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


1. All Children

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Leadership Pledge  
1.1.2 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles Updated
1.1.3 Children's Consultation and Participation Updated
1.1.4 Capacity and Consent Updated


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Early Help Framework  
1.2.2 Threshold Document - Continuum of Help and Support Updated


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Contacts and Referrals Updated
1.3.2 Assessments Updated
1.3.3 Local Protocol for Assessment  
1.3.4 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)  
  See also: North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures  
1.3.5 Allocation of Work and Transfer between Teams - to follow  
1.3.6 Referral Process for Family Group Conferencing  


 

1.4

Child in Need

  
1.4.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews Updated


 

1.5

Legal Proceedings

  
1.5.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.5.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
1.5.3 Legal Planning Meetings  
1.5.4 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 (DfE)  


 

1.6

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.6.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.6.2 Whistleblowing  


 

1.7

Notifications

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


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 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

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  
3.2.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  


 

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  


 

3.6

Relinquished Children

  
3.6.1 Relinquished Children  


 

3.7

Deprivation of Liberty

  
3.7.1 Deprivation of Liberty  


4. Looked After Children

  Note: in Northumberland we use the term 'Children Looked After'. In this section and throughout these procedures, you will also find references to 'Looked After Children' in line with the terminology used in legislation and statutory guidance. The terms are interchangeable.  

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 Standards of Care  
4.1.3 Decision to Look After and Care Planning  
4.1.4 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.5 Permanence Planning Guidance  
4.1.6 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.7 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  


 

4.2

Placements

  
4.2.1 Placements with Parents  
4.2.2 Placements with Connected Persons  
4.2.3 Placements in Foster Care  
4.2.4 Matching Children with Permanent Foster Carers  
4.2.5 Placements in Children's Homes  
4.2.6 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Updated
4.2.7 Out of Area Placements  
4.2.8 Placements Outside England and Wales  
4.2.9 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.2.10 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.11 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
  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 Looked After 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 Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children  
4.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK Updated
4.5.3 Promoting Education and 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 Behaviour Management and Safe Caring  
4.6.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention  
4.6.5 Safe Caring Policy for Looked After Children in Foster Care  
4.6.6 Policy on the Storage of Medicine and Administration of Medicine or Treatment  
4.6.7 Bedroom Sharing Policy  
4.6.8 Consumption of Alcohol by Foster Carers and Young People Policy  
4.6.9 Children Missing from Care  


 

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 and Transition 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

Youth Offending

  
  See also: Standards for Children in the Youth Justice System 2019 and Case Management Guidance  
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 Updated
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  


5. Fostering and Adoption

5.1

Fostering Services

  
5.1.1 Fostering Panel  
5.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.3 Criminal Records Disclosure Procedure  
5.1.4 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
5.1.5 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.6 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
5.1.7 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
5.1.9 Foster Carers Record Keeping and Retention Policy  
5.1.10 Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol  
5.1.11 Comments and Complaints, Advocacy and Whistle blowing  
5.1.12 Guidance and Policy on Payment and Use of Disability Living Allowance by Foster Carers  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

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


6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

6.1 Local Contacts Updated
6.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers Updated
6.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.4 Amendments