Skip to main content
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council logo


Top of page

Size: View this website with small text View this website with medium text View this website with large text View this website with high visibility

Stockport Children's Services Procedure Manual: Contents

Quick Links:
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. Prevention and Family Support
  4. Children in Particular Circumstances
  5. Looked After Children
  6. Fostering and Adoption
  7. Appendices, Local Contacts and Agency Decision Makers


1. All Children

CAPTION: contents 1
   

1.1

Policy Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children’s Services Policies, Values and Principles  
1.1.2 Confidentiality Policy  
1.1.3 Consultation Policy  
1.1.4 Supervision Policy  
1.1.5 Stockport Family Social Work Induction Protocol  
1.1.6 Capacity and Consent Updated
1.1.7 Equality and Diversity  

   

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Early Help Assessment (Stockport Council website)  
1.2.2 Stockport Multi-Agency Step Up/Step Down Protocol  
1.2.3 The Role of Independent Reviewing Officers in Providing Safeguarding Consultation and in Team Around the Child Meetings  
  See also: Neglect Procedure
(Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures)		  
  Aspire Complex Safeguarding Service Procedures
(Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures)		  
  Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  

   

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Initial Contacts and Referrals  
1.3.2 Assessments  
1.3.3 Children and Family Assessment and Planning Framework  
1.3.4 Section 47 Enquires  
  See also Neglect Procedure
(Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures)		  

   

1.4

Allocation of Work and Transfer between Teams

  
1.4.1 Allocation Process  
1.4.2 Management of Case Transfers in Children's Social Care  
1.4.3 Case Holding Procedures for Student Social Workers  
1.4.4 Multi-Agency Safeguarding and Support Hub (MASSH) to Children’s Social Care Transfer Protocol  

   

1.5

Court 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 Meetings Procedures  
1.5.4 Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings
(Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures)		  
1.5.5 North West Pre-Care and Care Proceedings Notification and Transfer across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure  
1.5.6 Greater Manchester Section 37 and Section 7 Reports Protocol  
  See also Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS) - This hosts a series of practical resources, such as templates, tools and practice guidance, which will be of interest to those working in the family justice system  

   

1.6

Miscellaneous

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

   

1.7

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.7.1 Children's Social Care Complaints Procedures  
1.7.2 Whistleblowing  
1.7.3 Raising Concerns at Work: Whistleblowing Guidance for Workers and Employers in Health and Social Care (2014)  
  See also: Raising Concerns at Work  
1.7.4 Whistleblowing to Ofsted about Children’s Social Care Services  
  See also: Whistleblowing Helpline - Speak Up  
  and Protect Advice  

   

1.8

Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty

  
1.8.1 Mental Capacity  
1.8.2 Deprivation of Liberty  


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 North West Protocol with Greater Manchester Police in relation to Public Interest Immunity  
2.5 Social Work Chronology  
2.6 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.7 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  
2.8 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  


3. Prevention and Family Support

CAPTION: contents 3
   
3.1 North West Children's Improvement Programme: Integrated Early Help Strategy  
3.2 Team around the Child Plans and Reviews  
3.3 Private Fostering  
3.4 Section 17 and CLA Maintenance Guidance for Social Workers  
3.5 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

   

3.6

Edge of Care

  

3.6.1

Families First

  
  Stockport Families First Team Procedures  

   

3.6.2

Family Group Conferences

  
  Family Group Conferencing Procedure  
  Family Group Conference Two Page Guide  


4. Children in Particular Circumstances

CAPTION: contents 4
       

4.1

Missing Children and Young People

  
  Pan-Greater Manchester Protocol on Missing Children and Young People  
  See also: Greater Manchester Runaway and Missing from Home and Care Protocol (RMFHC)  
4.2 Aspire - Stockport Family Complex Safeguarding Team Procedure  

   

4.3

Children with Disabilities

  
4.3.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities  
4.3.2 Direct Payments  
4.3.3 Short Breaks Policy  
4.3.4 Short Breaks Statement (2021 - 2022)  
4.3.5 Short Breaks Direct Payments (User Friendly)  
4.3.6 The Care Act 2014: Transition to Adult Care and Support  
4.3.7 0-25 SEND Personal Budgets (Full Policy)  
4.3.8 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings Updated
4.3.9 Carers’ Assessments of Parents of Disabled Children  

   

4.4

Children from Abroad

  
4.4.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery  
4.4.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds Updated
4.4.3 Interpretation and Translation Policy  
  See also: What is a Suitable Placement for an Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child? (DfE)  
  Asylum Seekers with Care Needs (Home Office Guidance)  

   
  See also guidance on:  

4.5

Cases with a Foreign Element in the Greater Manchester Safeguarding Procedures

  
  4.5.1 Cross-border Child Protection Cases: The 1996 Hague Convention  
  4.5.2 Guidance: The International Child Abduction and Contact Unit  


 

4.6

Cases Crossing Local Authority Boundaries

  
  4.6.1 North West Children in Need Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries  
  4.6.2 North West Notification and Transfer of Children Subject of Child Protection Plans across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure  
    See also: North West Pre-Care and Care Proceedings Notification and Transfer across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure  

   

4.7

Provision of Accommodation for Children under PACE (Greater Manchester Safeguarding Procedures)

  
  4.7.1 Joint Protocol for Considering Requests for the Provision of Accommodation under PACE (Greater Manchester Local Authorities and Greater Manchester Police)  
  4.7.2 Pace Contacts for Greater Manchester  

   

4.8

Young Carers

  
4.8.1 Young Carers  

   

4.9

Mental Health

  
4.9.1 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983  


5. Looked After Children

CAPTION: contents 5
   

5.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
5.1.1 Decision to Look After Updated
5.1.2 Care Planning  
5.1.3 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children  
5.1.4 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
5.1.5 Family Finding and Matching Policy - Permanent Foster Placements  
5.1.6 Disruption Meetings  
5.1.7 Placements in Foster Care  
5.1.8 Placements in Residential Care  
5.1.9 Out of Area Placements  
5.1.10 Placements with Family and Friends / Connected Persons (Regulation 24)  
5.1.11 Family and Friends Care Policy  
5.1.12 Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment: A Good Practice Guide (Family Rights Group)  
5.1.13 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Updated
5.1.14 Placements with Parents  
5.1.15 Placements Outside England and Wales  
5.1.16 Notifications from Other Local Authorities  
5.1.17 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
5.1.18 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
5.1.19 Child Trust Funds and Junior Individual Savings Accounts for Looked After Children  
5.1.20 Criminal Injuries Compensation for Looked After Children  
5.1.21 What is a Suitable Placement for an Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child?  
5.1.22 Meeting the Needs of Looked After Children: an Aide Memoire  
5.1.23 Parent and Child Foster Placements - Policy, Procedure and Placement Preparation  
5.1.24 Pre Birth / Pre Placement  
5.1.25 Parent and Child Placement Agreement (Contract)  
5.1.26 Preparation for Parent and Child Placement Agreement Checklist  
5.1.27 Parent and Child Foster Placements Information Booklet  
5.1.28 Placements in Other Arrangements  
5.1.29 Stockport's Local Agency Protocol on Reducing Unnecessary Criminalisation of Looked-after Children and Care Leavers  
5.1.30 Risk Assessment and Planning  
5.1.31 Providing Personalised Care Updated
5.1.32 Health and Safety  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  

   

5.2

Monitoring and Reviews

  
5.2.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children  
5.2.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
5.2.3 Looked After Reviews  
5.2.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers  
5.2.5 Monitoring Role of IROs  
5.2.6 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
5.2.7 Notifications of Significant Events  

   

5.3

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
5.3.1 Contact with Parents and Siblings  
5.3.2 Overnight Stays and Social Visits  

   

5.4

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
5.4.1 Holidays and School Trips in and Outside the UK  
5.4.2 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Updated
5.4.3 Leisure Activities  

   

5.5

Health and Wellbeing

  
5.5.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
5.5.2 Pathway for LAC Initial Heath Assessments  
5.5.3 Personal Care and Relationships  
5.5.4 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
5.5.5 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  
5.5.6 Blood Borne Infections/HIV  
  See also: Practice Guidance: Supporting Young People with HIV Testing and Prevention  
5.5.7 Guidance for Foster Carers in Promoting the Health Needs of Looked After Children  
  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)  

   

5.6

Identity

  
5.6.1 Change of Name of a Looked After Child  
5.6.2 Marriage / Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child  
5.6.3 Life Story Work for Looked After Children Guidance  

   

5.7

Leaving Care and Transition

  
  See also: Care Leavers Charter  
  National Protocol: Inter-Authority Arrangements for Care Leavers  
5.7.1 Leaving Care and Transition  
5.7.2 Financial Policy for Looked After Children Preparing for the Transition to Adulthood and Care Leavers  
5.7.3 Leaving Care Local Offer and Entitlements: A Guide For Young People  
5.7.4 Looked After Children Joining the Armed Forces  
5.7.5 Staying Put Policy  
5.7.6 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
5.7.7 Care Leavers Local Assistance Protocol with Job Centres  
5.7.8 Get Ready for Adult Life - Young Peoples' Toolkit  
5.7.9 Policy for Care Leavers once Statutory Duties and Responsibilities Cease  
5.7.10 Partnership Agreement between Stockport Homes and Stockport Council to Respond to Young People with Accommodation Needs  
5.7.11 Starter Flat Operating Procedures  
5.7.12 Staying Closer Flat Operating Procedures  
  See also Stockport's Local Agency Protocol on Reducing Unnecessary Criminalisation of Looked-after Children and Care Leavers  

   

5.8

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
5.8.1 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
5.8.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
5.8.3 Stockport Youth Offending Service and Children’s Social Care Principles of Working  
5.8.4 Youth Justice Services GM Agreement
(Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures)		  
5.8.5 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance  
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
  and Joint Protocol for Considering Requests for the Provision of Accommodation under PACE (Greater Manchester Local Authorities and Greater Manchester Police)  


6. Fostering and Adoption

CAPTION: contents 6
   

6.1

Fostering Services

  
  See also: Guidance for Foster Carers in Promoting the Health Needs of Looked After Children  
6.1.1 Fostering Panel  
6.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
6.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
6.1.4 Exemptions and Variations  
6.1.5 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
6.1.6 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
6.1.7 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters

   

6.2

Adoption and Permanence

  
6.2.1 Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters  
6.2.2 Adoption Panel  
6.2.3 Placement for Adoption  
6.2.4 Adoption Health and Safety Guidelines  
6.2.5 Adoption Support  
6.2.6 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
6.2.7 Adoption Reviews  
6.2.8 Disruption of Adoptive Placements - Adoption 22  
6.2.9 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
6.2.10 Inter Country Adoption  
6.2.11 Non Agency Adoption  
6.2.12 Adoption Case Records  
6.2.13 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
6.2.14 Intermediary Services  
6.2.15 Application for Special Guardianship Orders Updated
6.2.16 Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  
6.2.17 Later Life Letters  
6.2.18 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters Updated
6.2.19 Relinquished Children  
  See also: Life Story Work for Looked After Children Guidance  


7. Appendices, Local Contacts and Agency Decision Makers

7.1 Local Contacts  
7.2 Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
7.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
7.4 Amendments  
7.5 Ofsted Inspection Framework New

End