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North TynesideChildren's Services Procedures Manual

Contents

Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles

 

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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. Children in Particular Circumstances
  4. Looked After Children
  5. Fostering and Adoption
  6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. All Children

CAPTION: Contents 1
   

1.1

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services
1.1.1 Prevention and Early Help Strategy  
1.1.2 Early Help Pathway  
1.1.3 Thresholds of Need
(North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)		  
1.1.4 Unborn Thresholds Guidance
(North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)		  
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  
1.1.5 Equality and Diversity  


 

1.2

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.2.1 Contacts and Referrals  
1.2.2 Assessments  
1.2.3 Local Protocol for Assessment  
1.2.4 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)  
  See also: North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures  
1.2.5 Transferring Cases between Social Work Teams  
1.2.6 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.2.7 Use of Consent by the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)  
1.2.8 Capacity and Consent  


 

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 Updated
1.4.3 Legal Gateway / 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)  
  See also: Cross-border Child Protection Cases: The 1996 Hague Convention  


 

1.5

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.5.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.5.2 Whistleblowing  
  Children's Services Whistleblowing Policy is in accordance with North Tyneside Council's Whistleblowing Procedure for Employees.  
1.5.3 Policy for Disagreements with the Decisions of the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub  
1.5.4 Disagreeing with a Decision made by the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) (Flowchart)  


 

1.6

Notifications

  
1.6.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child In Need)  

2. Case Management and Recording

CAPTION: Contents 2
   
2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
2.2 Case Records and Retention  
2.3 Access to Records / Subject Access Requests Updated
2.4 Confidentiality Policy  
2.5 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.6 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  
2.7 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  

3. Children in Particular Circumstances

CAPTION: Contents 3
   

3.1

Children with Disabilities
3.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
3.1.2 Direct Payments  
3.1.3 Short Breaks  
3.1.4 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  


 

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 Updated
3.2.3 Flowchart - EU Settlement Scheme: Looked After Children and Care Leavers New


 

3.3

Homelessness

  
3.3.1 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 Updated


 

3.4

Family and Friends Care

  
3.4.1 Family and Friends Care  
3.4.2 Private Fostering  


 

3.5

Young Carers

  
3.5.1 Young Carers Updated


 

3.6

Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty

  
3.6.1 Mental Capacity  
3.6.2 Deprivation of Liberty  


 

3.7

Mental Health

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

4. Looked After Children

CAPTION: Contents 4
   

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning
4.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children  
4.1.2 Decision for a Child/Young Person to Become a Child in Our Care  
4.1.3 Care Planning  
4.1.4 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.5 Permanence Policy and Guidance  
4.1.6 Flow Chart for Early Permanence Planning New
4.1.7 Placement Planning for Care Arrangements and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.8 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  
4.1.9 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.1.10 Providing Personalised Care Updated


 

4.2

Placements

  
4.2.1 Placements with Parents  
4.2.2 Placements with Connected Persons  
4.2.3 Foster Care  
4.2.4 Children’s Homes Updated
4.2.5 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Updated
4.2.6 Out of Area Care Arrangements  
4.2.7 Placements Outside England and Wales  
4.2.8 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.2.9 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.10 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.2.11 Placements in Other Arrangements Updated
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

  
4.3.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children  
4.3.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
4.3.3 Child 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 Family Time (Contact) with Parents 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 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Children in Our Care and Care Experienced Young People Updated
4.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
4.5.3 Leisure Activities  


 

4.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
4.6.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
4.6.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
4.6.3 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
4.6.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  
4.6.5 Health and Safety Updated
  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 Looked After Child  
4.7.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child  


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

  
4.8.1 Leaving Care Updated
4.8.2 Staying Put  
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  


 

4.9

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
4.9.1 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.9.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
4.9.3 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance  
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  

5. Fostering and Adoption

CAPTION: Contents 5
   

5.1

Fostering Services
  See also Fostering Strategy 2022-25  
5.1.1 Fostering Panel  
5.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
5.1.4 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.5 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
5.1.6 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.7 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Training and Development of Foster Carers  


 

5.2

Adoption Services (Adopt North East)

  
  Adoption Services in North Tyneside are provided by Adopt North East (ANE) the Regional Adoption Agency for North Tyneside, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland and South Tyneside.  
  See Adopt North East Procedures Manual  


 

5.3

Special Guardianship

  
5.3.1 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders  
5.3.2 Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  
5.3.3 Policy for the Calculation and Payment of Special Guardianship Allowances  

6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

CAPTION: Contents 6
   
6.1 Local Contacts  
6.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
6.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.4 Amendments  
6.7 Ofsted Inspection Framework New