Contents


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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. Case Management and Recording
  3. Children in Particular Circumstances
  4. Children Looked After
  5. Fostering and Adoption
  6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices


1. All Children

Caption: All Children
     

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Leadership Pledge  
1.1.2 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles Updated
1.1.3 Children's Consultation and Participation Updated
  See also: Northumberland Children and Young People's Participation Strategy  
1.1.4 Capacity and Consent Updated
1.1.5 Equality and Diversity  
1.1.6 Quality of Practice Framework (Document Library)  


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Early Help Framework  
1.2.2 Threshold Document - Continuum of Help and Support  
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Contacts and Referrals Updated
1.3.2 Assessments Updated
1.3.3 Local Protocol for Assessment (Local Resources)  
1.3.4 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) Updated
  See also: North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures  
1.3.5 Allocation of Work and Transfer between Teams (Local Resources)  


 

1.4

Child in Need

  
1.4.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews Updated


 

1.5

Legal Proceedings

  
1.5.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders Updated
1.5.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline  
1.5.3 Legal Gateway Panel  
1.5.4 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol  
  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 (Cared For, Child In Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)  


2. Case Management and Recording

Caption: Case Management and Recording
     
2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines Updated
2.2 Child’s Records and Retention Updated
2.3 Access to Child/Young Person’s Records / Subject Access Requests Updated
2.4 Confidentiality Policy Updated
2.5 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.6 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  
2.7 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  


3. Children in Particular Circumstances

Caption: Children in Particular Circumstances
     

3.1

Children with Disabilities

  
3.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
3.1.2 Personal Budgets and Direct Payments Updated
3.1.3 Short Breaks  
3.1.4 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
3.1.5 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework New


 

3.2

Children from Abroad

  
3.2.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
3.2.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  
  See also: information on the EU Settlement Scheme in Local Resources  


 

3.3

Homelessness

  
3.3.1 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  


 

3.4

Family and Friends Care

  
3.4.1 Kinship Care Updated
3.4.2 Private Fostering  
3.4.3 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New


 

3.5

Young Carers

  
3.5.1 Young Carers  


 

3.6

Relinquished Children

  
3.6.1 Relinquished Children Updated


 

3.7

Deprivation of Liberty

  
3.7.1 Deprivation of Liberty  


 

3.8

Mental Health

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


4. Children Looked After

Caption: Looked After Children
     
  Note: in Northumberland we use the term 'Cared for Children'. In this section and throughout these procedures, you will also find references to 'Looked After Children' in line with the terminology used in legislation and statutory guidance. You may also see references to 'Children Looked After' as that was the term previously used in Northumberland. The terms are interchangeable.  
  See also: Promoting Wellbeing and Positive Identity for a Child or Young Person Who is Looked After: A Quick Guide for Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners (NICE)  
  and Information on the EU Settlement Scheme (Document Library)  


 

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 Standards of Care  
4.1.3 Decision to Look After  
4.1.4 Care Planning  
4.1.5 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.6 Permanence Planning Guidance  
4.1.7 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.8 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Cared for Children  
  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  
4.2.3 Placements in Foster Care  
4.2.4 Matching Children with Permanent Foster Carers  
4.2.5 Placements in Children's Homes  
4.2.6 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds  
4.2.7 Out of Area Placements  
4.2.8 Placements Outside England and Wales  
4.2.9 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.2.10 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.11 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.2.12 Placements in Other Arrangements  
4.2.13 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.2.14 Providing Personalised Care  
4.2.15 Health and Safety  
  See also: Cared For Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
  and NYAS, My Things Matter  


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

  
4.3.1 Social Worker Visits to Cared For 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, Cared For and Previously Cared For Children  
4.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
4.5.3 Promoting Education and Leisure Activities  


 

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 Safe Caring Policy for Cared For Children in Foster Care  
4.6.6 Policy on the Storage of Medicine and Administration of Medicine or Treatment  
4.6.7 Bedroom Sharing Policy  
4.6.8 Consumption of Alcohol by Foster Carers and Young People Policy  
4.6.9 Children Missing from Care  


 

4.7

Change of Name and Marriage

  
4.7.1 Change of Name of a Cared For Child  
4.7.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Cared For Child  


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

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


 

4.9

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
4.9.1 Cared For Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.9.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Cared For 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: Fostering and Adoption
     

5.1

Fostering Services

  
5.1.1 Fostering Panel  
5.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.3 Criminal Records Disclosure Procedure  
5.1.4 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
5.1.5 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.6 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
5.1.7 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
5.1.9 Foster Carers Record Keeping and Retention Policy  
5.1.10 Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol  
5.1.11 Comments and Complaints, Advocacy and Whistle blowing  
5.1.12 Guidance and Policy on Payment and Use of Disability Living Allowance by Foster Carers  
5.1.13 Training and Development of Foster Carers  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
  Adoption Services in Northumberland are provided by Adopt North East (ANE) the Regional Adoption Agency for North Tyneside, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland and South Tyneside.  
  Click here for the Adopt North East Regional Adoption Agency Procedures.  
  See also information on Special Guardianship (Local Resources)  


6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

Caption: Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices
     
6.1 Local Contacts  
6.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers Updated
6.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.4 Amendments  
6.5 Ofsted Inspection Framework