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. Children Looked After
  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 Updated
1.1.5 Equality and Diversity  
1.1.6 Quality of Practice Framework (Document Library)  


 

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  
  See also: 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 - to follow  
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 Updated
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  
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 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: 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 Updated


 

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
  See also: information on the EU Settlement Scheme in Local Resources  


 

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  


 

3.8

Mental Health

  
3.8.1 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983  


4. Children Looked After

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.  
  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)  
  and Information on the EU Settlement Scheme (Document Library)  


 

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
4.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Children Looked After  
4.1.2 Standards of Care  
4.1.3 Decision to Look After Updated
4.1.4 Care Planning  
4.1.5 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.6 Permanence Planning Guidance  
4.1.7 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.8 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Children Looked After  
  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  
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 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 Updated
4.2.13 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.2.14 Providing Personalised Care Updated
4.2.15 Health and Safety Updated
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
  and NYAS, My Things Matter  


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

  
4.3.1 Social Worker Visits to Children Looked After  
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  
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  
4.6.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  
4.6.5 Safe Caring Policy for Children Looked After 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 Child Looked After  
4.7.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child Looked After  


 

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

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: 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 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  


 

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.  


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  
6.5 Ofsted Inspection Framework New