Amendments
November 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Initial Contacts and Referrals | This chapter has been updated in line with Working Together. |
| Assessments | This chapter has been amended in line with the revised Working Together. There is additional information on assessing families from abroad and the National Referral Mechanism. |
| Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) | This chapter has been revised in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | Section 15.1, Registering an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability) has been updated in line with case law. |
| Personal Budgets and Direct Payments | This chapter has been revised and information about Personal Budgets added. |
| Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings | Information has been added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Links to sources of further information have been updated. |
| Kinship Care | This chapter has been updated to reflect Championing Kinship Care: The National Kinship Care strategy. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been revised throughout. |
| Children & Young People's Guide to Financial Help and Support 2024/2025 | This PDF document has been replaced with an updated version. |
| Waltham Forest Care Leaver’s Offer | This PDF document has been replaced with an updated version. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | Information on Ofsted checks has been added into Section 4.1, Checks. |
| Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | Information has been added to Section 3, Stage One - The Pre-Assessment Process, with details on how to request information about an applicant from Ofsted. |
| Placement for Adoption | Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness has been updated in line with case-law. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Next Update: May 2025 |
May 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles | This chapter has been revised in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. |
| Relationship-Based Practice with Families | This chapter has been updated. |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, and Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24) | This chapter has been updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children. A new Section 3, Death of a Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24 has also been added. |
| Recording Policy and Guidance | This guidance has been updated in the timescales for the recording of visits has been revised. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | Section 15, Resolving Disagreements has been updated to include information on Guidance: Carry Out an Order in Special Educational Needs Cases. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | A link to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance has been added in Section 4, Age Assessment. A link to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance has been added in Further Information. |
| Family and Friends Care | Section 4, Different Situations whereby Children may be Living with Family and Friend Carers has been updated to include information about Ukrainian children being cared for by family and friends in the UK. |
| Young Carers | This chapter has been revised. |
| Placements with Connected Persons | This chapter has been revised. |
| 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. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This chapter has been updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, to note that notifications should also be made of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24. |
| Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance | This chapter has been updated. |
| Adoption Service Statement of Purpose | This chapter has been updated. |
| Adoption Support | This chapter has been updated with a link to Adoption Support Services provided by Coram. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated. Information has been added into Section 17, Special Guardian Duty on the Death of the Child, that the relevant local authority should be notified if the child was previously a looked after child. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| London Borough of Waltham Forest Private Fostering Statement of Purpose | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Waltham Forest Care Leaver’s Offer | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Social Work PQ & CPD Enrichment Programme 2023 - 2024 | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
November 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | Amendments have been made to reflect case-law in relation to assessing legal capacity. |
| Public Law Outline Toolkit | This chapter has been updated throughout. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been updated 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. Information in relation to legal aid for foster carers and prospective adoptive parents in First Tier Tribunal appeals has also been added into Section 15, Resolving Disagreements. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been updated. Section 2, Responsibility of the Local Authority 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. 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. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | Section 2, Ordinary Residence has been updated in line with case law. |
| 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 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 Other Arrangements | This chapter has been updated throughout to reflect supported accommodation for 16 - 17 year old becoming regulated by OFSTED. |
| Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been revised throughout and replaces one previously entitled Education of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children. |
| Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK | This guidance has been updated to cover recording standards in relation to temporary accommodation arrangements in instances where the child/young person's regular foster carer is away from home on a holiday or is having a break from caring for the child (see Section 4, Recording standards: temporary accommodation arrangements where the child or young person’s regular foster carer is away from home on a holiday or is having a break from caring for the child or young person). |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | Information in relation to allergies has been added into Section 4, Health Plans. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been amended to note that with effect from 1 April 2023, the leaving care allowance increased from £2,000 to £3,000. |
| Foster Carers Charter | This chapter has been updated. |
| Foster Carers Handbook | This chapter has been updated. |
| Adoption Service Statement of Purpose | This chapter has been updated. |
| Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters | This chapter has been revised and a link added to National Early Permanence Practice Standards (Coram Centre for Early Permanence). |
| Quality Assurance Framework | The Audit Framework has been updated. |
| Induction Handbook Social Care New Employee Guidance | The induction handbook has been revised and is presented as a PowerPoint presentation. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Health and Safety | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| OFSTED Inspection Framework | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
May 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Case Records for Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated in relation to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been updated to include information from Guidance: Area SEND Inspections Framework and Handbook (November 2022). |
| Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings | This chapter has been updated in line with the UK Social Work Practice in Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People report. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been amended to include a link to Self-harm: Assessment, Management and Preventing Recurrence NICE Guidance in the Further Information section. |
| Decision to Look After | The information about the use of 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). |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter has been updated to incorporate Ofsted feedback. |
| 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 amended to include information from the revised OFSTED inspection framework. |
| Fostering Service Statement of Purpose | The latest version has been added to the manual. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new section on The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern has been added. |
| Adoption Service Statement of Purpose | The latest version has been added to the manual. |
| 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 on The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern has been added. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Public Law Working Group Best Practice Guidance which addresses the lawful extension of care proceedings beyond 26 weeks in Special Guardianship cases. |
| Quality Assurance Framework | Audit Framework has been updated. |
| Practice Observation Framework | Practice Observation Framework has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Public Law Outline Toolkit | This is the latest local Legal Guidance, it has guidance documents and templates to support professionals working with children and families when making decisions and provides support at the "right time", without delay resulting in the best outcomes for children. |
| Waltham Forest Corporate Parenting Strategy September 2022 - 2023 | This strategy sets out the commitment from Waltham Forest to looked after children in the borough. |
| Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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November 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | 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. |
| Decision to Look After | To provide greater clarity, this chapter has been subdivided into separate chapters on the Decision To Look After and Care Planning. |
| Care Planning | To provide greater clarity, this chapter has been subdivided into separate chapters on the Decision To Look After and Care Planning. |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | This chapter has been updated to clarify the information with regard to Relinquished Children. |
| Placements in Foster Care | This chapter has been amended to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move. |
| Placements in Residential Care | This chapter has been amended to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move. |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | The section on Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey was 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. |
| 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. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | The section on Supervised Contact has been updated to reflect a finding by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman that the supervisor's observations of the contact must be clearly recorded in the child's record and shared with the parents within 3 months of the visit. |
| Staying Put Policy & Arrangements | This chapter, previously entitled 'Staying Put Protocol' has been amended throughout. |
| Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services | The information with regard to who can act as an Appropriate Adult has been updated. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has minor revisions throughout. |
| Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | This chapter has minor revisions and updates to links. |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter has minor revisions throughout. |
| Adoption Support | This chapter has minor revisions throughout. |
| Disruption of Adoptive Placements | This chapter has minor revisions throughout. |
| Supervision Policy & Resource Toolkit | This policy has been updated to the current version. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Equality and Diversity | This procedure summarises the local authority's commitment to provide inclusive and equal services to a diverse range of children and young people, and to promote equality and diversity as part of our recruitment and employment practices. |
| Providing Personalised Care | Personalised care is: Care which meets each child's needs and promotes their welfare, taking into account the child's gender, religion, ethnicity, cultural and linguistic background, sexual identity, mental health, any disability, their assessed needs, previous experiences and any relevant plans. This chapter outlines the responsibility of Foster carers/residential staff to provide personalised care to meet the needs of individual children. |
| Case Discussion Supervision Template | This form compliments the Supervision Policy and should be used to record supervision sessions. |
July 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Relationship-Based Practice with Families (July 2022) | This document has been updated. |
June 2022
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Relationship-Based Practice with Families | This document explains the principles of the Relational Practice Model. |
May 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Early Help Quality Assurance Framework and Guidance Notes | This framework has been updated and should be re-read. |
| Thresholds and Practice for Working with Children and Families in Waltham Forest | This procedure has been updated and should be re-read. |
| Capacity and Consent | The information on consent to the use of medication to suppress puberty has been updated in line with caselaw. |
| Transfer Protocol | This protocol has been updated. |
| Public Law Outline, Public and Private Law Proceedings | This chapter has been updated to include recommendations of the Public Law Working Group and Family Justice Hub. |
| Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings | This chapter has been revised to include links to the Public Law Working Group Best practice guidance and support for families prior to court proceedings. |
| Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations | The section on recordings made by service users acting in a personal capacity has been updated in accordance with caselaw. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | The information on resolving disagreements has been updated in line with the first-tier Tribunal's extended powers to hear appeals and make non-binding recommendations. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been revised to take into account that the National transfer scheme protocol for unaccompanied asylum seeking children has become mandatory for all local authorities. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been updated to reflect caselaw regarding the definition of ordinary residence. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | The information on 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. |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | Guidance has been added regarding transferring a child's belongings in appropriate luggage. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | The information on the use of inherent jurisdiction to authorise a placement involving a deprivation of liberty has been updated in line with caselaw. |
| Education of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education. Schools should have policies and processes in place to ensure all concerns about all adults working in or on behalf of the school or college (including supply teachers, volunteers and contractors) are dealt with promptly and appropriately. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint | The scope of this chapter has been extended to include guidance on the use of restraint. |
| Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) | This questionnaire has been updated. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | A link has been added to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move. |
| Children & Young People's Guide to Financial Help and Support | This guidance has been updated. |
| Adoption Service Statement of Purpose | The statement of purpose has been updated. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | The information about the Coram Ambitious For Adoption national campaign has been updated. |
| Waltham Forest Continuing Professional Development Programme: Social Care April 2022 - April 2023 | The development programme has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Families At The Heart Of Our Place Strategy | This strategy has been added to the manual. |
| Wellbeing and Independent Strategy 2020/22 | This strategy has been added to the manual. |
| London Child Exploitation Operating Protocol 2021 | This protocol has been added to the manual. |
| Exploitation and Risk Panel (ERP) | This guidance has been added to the manual. |
| Sufficiency Strategy Children or Young people Looked After & Care Leavers 2021-2024 | This strategy has been added to the manual and replaces the previous procedure. |
| Waltham Forest Continuing Professional Development Programme: Childrens Social Care April 2022 – April 2023 | This development programme has been updated. |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter replaces one entitled behaviour management and safe caring and contains advice based on best practice guidance. |
November 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles | Links to Waltham Forest Workforce Development Strategy, Recruitment and Retention Strategy and Well-Being and Independent Strategy have been added to this chapter. |
| 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. |
| Initial Contacts and Referrals | This chapter has been revised and updated as required to reflect guidance from the refreshed Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Public Law Outline, Public and Private Law Proceedings | This chapter has been updated to reflect the practice guidance on Special Guardianship particularly the expectations of the local authority by the Court. |
| Complaints and Representations | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Children's Statutory Complaint Process: Guide for Practitioners. |
| Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations | Information has been added on recording by employees in a professional capacity and links added to relevant guidance. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been revised and updated throughout and links added to relevant reports from the House of Commons library. |
| Short Breaks | Information has been added 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. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant 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'. Section 4, Assessment has been updated in relation to Age Assessments. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been amended to take account of the U.K.'s withdrawal from the EU and reflect the U.K.'s exit from the EEA. |
| Family and Friends Care | This chapter has been revised throughout and a new Section 7, Education has been added containing information on the School Admission Code. |
| Relinquished Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect case-law setting out lessons for the future in non-notification cases. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | A new Section 2, Ordinary Residence has been added. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | A link has been added to the Permanency Tracking Meeting -Terms of Reference, this meeting replaces the Permanency Planning Meeting, Court Tracking Panel and Permanency Tracking Panel. |
| Permanence Planning Guidance | A link has been added to the Permanency Tracking Meeting -Terms of Reference, this meeting replaces the Permanency Planning Meeting, Court Tracking Panel and Permanency Tracking Panel. |
| Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children | This chapter has been revised and a link added to House of Commons Library Briefing Paper: Criminal Injuries Compensation for Victims of Child Abuse. |
| Placements with Parents | The information on Planned Placements has been updated to add information on placements in 'other arrangements'. |
| 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 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. Section 6, Placements of Children under the age of 13 Years has been updated following publication of revised DfE guidance. |
| 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 to include additional information has been added in relation to placements in Scotland, in line with a High Court case. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | Information has been added in relation to children under the age of 16 being placed in "other arrangements" placements. |
| Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers | A new Section 7.4, 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 updated and revised throughout and links to local services added. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been amended to reflect the 'Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges (Ofsted)'; updated 'Keeping Children Safe in and Sexual Harassment in Education – Briefing (House Of Parliament Library), and Protecting looked after children from sexual harassment and child on child abuse). The chapter has also been amended to reflect Promoting the Education of Children with a Social Worker: Virtual School Head Role Extension. |
| 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 not jeopardised. |
| Children & Young People's Guide to Financial Help and Support | This is the 2021/22 version of this guide. |
| 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). |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | A link has been added to the scope box regarding the Recruitment of Adopters for Coram Ambitious for Adoption campaign. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | Information has been added on the School Admission Code in Section 12, The Special Guardianship Support Plan. It has also 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. |
| Induction Handbook for Managers | This guidance has been updated. |
| Induction Handbook New Employee's Guidance | This guidance has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Supervision Policy & Resource Toolkit | This is the policy statement and guidance for providing quality supervision for practitioners. |
| Placements in Other Arrangements | The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review provides that the assessment of the child's needs to inform their Care Plan or Pathway Plan may conclude that for some children, these needs will be best met by a placement in 'other arrangements'. This chapter sets out the statutory guidance for placements in regulated and unregulated settings. |
| Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) | This document has been added to the manual. All local authorities in England have been required to provide information on the emotional and behavioural health of children and young people in their care, and to report back to central government on an annual basis. Data is collected by local authorities through the completion of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) on individual children. |
| Foster Carers Charter | This document has been added to the manual. |
| Foster Carers Handbook | This document has been added to the manual. |
May 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | Information has been added in relation to NICE Quality Standard: Decision-Making and Mental Capacity. It has also been updated to include information on a High Court case in relation to consent in the context of the use of medication to suppress puberty. |
| Assessments | This chapter has been amended to add a new Section 15, 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. |
| Complaints and Representations | Information contained in this procedure has been reviewed and refreshed as required. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been amended. 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. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been extensively revised throughout. |
| 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 Section 4, Housing Protocols for Care Leavers). |
| 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. Section 6, Placements of Children under 13 years has been updated following publication of revised DfE guidance. |
| Advocacy and Independent Visitors | A link has been added to the National Standards for the Provision of Independent Visitor Services and additional information added about the termination of appointment of an independent visitor. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This procedure has been 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. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect changes from the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK | This guidance has been reviewed and updated throughout. Section 2.3, Insurance Cover has been updated to include details of how to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which provides access to reduced cost or free medical insurance in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Section 2.4, Obtaining a Passport has also been updated to link to reissued Home Office guidance for Local Authorities Children's Services Departments when Applying for Passports on Behalf of Children. |
| 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 Leaver 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 Section 2.6 Care leavers leaving custody in Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG) 2020 (see Section 3.9, Planning for Release). |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | A revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. |
| Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers | A revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | A revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. |
| Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records | This chapter has been given a general refresh throughout and information added on applying for a copy of a birth certificate online. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter describes the duty of Aftercare when a child or care leaver is discharged from hospital after having been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. |
February 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Recording Policy and Guidance | This guidance has been updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Different Ways of Working in Light of COVID 19 - Policy and Guidance | This guidance has been added to the manual. |
January 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Social Media Protocol | This protocol has been updated to include a chart of general guidelines for maintaining social media security. |
