Procedures


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This contents list is sub divided into the following sections, each Section contains relevant Chapters/Procedures: (Click on the title to jump to the Section you require):

  1. All Children
  2. Children with Specific Needs
  3. Court Proceedings and Legal Planning
  4. Children Looked After
  5. Fostering and Adoption
  6. Case Management and Recording
  7. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices


1. All Children

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Brighter Futures for Children Policies, Values and Principles Updated
1.1.2 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.3 Equality and Diversity  


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Early Help Framework  
1.2.2 Threshold Criteria  
1.2.3 Family Information Services  
1.2.4 Capacity and Consent  


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Contacts and Referrals Updated
1.3.2 Assessments Updated
1.3.3 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) Updated
1.3.4 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions (2024 Protocol) New
  See also: Pan Berkshire Child Protection Procedures  


 

1.4

Child in Need

  
1.4.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  
1.4.2 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983  
1.4.3 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New


 

1.5

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.5.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.5.2 Whistleblowing  


 

1.6

Notifications

  
1.6.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24) Updated


2. Children with Specific Needs

2.1

Children with Disabilities

  
2.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
2.1.2 Direct Payments  
2.1.3 Short Breaks  
2.1.4 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
2.1.5 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework New


 

2.2

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
2.2.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
2.2.2 Mental Capacity  


 

2.3

Children from Abroad

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


 

2.4

Homelessness

  
2.4.1 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  


 

2.5

Family and Friends Care

  
2.5.1 Kinship Care Updated
2.5.2 Private Fostering  


 

2.6

Young Carers

  
2.6.1 Young Carers Updated


 

2.7

Relinquished Children

  
2.7.1 Relinquished Children  


3. Court Proceedings and Legal Planning

3.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
3.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
3.3 Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS)  
3.4 Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings  
3.5 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions (2024 Protocol) New
  See also: Cross-border Child Protection Cases: The 1996 Hague Convention  


4. Children Looked After

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
4.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Children Looked After  
4.1.2 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 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.7 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Children Looked After  
4.1.8 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.1.9 Providing Personalised Care  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  


 

4.2

Placements

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


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

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


 

4.4

Contact and Overnight Stays

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


 

4.5

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See: Virtual School  
4.5.1 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Children Looked After and Children Previously Looked After Updated
4.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
4.5.3 Leisure Activities  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  


 

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  


 

4.7

Change of Name and Marriage

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


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

  
4.8.1 Leaving Care and Transition  
4.8.2 Staying Put Updated
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  


 

4.9

Youth Offending

  
  See also: BFfC Youth Justice Service (YJS)  
4.9.1 Children and Young People Looked After 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 Updated


5. Fostering and Adoption

  See also: Foster Carers Handbook and Fostering Website  

5.1

Fostering Services

  
5.1.1 Fostering Panel  
5.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
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 Training and Development of 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

  
  See also: Adopt Thames Valley  
5.2.1 Placement for Adoption  
5.2.2 Adoption Support  
5.2.3 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.4 Adoption Reviews  
5.2.5 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.6 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
5.2.7 Inter Country Adoption  
5.2.8 Non Agency Adoption  
5.2.9 Adoption Case Records  
5.2.10 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
5.2.11 Intermediary Services  
5.2.12 Life Story Books Guidance  
5.2.13 Later Life Letters  
5.2.14 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 Updated
5.3.2 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  


6. Case Management and Recording

6.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
6.2 Case Records and Retention  
6.3 Access to Records / Subject Access Requests  
6.4 Confidentiality Policy  
6.5 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
6.6 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
6.7 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  


7. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

7.1 Local Contacts  
7.2 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
7.3 Berkshire Safeguarding Adults - Policies & Procedures  
7.4 Ofsted Inspection Framework  
7.5 Amendments