Amendments
July 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles | This chapter has been revised in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Contacts and Referrals | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Assessments | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | Information has been added in relation to family group decision-making in Section 1, Introduction and Time Limits, Section 5, Pre-Proceedings, and a link added to chapter Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making. |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, 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. New Section 3, Death of a Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24 has been added. |
| 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. It has also 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. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | Section 2, Ordinary Residence has been updated in line with case law. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant 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. |
| Kinship Care | This chapter has been updated to reflect Championing Kinship Care: The National Kinship Care strategy. 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 my family and friends in the UK. |
| Young Carers | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Placements with Connected Persons | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| 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. |
| 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. It has also 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 in response to Working Together to Safeguard Children (December 2023), and includes the ongoing development of the strategic leadership roles of Virtual School Heads (VSH) in promoting educational outcomes for children aged 0 to 18 who have, or previously had a social worker, and children in kinship care arrangements. |
| Staying Put | This chapter has been updated to note that if a young person in a Staying Put arrangement dies up to and including the age of 24, notifications should be made in accordance with the procedure on Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or 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. |
| 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 Name | 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: January 2025 |
January 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| 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. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been updated. Information has been added in to Section 4, Assessment in relation to the National Age Assessment Board. |
| 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. |
| Placements in Other Arrangements | This chapter has been significantly updated. |
| Health and Safety | Additional information has been added about online safety. |
| Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been significantly updated and replaces previous chapter Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children. |
| 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. |
| 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). |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Ofsted Inspection Framework | This chapter has been added. |
July 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | This chapter has been reviewed and substantially amended |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been updated in line with A View From the President’s Chambers: Relaunching the PLO (November 2022). A link has also 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. |
| 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. |
| Decision to Look After | This chapter has been reviewed and substantially amended |
| 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 reviewed and substantially amended |
| Health and Safety | This chapter has been amended to add information in relation to allergies. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | This chapter has been amended to add information in relation to allergies. |
| 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 include that the Act will raise the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | Ofsted have added a separate judgement and evaluation criteria on ‘the experiences and progress of care leavers’, for implementation from January 2023. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been amended in line with the revised keeping Children Safe in Education. |
| 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. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
January 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | 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. |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | This chapter has been amended to reflect 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 to reflect the changes to the youth remand framework under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | This chapter has been amended in line with a finding by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. |
| Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services | This chapter has been amended to include information on Appropriate Adults. |
| Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters | As part of the continuing improvement of the manual this chapter has been refreshed. |
| Adoption Panel | As part of the continuing improvement of the manual this chapter has been refreshed. |
| Placement for Adoption | As part of the continuing improvement of the manual this chapter has been refreshed. |
| Adoption Support | As part of the continuing improvement of the manual this chapter has been refreshed. |
| Disruption of Adoptive Placements | As part of the continuing improvement of the manual this chapter has been refreshed. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | A link to Bristol Special Guardianship Order: Policy and Procedure has been added. |
July 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | Section 4.3, Consent to the Use of Medication to Suppress Puberty has been updated to reflect the latest in a string of court cases. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | The President of the Family Division has expressed anticipation that, from the end of July 2021, courts will expect that every public law children case will accord with the Public Law Working Group Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems. |
| Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings | The President of the Family Division has expressed anticipation that, from the end of July 2021, courts will expect that every public law children case will accord with the Public Law Working Group Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems. |
| Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | Section 15, Resolving Disagreements has been updated in line with the First Tier Tribunal's extended powers to hear appeals and make non-binding recommendations about health and social care aspects of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, provided those appeals also include education elements. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been updated to reflect case-law. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | The National Transfer Scheme Protocol for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children has become mandatory for all local authorities with children's services. |
| Decision to Look After | As part of the continuing improvement of the manual this chapter has been split into 2 separate chapters |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | This chapter has been updated to add guidance on when a child leaves a placement, and to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move. |
| Placements with Parents | The President of the Family Division has expressed anticipation that, from the end of July 2021, courts will expect that every public law children case will accord with the Public Law Working Group Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems. |
| Placements in Foster Care | This chapter has been updated to add guidance on when a child leaves a placement, and 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 updated to add guidance on when a child leaves a placement, and 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 Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | This chapter has been updated to reflect case-law. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | A link to Childnet Parents and Carers Toolkit has been added. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been amended in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance, to highlight the importance of sharing and responding to any concerns about the behaviour of an adult who works with children, no matter how small, including low level concerns. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | A link to: Who Pays? Determining which NHS commissioner is responsible for making payment to a provider has been added. |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter has been reviewed and updated. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention | This chapter has been refreshed and a link has been added to: Guidance: Positive Environments Where Children Can Flourish (Ofsted). |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been updated to add guidance on when a child leaves a placement, and to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move. |
| Fostering Panel | This chapter has been reviewed and updated. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been reviewed and renewed. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Equality and Diversity | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Care Planning | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
Risk Assessment and Planning |
This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Providing Personalised Care | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Health and Safety | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Leisure Activities | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Training and Development of Foster Carers | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
January 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| 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 | Guidance contained in this chapter has been reviewed and updated as required to reflect guidance from the refreshed Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been updated. 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. It has also been updated to reflect Practice Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council). See in particular Section 9, Expectations of the Local Authority by the Court. |
| 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 Relevant Guidance). |
| 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 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 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. 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 extensively redrafted and replaces the previous chapter with the same title. It has been amended to reflect the Practice Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council). The High Court in ST (a child, by his Litigation Friend VW) & VW v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] EWHC 1085 (Admin) held that immigration caseworkers, when deciding whether to accept that the applicant is 'destitute or at risk of imminent destitution' are required to 'have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare' of any children involved in the application, in accordance with section 55 Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. It should be read in its entirety. |
| Family and Friends Care | This chapter has been revised. A new Section 7, Education has been added and information has been added 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. |
| 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 with Parents | Section 1, 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. |
| 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. Additional information has also 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 in relation to children under the age of 16 being placed in 'other arrangements' placements has been added into Section 3, Local Authority Accommodation. |
| 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. |
| Education of 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, June 2021)'; updated 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' (see Further Information) and Sexual Harassment in Education – Briefing (House of Parliament Library) (see Section 8.2, 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. In Section 6, When a Child Needs or Joins a New School, information has been added on the School Admission Code. |
| 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. |
| Placement for Adoption | Changes have been made to some Coram/BAAF forms and some have been removed. |
| Adoption Case Records | There has been changes to some Coram/BAAF forms and some have been withdrawn. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been revised. In Section 12, The Special Guardianship Support Plan, information has been added on the School Admission Code. 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. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS) | A link has been added to the Legal Proceedings Section in the Contents List to the 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. |
| Placements in Other Arrangements | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| YJB and Probation Joint National Protocol for Transitions in England | A link has been added to the Legal Proceedings Section in the Contents List to the 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. |
July 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 was also added in relation to NICE Quality Standard: Decision-Making and Mental Capacity. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Advocacy and Independent Visitors | This chapter has been updated and should be re-read. |
| 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 | 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) (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 Name | Details |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This policy applies when a child or care leaver is discharged from hospital after having been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. |
January 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Complaints and Representations | Information contained in this procedure has been reviewed and refreshed as required. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | 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 significantly updated and should be re-read. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | Section 6, Placements of Children under 13 years has been updated following publication of revised DfE guidance. |
July 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 reflect the Family Justice Council: Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council, May 2019). |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child in Need) | This chapter has been updated throughout to reflect Working Together to Safeguard Children and the process for reporting a serious incident to the Panel via the Child Safeguarding Notification System. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This chapter has been amended to reflect the twitter blog by Yvette Stanley, Ofsted's National Director for Social Care, which explores what a good recording should look like. |
| 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. |
| Private Fostering | This chapter has been amended to confirm that after the private fostering arrangement ends that any request for support from the young person should be made to the local authority in which they are resident or where the education and training is provided. |
| Placements with Parents | This chapter has been updated to note that this procedure does not apply to children subject to Interim Care Orders where the placement is required by the court under Section 38(6) Children Act 1989 for the purposes of assessment. |
| Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews | This chapter has been updated to clarify the requirement for a clear separation of reviews. Clarifying whether the criteria for keeping a child in secure accommodation are met must come before a LAC review so the decision can inform the LAC review and must be chaired by different individuals. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This chapter sets out who must be notified of specified events in relation to Looked After children placed with Fostering Agencies or in Children's Homes. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been reviewed and renewed. It should be read in its entirety. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | A link has been added to Information about the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM). |
| Supervision and Support of Foster Carers | This chapter has been updated to add detail in relation the the foster carer's role and responsibilities with respect to the Fostering National Minimum Standards - Notification of Significant Events and relevant aspects of Schedule 6 The Fostering Services (England) Regulation 2011. |
| Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers | A link has been added to Information about the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM). |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | References to the Adoption Register and to Adoption Match have been amended following the Adoption Register suspension and the adoption agency Adoption Match (at the end of March 2019). |
| Placement for Adoption | References to the Adoption Register and to Adoption Match have been amended following the Adoption Register suspension and the adoption agency Adoption Match (at the end of March 2019). |
| Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records | A link has been added to Information about the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM). |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated to reference and reflect the Family Justice Council: Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council, May 2019). |
| Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance | This chapter has been updated to reference and reflect the Family Justice Council: Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council, May 2019). |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | In this chapter guidance is offered in relation to the various situations in which consent is likely to be sought, with reference to previous legal judgements. This is a potentially complex practice arena and if the practitioner is in any doubt about gaining consent they should always seek further advice from managers and legal advice must be sought as necessary. |
| Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff | The use of social media in a social care and safeguarding environment is a developing area. Cases and reviews have discussed the use of social media in social work practice. There is, however, currently no specific government guidance on the issue. This chapter is designed to highlight some of the issues to be considered, with links to additional information. It is not intended to provide any legal advice, and legal advice must be sought as appropriate. Local Authorities and Courts may have local protocols in place on the use of social media/service of documents. |
| Storage of Data on Mobile Devices | This chapter provides guidance on the storage of personal data (including photographs) on mobile devices.
'Personal data' is any information about an identifiable living individual. 'Mobile devices' includes memory sticks, mobile telephones including smartphones, tablet technologies, netbooks and laptops. |
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). |
