Amendments

May 2024

Caption: May 2024

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles	This chapter has been updated.
Assessments	This chapter has been updated.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	This chapter has been amended to include information from Special Educational Needs and Disability: Improving Local Authority Decision Making - Report of the Administrative Justice Council’s Working Group on Special Educational Needs and Disability. Section 15, Resolving Disagreements has been updated to include information on Guidance: Carry Out an Order in Special Educational Needs Cases.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery	A link has been added in Section 4, Assessment to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. In Further Information, a link has been added to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance.
Private Fostering	This chapter has been updated.
Young Carers	This chapter has been refreshed.
Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and s75 of the Care Act 2014	Section 2, Ordinary Residence has been updated in line with case law.
Strategy for Securing Sufficient Placements for Looked After Children and Care Leavers	This chapter has been updated.
Placements in Residential Care	This chapter has been updated to include information from Guidance - Placing Children: Deprivation of Liberty Orders - guidance for providers, social workers and placement commissioners on placing children, subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL), in unregistered settings; and President of the Family Division Practice Guidance: Placements in Unregistered Children’s Homes in England or Unregistered Care Home Services in Wales.
Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds	Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty has been updated throughout in line with Revised Practice Guidance on the Court’s Approach to Unregistered Placements (October 2023) and Revised National Listing Protocol for Applications that Seek Deprivation of Liberty Orders Relating to Children under the Inherent Jurisdiction, and to include information from Guidance - Placing Children: Deprivation of Liberty Orders (Ofsted) - guidance for providers, social workers and placement commissioners on placing children, subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL), in unregistered settings.
Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children	This chapter has been updated.
Advocacy and Independent Visitors	This chapter has been refreshed.
Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children	This chapter has been refreshed.
Personal Care and Relationships	This chapter has been given a minor refresh.

Next Update: November 2024

2023 Amendments

November 2023

Caption: November 2023

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Capacity and Consent	Amendments have been made to reflect case-law in relation to assessing legal capacity.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	Information has been added into Section 4, Care Orders and Supervisions Orders on a Care Plan of the Child Remaining at Home in relation to Supervision Orders, in line with Public Law Working Group (PLWG) Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems: Supervision Orders.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	This chapter has been updated. Information in relation to legal aid for foster carers and prospective adoptive parents in First Tier Tribunal appeals has been added into Section 15, Resolving Disagreements. It has also been updated to include information from Guidance: Area SEND Inspections Framework and Handbook (November 2022). Redcar and Cleveland's Local Offer has also been added into Section 3, Local Offer.
Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings	This chapter has been updated to include information from the UK Social Work Practice in Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People report.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery	This chapter has been updated. Information in relation to the National Age Assessment Board has been added into Section 4, Assessment.
Families with No Recourse to Public Funds	Section 5.2.5, Providing Support has been updated to reflect the Home Office increase in financial support to individuals waiting to find out if they will be given asylum in the UK.
Decision to Look After	Section 3, Section 20 Accommodation has been updated in line with case-law.
Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation	This chapter has been amended to include information from Annex to MOJ Circular 2022/03: Additional Information on Remand to Local Authority Accommodation (RLAA).
Placements in Other Arrangements	This chapter has been refreshed.
Health and Safety	Information in relation to allergies has been added into Section 6, Diet, Nutrition and Allergies. Information on Online Safety has also been added.
Health Care Assessments and Plans	Information in relation to allergies has been added into Section 4, Health Plans.
Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child	This chapter has been amended to reflect that the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 raised the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales, with effect from 26 February 2023.
Leaving Care and Transition	This chapter has been revised, to include information from the revised Ofsted inspection framework.
Allegations Against Foster Carers	This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern has also been added.
Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted	This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern has also been added.
Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters	This chapter has been refreshed and a link added to National Early Permanence Practice Standards (Coram Centre for Early Permanence).
Applications for Special Guardianship Orders	This chapter has been updated. Information in relation to timing of assessments has been added into Section 6.2, Special Guardianship Applications in Care Proceedings.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Ofsted Inspection Framework	This chapter has been added to the manual.

May 2023

Caption: May 2023

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Contacts and Referrals	This chapter has been updated.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	This chapter has been amended throughout in line with Management Guidance in Public Law Children Cases: March 2022 and Section 8, Court Hearings has been updated in line with A View From the President’s Chambers: Relaunching the PLO (November 2022), and that section should be re-read. In Relevant Guidance a link has been added to Pre-proceedings and Family Justice Hub (Research in Practice).
Case Records and Retention	This chapter has been updated in relation to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and s75 of the Care Act 2014	This chapter has been amended to refer to Guidance issued by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and to include a link to Self-harm: Assessment, Management and Preventing Recurrence NICE Guidance in the Relevant Guidance.
Placements with Connected Persons	This chapter has been updated.
Placements in Foster Care	This chapter has been updated.
Placements Outside England and Wales	Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey has been updated in line with the Cross-border Placements (Effect of Deprivation of Liberty Orders) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 and Cross-Border Placements (Effect of Deprivation of Liberty Orders) (Scotland) Regulations 2022: Practice Guidance, Notice and Undertaking Template.
Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation	This chapter has been amended in line with the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers	This chapter has been refreshed and should be re-read in its entirety.
Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers	This chapter has been updated.
Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings	This chapter has been updated to include information on the Family Time Service in Section 3, Supervised Contact.
Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management	This chapter has been amended to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Additional information has been added into Section 2, Positive Behaviour Support and Section 5.4, Recording of Sanctions.
Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services	Section 2, Looked After Children who are Arrested has been updated in relation to appropriate adults.
Applications for Special Guardianship Orders	This chapter has been updated to reflect the updated Public Law Working Group Best Practice Guidance. This includes the new interim guidance, issued by the President of the Family Division, that addresses the lawful extension of care proceedings beyond 26 weeks. Section 6.3, Placement before a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is Granted, has been added in line with guidance that states where there is no pre-existing relationship between the child and special guardians the child should be placed on an interim basis before the special guardianship order is made.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance	This chapter has been added.

2022 Amendments

November 2022

Caption: November 2022

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles	This chapter has been updated.
Children's Consultation and Voice and Influence	This chapter has been revised to include a link to Involving Young People in the Recruitment Process Guidance and Templates (Local Resources) to the Local Information.
Contacts and Referrals	Links have been added to the 'Making a Referral to Redcar & Cleveland Council's Multi Agency Children's Hub Guide' in Section 1, Initial Contacts.
Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)	This chapter has been refreshed and should be re-read in its entirety.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	This chapter has been amended to include a link to the Redcar & Cleveland Education, Health and Care Plan Pathway in Section 5, Education Health and Care Plans.
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	This chapter has been updated and a Local Information section has been added to the chapter.
Private Fostering	Local Information has been added to the chapter.
Decision to Look After	This chapter has been refreshed and should be re-read in its entirety.
Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings	Fostering Disruption Meeting Guidance has been added to Section 2, Disruption Meetings.
Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management	This chapter has been refreshed and should be re-read in its entirety.
Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint	This chapter has been revised throughout and should be re-read in its entirety.
Fostering Panel	This chapter has been amended, to include a link to Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers in Section 10, Feedback and Contribution to Quality Assurance.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Equality and Diversity	This chapter has been added.
Care Planning	This chapter has been added.
Risk Assessment and Planning	This chapter has been added.
Providing Personalised Care	This chapter has been added.
Health and Safety	This chapter has been added.
Leisure Activities	This chapter has been added.
Training and Development of Foster Carers	This chapter has been added.

April 2022

Caption: April 2022

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Contacts and Referrals	Links have been added to additional local information.
Assessments	Section 5, Focus on the Child has been updated to reference additional sources of information.
Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)	Section 3, Conducting Section 47 Enquiries has been updated to reference additional material in Local Resources.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	This chapter has been refreshed throughout.
Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings	This chapter has been refreshed throughout.
Complaints and Representations	This chapter has been amended to reflect the Children's Statutory Complaint Process: Guide for Practitioners (Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman) - see Further Information.
Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations	This chapter has been refreshed throughout.
Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff	This chapter has been refreshed throughout.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	This chapter has been refreshed and updated and includes links to related reports from the House of Commons Library (see Section 16, Further Information and Statutory Guidance).
Short Breaks	Information in relation to the prohibition on looked after children under the age of 16 being placed in 'other arrangements' placements for the purposes of a short break has been added into Section 7, Short Break Settings.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery	A link has been added to the Independent Child Trafficking Guardians Referral Form. In areas where the ICTG service has been implemented, if the social worker considers a child to be a potential victim of modern slavery, they should refer them to the ICTG service by completing the online referral form. Section 6.1, Placement Options has been updated in relation to placements in 'other arrangements' and Section 4, Assessment has also been updated in relation to Age Assessments.
Decision to Look After and Care Planning	Section 1.3, Section 20 Accommodation has been revised in line with the Public Law Working Group (PLWG) Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems.
Placements with Parents	Section 1, Planned Placements has been updated to add information on placements in 'other arrangements'.
Out of Area Placements	Section 6, Placements in Wales has been updated in line with updated Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review.
Placements Outside England and Wales	Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey has been updated in line with updated Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review.
Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation	Information in relation to children under the age of 16 being placed in 'other arrangements' placements has been added into Section 3, Local Authority Accommodation.
Education of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children	This chapter has been significantly amended to reflect the 'Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges (Ofsted)'; updated 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' (see Scope of this Chapter) and Sexual Harassment in Education – Briefing (House of Parliament Library) (see Section 8.2, Protecting looked after children from sexual harassment and peer on peer abuse). The chapter has also been amended to reflect Promoting the Education of Children with a Social Worker: Virtual School Head Role Extension.
Restrictive Physical Intervention	A link has been added to Guidance: Positive Environments Where Children Can Flourish (Ofsted).
Leaving Care and Transition	Links to the Local Offer for Care Leavers have been updated to go to updated local information in Local Resources.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Placements in Other Arrangements	This chapter has been added to the procedures manuals.

2021 Amendments

November 2021

Caption: November 2021

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Children's Consultation and Voice and Influence	This chapter has been revised throughout in line with local practice.
Capacity and Consent	Section 4.3, Consent to the Use of Medication to Suppress Puberty has been updated and a new Section 5.4, Consent to Life-ending Withdrawal of Medical Support has been added to reflect High Court judgments. Section 2.1, Consent to Information Sharing has been updated to reflect revisions contained in the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Contacts and Referrals	This chapter has been reviewed and updated to reflect guidance from the refreshed Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Assessments	This chapter has been amended to add a new section on 16 and 17 year olds who may be Homeless and/or require Accommodation and reflects the issue of Homelessness and the vulnerability of young people identified in Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	The link has been updated to the SWET (updated April 2021). Section 2, Pre-Proceedings has been updated to include information in relation to pre-birth assessments and planning where the mother has learning disabilities. The chapter has also been updated to reflect Practice Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council). See Section 9, Expectations of the Local Authority by the Court in particular.
Complaints and Representations	A link has been added to local information in Local Resources.
Access to Records/Subject Access Requests	A link has been added to local information in Local Resources.
Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery	Minor amendments have been made to this chapter in line with the UK's exit from the EEA.
Families with No Recourse to Public Funds	This chapter has been revised throughout.
Relinquished Children	This chapter has been updated to reflect case-law setting out lessons for the future in non-notification cases.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children	This chapter has been refreshed and a link added to House of Commons Library Briefing Paper: Criminal Injuries Compensation for Victims of Child Abuse.
Placements in Residential Care	This chapter has been updated to note that, from September 2021, looked after children under 16 years of age cannot be accommodated in unregulated independent or semi-independent placements.
Placements Outside England and Wales	Additional information has been added in relation to placements in Scotland, in line with a High Court case - see Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey.
Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers	A new Section 8.4, Consent to Life-ending Withdrawal of Medical Support has been added to reflect a High Court judgment.
Advocacy and Independent Visitors	This chapter has been revised throughout.
Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children	Information has been added on the School Admission Code in Section 6, When a Child Needs or Joins a New School.
Leaving Care and Transition	Section 6, Pathway Planning has been updated to note that, in relevant cases, immigration status should be included as a separate section on the Pathway Plan. This will help to ensure that young people who have been granted Pre-Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme apply to convert this to Settled Status at the appropriate. Pathway Plans should contain clear information about what action needs to be taken by whom and when to ensure that the young person's right to remain legally in the UK is jeopardised.
Fostering Panel	This chapter has been revised throughout.
Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers	This chapter has been revised throughout in line with local practice.
Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval	This chapter has been revised throughout in line with local practice.
Supervision and Support of Foster Carers	This chapter has been revised throughout in line with local practice.
Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers	This chapter has been revised throughout in line with local practice.
Allegations Against Foster Carers	This chapter has been revised throughout in line with local practice.
Applications for Special Guardianship Orders	This chapter has been updated to reflect Practice Guidance on Special Guardianship published by the Family Justice Council. See Section 6.2, Special Guardianship applications in care proceedings and new Section 16, Special Guardianship Orders in International Cases. Information has been added on the School Admission Code in Section 12, The Special Guardianship Support Plan.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and s75 of the Care Act 2014	This document has been added to the procedures.

May 2021

Caption: May 2021

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Capacity and Consent	This chapter has been updated to add information on a High Court case in relation to consent in the context of the use of medication to suppress puberty. Information has also been added in relation to NICE Quality Standard: Decision-Making and Mental Capacity.
Assessments	Links have been added to 'Social Work Assessment Practice Guidance' and 'Chronology Guidance' in Local Resources. Minor amendments have been made in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children amendments (December 2020).
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	Section 15, Resolving Disagreements has been updated to reference recent case-law holding that, as part of the mediation process, a parent/child/young person is entitled to bring along any supporter they wish, including a lawyer. Additional local information has been added in to Section 14, Young Carers and Parent Carers of Disabled Children in relation to Parent Carers. Links have been added to 'Transition Checkpoint' and 'Children with Disabilities Team Eligibility Criteria and Operational Framework' in Local Resources.
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	This chapter has been updated to add a link to Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG) to support the development of joint protocols that can help local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of care leavers (see new Section 4, Housing Protocols for Care Leavers).
Ceasing to Look After a Child	This chapter has been given a general refresh.
Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds	A new Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty When One or More of the Relevant Criteria Under Section 25 Children Act 1989 are Not Satisfied has been added. A revised link has been added to Secure Children's Homes, see Section 6, Placements of Children under the age of 13 Years.
Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children	This chapter has been updated to reflect minor changes from the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children (amendments to bullet points in Section 8.1, Child Protection Policy and Procedures).
Personal Care and Relationships	This chapter has been given a minor refresh.
Leaving Care and Transition	This chapter has been updated with a link to Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG) to support the development of joint protocols that can help local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of care leavers. Additional content has therefore been added in a new Section 8, Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers as well as Section 7, Reviews of Pathway Plans and Section 13, Where Care Leavers Live or Move to a Different Local Authority Area.
Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody	This chapter has been updated to reflect the Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice, Section 2.6 Care leavers leaving custody (DfE and MHCLG) (see Section 3.9, Planning for Release).
Removed Chapters
Social Work Practice Standards.

2020 Amendments

November 2020

Caption: November 2020

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Complaints and Representations	This chapter has been given a general refresh throughout.
Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery	This chapter has been updated. Section 11, Further Information has been updated to include a link to Statutory Guidance Modern Slavery: How to Identify and Support Victims.
Families with No Recourse to Public Funds	This chapter has been given a general refresh throughout.
Decision to Look After and Care Planning	This chapter has been amended. Updated Appendix 1: Options for Care Arrangements Letter has been added.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children	Minor amendments have been made. In Section 7, Appealing Decisions the address for the First Tier Tribunal has been updated.
Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds	This chapter has been updated. Section 6, Placements of Children under the age of 13, has been updated following publication of revised DfE guidance.
Notifications of Significant Events	This procedure has bene updated to reflect the latest Ofsted guidance for social care providers on the types of incident which they consider to be serious and which will therefore require notification to the regulatory authority.
Local Contacts	This chapter has been updated throughout.
List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers	This chapter has been updated throughout in line with local structure.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Capacity and Consent	This chapter has been added to the manual.
Storage of Data on Mobile Devices	This chapter has been added to the manual.
Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff	This chapter has been added to the manual.

May 2020

Caption: May 2020

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Assessments	This chapter has been updated in line with the new digital referral system for reporting potential victims of Modern Slavery.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	This chapter has been updated to reference and note the Family Court Justice Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (May 2019).
Recording Policy and Guidelines	This chapter has been amended to reflect the Ofsted Twitter Blog of 24/7/19 by Yvette Stanley, Ofsted's National Director for Social Care. The Blog highlights feedback from a number of inspections and explores what good recording should look like (Ofsted: developments in children's social care – What makes an effective case record?).
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	An update has been made in Section 1, Principles to draw attention to OFSTED's advice that Local Authorities should exercise due diligence in ensuring schools for pupils with SEN are registered with the DFE. The same diligence should be exercised on behalf of pupils with SEN.
Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery	This chapter has been updated to take account of the new NRM digital referral form to report Modern Slavery.
Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews	This chapter was reviewed to clarify arrangements relating to Looked After reviews and secure accommodation reviews.
Notifications of Significant Events	This procedure has been updated to reflect revised guidance issued by Ofsted to Children's Homes Providers in August 2019. The revised guidance sought to clarify what is meant by a 'serious event' in relation to a child living in a Children's Homes with the aim of reducing the overall number of notifications made to Ofsted, and in particular reducing the number of repeat notifications made as a result of submitting additional / updated information.
Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children	This chapter has been updated to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019 which replaces the 2018 version. Section 8, Safeguarding the Looked After Child at School has been amended to include reference to Upskirting (which is now a criminal offence) and serious violence. In Section 1.3, Role of the Local Authority, Virtual School Head (VSH), and School, OFSTED's advice that Local Authorities should exercise due diligence in ensuring schools for LAC pupils are registered with the DFE has been added.
Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers	A link has been added to Attending an IRM Panel: Information Sheets.
Supervision and Support of Foster Carers	This chapter has been updated to reflect in more detail the foster carer's role and responsibilities with respect to Fostering National Minimum Standards – Notification of Significant Events and relevant aspects of Schedule 6 The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011.
Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers	A link has been added to Attending an IRM Panel: Information Sheets.
Allegations Against Foster Carers	This chapter was reviewed and refreshed, and terminology has been updated where required.
Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters	A link has been added to Attending an IRM Panel: Information Sheets.
Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records	A link has been added to Attending an IRM Panel: Information Sheets.
Applications for Special Guardianship Orders	This chapter has been updated to reference and reflect the Family Court Justice Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.
Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance	This chapter has been updated to note the Family Court Justice Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (May 2019).

2019 Amendments

October 2019

Caption: October 2019

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Children's Consultation and Participation	The Related Guidance section has been updated to add supporting resources with regard to children's consultation and participation.
Social Work Practice Standards	An updated version of this local guidance has been added.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	This chapter has been amended to reflect changes from 'Practice Direction 27a - Family Proceedings: Court Bundles (Universal Practice to be Applied in the High Court and Family Court)', in relation to the required maximum length of certain court documents, (unless otherwise specifically directed by the court). The chapter has also been amended to reflect HHJ Greensmith's comments in Re: M and N (Children: local authority gathering, preserving and disclosing evidence), which made clear the need for good practice in relation to note-taking and record-keeping, and disclosure of relevant evidence to all parties. Section 2.4 Pre-Proceedings Meeting has been updated in line with local practice, in relation to returning the case to pre-proceedings panel at seven weeks to consider if care proceedings are appropriate at that time, or if further work is to be completed.
Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child in Need)	This chapter has been revised throughout to reflect revised arrangements for reporting a serious incident to the Panel via the Child Safeguarding Incident Notification System.
Recording Policy and Guidelines	This chapter has been amended to reflect HHJ Greensmith's comments regarding M and N (Children: Local authority gathering, preserving and disclosing evidence) [2018] EWFC 40 (1 June 2018).
Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery	New Section 6, Suitable Placements has been added. Details of the National Transfer Scheme Protocol for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Version 2.0 March 2018 were added into Section 1, Introduction and Definitions.
Private Fostering	This chapter has been amended to confirm in After the Private Fostering Arrangement Ends that any request for support by the young person should be made to the local authority in which they are resident or where the education and training is being provided. Appendix 1: Private Fostering Arrangements Identified Flowchart has been added.
Decision to Look After and Care Planning	This chapter has been amended to reflect Section 3 of the Care Planning and Care Leavers (Amendment) Regulations 2014. The Care Plan must identify whether there is reason to believe the child has been trafficked or is an unaccompanied asylum seeker. An updated version has been added of Appendix 1: Section 20 Accommodation Letter Template.
Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds	In section 8.1 The Application, the links to forms C1 and C20 have been updated.
Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children	This chapter has been amended to include a link to the Leaving Care and Transition Procedure in relation to Personal Adviser visits to 'Relevant' or 'Former Relevant' young people.
Notifications of Significant Events	This chapter has been revised throughout.
Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children	This chapter has been revised throughout. It incorporates changes introduced by the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and updated Keeping Children Safe in Education (2018). A new section has been added with regard to Unaccompanied Migrant Children, and the role of the Virtual School Head in relation to Previously Looked After children is emphasised.
Leaving Care and Transition	Amendments have been made in: Section 5, Leaving Care Assessment of Need - in relation to children who are victims of trafficking or unaccompanied asylum seeking children; Section 7, Reviews of Pathway Plans - in relation to Relevant/Former Relevant young people moving to 'unregulated' accommodation; and Section 8, Personal Advisers - in relation to frequency of visits by Personal Advisers.
Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers	Additional information has been added in to section 4.1 Checks, in relation to the application process for criminal records checks or 'Certificates of Good Character' for someone from overseas.
Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters	This chapter has been amended to remove references to the Adoption Register.
Placement for Adoption	This chapter has been amended to remove references to the Adoption Register.
Local Contacts	Updated: South Tees Multi Agency Children's Hub (MACH); Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO); Children with Disability Team.
List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers	This chapter has been updated throughout in line with local structure.
Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings	This chapter reflects statutory guidance in relation to children who are placed by health authorities or local authorities for more than 3 months in residential establishments for educational purposes and children placed in care homes or independent hospitals (including hospices) by health authorities or local authorities (Sections 85 and 86 of the Children Act 1989).