re-read in full. |
Overnight Stays and Social Visits |
This chapter has been revised in the interests of clarity. A link to the separate Contact with Parents and Siblings chapter has also been added. |
Education of Looked After Children |
The listing of guidance documents and associated hyperlinks above have been revised and updated. |
Staying Put |
Section 5, Financial Implications has been updated in respect of insurance arrangements. |
Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services |
This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody |
This chapter has been entirely revised and updated and should be re-read in full. |
Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers |
Section 1, Responding to Initial Enquiries, has been revised. |
Supervision and Support of Foster Carers |
A link to the Norfolk Supporting Information/Guidance “What Norfolk County Council will do to supervise and support foster carers” has been added to this chapter. |
Adoption Panel |
Information regarding legal advice in Section 4, Adoption Panel Meetings, has been revised. |
Placement for Adoption |
Revisions have been made to the following Sections of this chapter:
- Section 2, Obtaining Agency Approval to Adoption Plan;
- Section 5, Child’s Adoption Medical;
- Section 7, Identification of Adoptive Parents (including Inter Agency Placements).
|
Adoption Support |
A link to the Adoption Support Fund has been added to this chapter. |
Inter Country Adoption |
A hyperlink to the separate Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters Procedure has been added to this chapter. |
Applications for Special Guardianship Orders |
Section 5, Planning Meeting, has been revised and updated to reflect the enhanced assessment and reporting requirements (for all applications made from 29 February 2016) as set out in the Special Guardianship (Amendment) Regulations 2016. A link to the Adoption Support Fund has also been added. |
Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance |
Section 3, Special Guardianship – Matters to be Dealt with in Report to Court, has been revised and updated to reflect the enhanced assessment and reporting requirements (for all applications made from 29 February 2016 as set out in the Special Guardianship (Amendment) Regulations 2016. |
Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters |
Section 4.2, Considering Adoption for a Child, has been revised with the addition of a new final paragraph. |
Local Contacts |
These details have been updated. |
List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers |
This listing has been updated. |
Children's Services Transfer Procedure |
This chapter has been added to the manual. |
Whistleblowing to Ofsted about Children's Social Care Services - Policy and Guidance for Whistleblowers |
A link to this guidance has been added to this manual. |
The Use of Written Agreements in Norfolk Children's Services |
A link to this chapter has been added to this manual. |