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. Children in Particular Circumstances
  4. Looked After Children
  5. Fostering and Adoption
  6. Audit & Practice Improvement
  7. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices


1. All Children

Caption: section 1 contents
     

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Families At The Heart Of Our Place Strategy  
1.1.2 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles  
1.1.3 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.4 Strategic Partnership Boards  
1.1.5 Equality and Diversity  


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Early Help Quality Assurance Framework and Guidance Notes  
1.2.2 Thresholds and Practice for Working with Children and Families in Waltham Forest  
1.2.3 Multi-Agency Referral of a Child in Need to Social Services  
1.2.4 Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)  
1.2.5 Capacity and Consent  
1.2.6 Wellbeing and Independent Strategy 2020/22  


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
  Relationship-Based Practice with Families (May 2024)  
1.3.1 Initial Contacts and Referrals Updated
1.3.2 Assessments Updated
1.3.3 Pre-Birth Assessment Procedure and Guidance  
1.3.4 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) Updated
  See also: London Safeguarding Children Procedures  
1.3.5 Transfer Protocol  
1.3.6 Process for Requests for Planned EDT Work  
1.3.7 Children Subject to CP Plans who go on Holiday within the UK and Abroad  
1.3.8 Children Who Go Missing from Home, Care and Education  


 

1.4

Prevention and Family Support

  
1.4.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  
1.4.2 Child Protection Plans  
1.4.3 Family Group Conferences  


 

1.5

Legal Proceedings

  
1.5.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.5.2 Public Law Outline Toolkit  
1.5.3 Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings  
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 or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)  


2. Case Management and Recording

Caption: section 2 contents
     
2.1 Recording Policy and Guidance  
  See also: Different Ways of Working in Light of COVID 19 - Policy and Guidance  
2.2 Case Records for Looked After Children  
2.3 Access to Records/Subject Access Requests  
2.4 Confidentiality Policy  
2.5 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.6 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  


3. Children in Particular Circumstances

Caption: section 3 contents
     

3.1

Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

  
3.1.1 Disabled Childrens Team  
3.1.2 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
3.1.3 Personal Budgets and Direct Payments Updated
3.1.4 Short Breaks  
3.1.5 Preparation for the 1st Looked After Review for Short Breaks (where Reg 48 is Applicable)  
3.1.6 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings Updated
3.1.7 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework New
  For information regarding Respite and Short Breaks services, please see: Local Resources Library.  


 

3.2

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
3.2.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
3.2.2 Mental Capacity  


 

3.3

Children from Abroad

  
3.3.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
3.3.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  


 

3.4

Homelessness

  
3.4.1 Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer  


 

3.5

Family and Friends Care

  
3.5.1 Kinship Care Updated
3.5.2 Private Fostering  
3.5.3 London Borough of Waltham Forest Private Fostering Statement of Purpose  
3.5.4 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New


 

3.6

Young Carers

  
3.6.1 Young Carers  


 

3.7

Relinquished Children

  
3.7.1 Relinquished Children  


 

3.8

Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

  
3.8.1 Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation  
3.8.2 London Child Exploitation Operating Protocol 2021  
3.8.3 Exploitation and Risk Panel (ERP)  


 

3.9

Mental Health

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


4. Looked After Children

Caption: section 4 contents
     

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
  Waltham Forest Corporate Parenting Strategy September 2022 - 2023  
4.1.1 Sufficiency Strategy Children or Young people Looked After & Care Leavers 2021-2024  
4.1.2 Decision to Look After  
4.1.3 Care Planning  
4.1.4 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.5 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
4.1.6 Introduction Planning and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.7 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  
4.1.8 Savings for Children and Young People in Waltham Forest  
4.1.9 Providing Personalised Care  


 

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 Placements in Residential Care  
4.2.5 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds  
4.2.6 Out of Area Placements  
4.2.7 Placements Outside England and Wales  
4.2.8 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.2.9 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.10 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.2.11 Placements in Other Arrangements  
4.2.12 Health and Safety  


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

  
4.3.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children  
4.3.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
4.3.3 Looked After Reviews  
4.3.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers  
4.3.5 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
4.3.6 Notifications of Significant Events  


 

4.4

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.4.1 Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings  
4.4.2 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)  


 

4.5

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.5.1 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement 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  


 

4.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
4.6.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
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 Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)  


 

4.7

Change of Name and Marriage

  
4.7.1 Change of Name of a Looked After Child  
4.7.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child  


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

  
4.8.1 Leaving Care and Transition  
4.8.2 Staying Put Policy & Arrangements  
4.8.3 Children & Young People's Guide to Financial Help and Support 2024/2025 Updated
4.8.4 Waltham Forest Care Leaver’s Offer Updated
  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: section 5 contents
     

5.1

Fostering Services

  
  Fostering Service Statement of Purpose  
  Foster Carers Charter  
  Foster Carers Handbook  
5.1.1 Adoption and Fostering Panel  
5.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Updated
5.1.4 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.5 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
5.1.6 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.7 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
  Adoption Service Statement of Purpose  
  See also: Adopting in Waltham Forest and Adoption Information Pack  
5.2.1 Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters Updated
5.2.2 Adoption and Fostering Panel  
5.2.3 Placement for Adoption Updated
5.2.4 Adoption Support  
5.2.5 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.6 Adoption Reviews  
5.2.7 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
5.2.9 Relinquishing a Child for Adoption  
5.2.10 Inter Country Adoption  
5.2.11 Non Agency Adoption  
5.2.12 Adoption Case Records  
5.2.13 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
5.2.14 Intermediary Services  
5.2.15 Life Story Books Guidance  
5.2.16 Later Life Letters  
5.2.17 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  


 

5.3

Special Guardianship

  
5.3.1 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders  
5.3.2 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  


6. Audit & Practice Improvement

Caption: section 6 contents
     
6.1 Quality Assurance Framework  
6.2 Practice Observation Framework  
6.3 Social Work PQ & CPD Enrichment Programme 2023 - 2024  
6.4 Supervision Policy & Resource Toolkit  
6.5 Case Discussion Supervision Template  
6.6 Induction Handbook for Managers  
6.7 Induction Handbook Social Care New Employee Guidance  
6.8 Appraisal Policy Guidance  


7. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

Caption: section 7 contents
     
7.1 Local Contacts  
7.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
7.3 OFSTED Inspection Framework  
7.4 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
7.5 Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006 (last updated August 2018)  
7.6 Amendments