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

Caption: All Children
   

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Leadership Pledge  
1.1.2 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles  
1.1.3 Children's Consultation and Participation  
  See also Northumberland Children and Young People's Participation Strategy  
1.1.4 Capacity and Consent  
1.1.5 Equality and Diversity New


 

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  
  Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Contacts and Referrals  
1.3.2 Assessments  
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  


 

1.5

Legal Proceedings

  
1.5.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.5.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline  
1.5.3 Legal Gateway Panel  
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 Updated
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

Caption: 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

Caption: 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  
3.1.2 Direct Payments  
3.1.3 Short Breaks Updated
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  


 

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  


 

3.8

Mental Health

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


4. Looked After Children

Caption: 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 Updated
4.1.4 Care Planning Updated
4.1.5 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.6 Permanence Planning Guidance  
4.1.7 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings Updated
4.1.8 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  
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 Updated
4.2.9 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation Updated
4.2.10 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.11 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.2.12 Placements in Other Arrangements  
4.2.13 Risk Assessment and Planning New
4.2.14 Providing Personalised Care New
4.2.15 Health and Safety  
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
  See also: NYAS, My Things Matter  


 

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 Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Updated
4.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
4.5.3 Promoting Education and Leisure Activities  


 

4.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
4.6.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans Updated
4.6.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
4.6.3 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management Updated
4.6.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint Updated
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 and National Protocol for Transitions in England  
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  
  See also:  
  Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
  National Appropriate Adult website  
  Probation Service Management of Young Adults Policy Framework  
  HMPPS Child Safeguarding Policy Framework  


5. Fostering and Adoption

Caption: Fostering and Adoption
   

5.1

Fostering Services

  
5.1.1 Fostering Panel Updated
5.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.3 Criminal Records Disclosure Procedure  
5.1.4 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Updated
5.1.5 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.6 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers Updated
5.1.7 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Allegations Against Foster Carers Updated
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  
5.1.13 Training and Development of Foster Carers New


 

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

Caption: Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices
   
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