Amendments
December 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Contacts and Referrals | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Assessments | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| 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 updated and should be re-read. |
| 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. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| 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. |
| Health and Safety | Information has been added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds. |
| 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. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | The chapter has been amended to reflect the Homelessness Code of Guidance - Chapter 22: Care Leavers (updated 3 May 2024) which sets out the expectation that authorities should have in place joint protocols which clearly outline jointly held corporate parenting responsibilities for care leavers. See Section 8, Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | Information on Ofsted checks has been added in to Section 5.1, Checks. Also, a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK in the Related Guidance Section has been added. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been updated to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 4.5, Concluding the Investigation. |
| Recruitment, Assessment and Approval 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. A link to DBS guidance leaflets - GOV.UK in the Related Guidance Section has also been added. |
| Placement for Adoption | Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness has been updated in line with case-law. |
| Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted | This chapter has been updated with a link to DBS guidance leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 4.4 Concluding the Investigation. |
| Ofsted Inspection Framework | A link has been added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Next Update: June 2025 |
June 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles | This chapter has been updated. |
| 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 and Section 5, Pre-Proceedings. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Placements with Connected Persons | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
December 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | Amendments have been made to reflect case-law in relation to assessing legal capacity. |
| 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. Information in relation to legal aid for foster carers and prospective adoptive parents in First Tier Tribunal appeals has been added into Section 15, Resolving Disagreements. Also 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 has been added. |
| 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 | This chapter has been updated. 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. |
| 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 my family and friends in the UK. |
| Young Carers | 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 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. |
| Placement in Other Arrangements | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| 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 refreshed. |
| 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). |
June 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | Section 8, Court Hearings has been updated in line with A View From the President's Chambers: Relaunching the PLO (November 2022) and that section should be re-read. In Relevant Guidance, a link has 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 to include information from the UK Social Work Practice in Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People report. |
| Decision to Look After | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| 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). |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | Information in relation to allergies has been added into Section 4, Health Plans. |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| 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 revised to include information from the revised Ofsted inspection framework. Also included, is a link to the Tower Hamlets Local Offer in Section 4, Local Offer. Amendments have also been made to note that with effect from 1 April 2023, the leaving care allowance increased from £2,000 to £3,000. |
| Fostering Panel | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Adoption Panel | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Disruption of Adoptive Placements | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| 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 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern has also been added. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated to reflect the updated Public Law Working Group Best Practice Guidance. This includes the new interim guidance, issued by the President of the Family Division, that addresses the lawful extension of care proceedings beyond 26 weeks. Section 6.3, Placement before a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is Granted has been added in line with guidance that states where there is no pre-existing relationship between the child and special guardians the child should be placed on an interim basis before the special guardianship order is made. |
| 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. |
| Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Ofsted Inspection Framework | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
December 2022
| 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. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Information regarding the National Transfer Scheme Protocol for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children has been added to the chapter. |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey has been 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: Practice Guidance, Notice and Undertaking Template. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | This chapter has been refreshed and should be reread in its entirety. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | Section 3, 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. |
| Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services | Section 2, Looked After Children who are Arrested has been updated in relation to appropriate adults. |
| Adoption Support | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | These details have been updated. |
August 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | Section 4.3, Consent to the Use of Medication to Suppress Puberty has been updated in line with case-law. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been refreshed and should be re-read in its entirety. |
| Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations | Part 1 of this chapter has been updated in line with case-law. |
| Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff | This chapter has been given a general refresh. |
| 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. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Information regarding the National Transfer Scheme Protocol for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children has been added to the chapter. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | Section 1.3, 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 | This chapter has been updated to add a note regarding transferring a child's belongings in appropriate luggage and includes a link to a link to NYAS, My Things Matter Report (see Section 5, Administration/Process Issues). |
| Placements with Parents | This chapter has been updated to include information from the Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems (Public Law Working Group). |
| 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 (see Section 4, Placement Planning). |
| 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 (see Section 2.3, Placement Planning). |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | This chapter has been amended and should be re-read in its entirety. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | This chapter has been updated to include a link to Childnet Parents and Carers Toolkit. |
| 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. See Section 8.3, Protecting Children with a Social Worker, Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children from Adults Who May Pose a Risk to Them and/or Other Children in the School. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention | This chapter has been amended to include a Further Information section. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | 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 (see Scope of This Chapter). |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
December 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 on text of the use of medication to suppress puberty. 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. Information has also been added in relation to NICE Quality Standard: Decision-Making and Mental Capacity. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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). 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. |
| Short Breaks | Information has been added into Section 7, Short Break Settings 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. 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 refreshed and should be re-read in its entirety. |
| 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). |
| Family and Friends Care | This chapter has been revised. A new Section 7, Education has been added and information 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. |
| 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)'; 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 peer on peer 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. A link has been added to the 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). |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter has been amended to reflect changes to the CoramBAAF forms. |
| Adoption Case Records | This chapter has been amended to reflect changes to the CoramBAAF forms. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance | This chapter has been amended to reflect the Practice Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council). See Section 3, Special Guardianship - Matters to be Dealt with in Report for the Court Timetabling and Timescales for Full Family and Friends Assessment' (Family Justice Council). |
| Guidance on the Payment of Special Guardian/Adoption/Arrangement Order Allowances | This document has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS) | This link has been added to the manual |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Placement in Other Arrangements | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| YJB and Probation Joint National Protocol for Transitions in England | This link has been added to the manual |
July 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| 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 | Section 9.3, The 16-19 Bursary Fund and Higher Education Bursary, the link has been updated. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | A link revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. See Section 9, Representations / Independent Review Procedure. |
| Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers | A link revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. See Section 6, Representations/Review Procedure. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | A link revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. See Section 10, Representations / Independent Review Procedure. |
| Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records | A link revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. See Section 3.2, Adoption Orders made on or after 30 December 2005. |
September 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. |
| Complaints and Representations | This chapter has been revised in accordance with current legislation and guidance. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been re-titled and was previously called Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children. It has been updated to take account of the new NRM digital referral form to report modern slavery. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been updated in accordance with current legislation and guidance. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This chapter has been updated to reflect the latest OFSTED guidance of social care providers on the types of incident which they consider to be serious and which will therefore require notification to the regulatory authority. |
| 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. This chapter will continue to be updated as the body of case-law develops. |
| 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. |
March 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been updated to reference and reflect the Family Court Justice Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship (Courts and Tribunal Judiciary, May 2019). |
| 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. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This chapter has been amended to reflect the Ofsted Blog of 24/7/19 by Yvette Stanley, Ofsted's National Director for Social Care. The Blog highlights feedback from a number of inspections and explores what good recording should look like (Ofsted: developments in children's social care – What makes an effective case record?). |
| Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews | This chapter has been updated to emphasise the requirement for clear separation between the child's Case Review and the Secure Accommodation Review. Clarifying whether the criteria for keeping a child in secure accommodation continue to be met must come before a Case Review so the decision can inform the Case Review and they must be chaired by different individuals. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This chapter has been significantly updated throughout. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education. Section 8, Safeguarding the Looked After Child at School includes a reference to Upskirting (which is now a criminal offence) and a new Section 8.5, Serious Violence. Information has been added to reflect OFSTED's advice that LAs should exercise due diligence in ensuring schools for LAC pupils are registered with the DFE. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | A link has been added to Attending an IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 9, Representations / Independent Review Procedure. |
| Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers | A link has been added to Attending an IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 6, Representations/Review Procedure. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been reviewed and refreshed, and terminology has been updated where required. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | A link has been added to Attending an IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 10, Representations / Independent Review Procedure. |
| Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records | A link has been added to Attending an IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 3.2, Adoption Orders made on or after 30 December 2005. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This procedure has been updated to reference and reflect the Family Justice Council Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship (see new Section 6.2, Special Guardianship Applications in Care Proceedings). |
| Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance | This chapter has been updated to note the Family Justice Council Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship (May 2019). See Section 3, Special Guardianship – Matters to be Dealt with in Report to Court and final sections 11 and 12. |
September 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children's Consultation and Participation | The Relevant Guidance section has been updated to add supporting resources with regard to children's consultation and participation. |
| 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 (2018) and the process for reporting a serious incident to the Panel via the Child Safeguarding Incident Notification System. |
| London Borough of Tower Hamlets - Placement Sufficiency Strategy for Looked After Children and Care Leavers: 2019-2022 | This chapter has been updated. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | This chapter has been amended to reflect Section 3 of the Care Planning and Care Leavers (Amendment) Regulations 2014. The Care Plan must identify whether there is reason to believe the child has been trafficked or is an unaccompanied asylum seeker (see Section 2.1, The Care Plan - Contents). |
| 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. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been reviewed. |
| Supervision and Support of Foster Carers | This chapter has been updated to reflect in more detail the foster carer's role and responsibilities with respect to Fostering National Minimum Standards – Notification of Significant Events (see Section 1, Introduction) and relevant aspects of Schedule 6 The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 (see Section 2, Planned Supervision Visits). |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | This chapter has been amended to reflect the national changes in adoption registration and matching (see Section 9, After the Panel Recommendation). |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter has been amended to reflect the national changes in adoption registration and matching (see Section 7.13, Inter Agency Placements and Section 11, Children Approved for Adoption for Whom no Placement has been Identified). |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | This chapter has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Case Transfer Protocol | This chapter has been added to the manual. It should be read in it's entirety. |
| Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings | This chapter has been added to the manual. It should be read in it's entirety. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been added to the manual. It should be read in it's entirety. |
March 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles | A new Section 2, Corporate Parenting has been added in response to the DfE, Applying Corporate Parenting Principles to Looked-after Children and Care Leavers – Statutory Guidance. It includes the seven corporate parenting principles set out in the guidance. |
| Children's Consultation and Participation | This chapter has been updated. |
| Assessments | This chapter has been revised to reflect updated guidance on Assessment in Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child In Need) | This chapter has been amended. From 29 June 2018, local authorities in England must notify the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel within 5 working days of becoming aware of a serious incident. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This chapter has been amended to reflect HHJ Greensmith's comments regarding M and N (Children: Local authority gathering, preserving and disclosing evidence) [2018] EWFC 40 (1 June 2018). It has also been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Case Records and Retention | Section 1, The Case Record has been updated in line with Adoption and Care Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018, which permits the transfer of a copy of the child's case record (or part of that record) to another adoption agency when the local authority considers this to be in the interests of the child. |
| Access to Records / Subject Access Requests | This chapter has been substantially updated in regard to UK GDPR. |
| Confidentiality Policy | This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations | This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the designated teacher to provide support to previously Looked After Children. A previously Looked After Child is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales. |
| Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children | This chapter has been significantly updated to reflect updates in legislation. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been updated. |
| Relinquished Children | Section 5, Consent and Competency has been updated to include additional information on parental capacity to consent, in line with High Court case-law. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | Additional information has been added in to Section 1.3, Section 20 Accommodation, in line with recent case-law. |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance. These changes relate to the status of 'previously Looked After Children'. A previously Looked After Child is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales. Previously Looked After Children are entitled to support from their school through the Designated Teacher (see Section 2.5, Children Who Move into Permanency). |
| Permanence Planning Guidance | Section 5, Assessing and Planning for Permanence has been updated to reflect the additional 'permanence provisions' of the Care Plan (under s.8 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amends section 31(3B) Children Act 1989) which a court is required to consider when deciding whether to make a Care Order. It has also been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance. These changes relate to the status of 'previously looked after children'. A previously Looked After Child is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales. Children subject to an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order are entitled to support from their school, through the designated teacher. |
| Children Looked After, Secure Accommodation Procedure | This procedure has been fully updated and should be re-read. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | This procedure has been fully updated and should be re-read. |
| Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children | Section 2, Exceptions has been revised to set out more clearly the circumstances where visiting requirements differ from those set out in Section 1, Normal Frequency. |
| Looked After Reviews | Section 9, The Role of the Looked After Review in Achieving Permanence for the Child has been amended to reflect the outcome of a High Court Judgement in respect of children who were subject to Section 20 and where there were concerns of significant delays in their planning for permanence. The court noted the IROs' recognition and action over a number of reviews but acknowledged that a more robust response had been needed. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect amendments made by the Children and Social Work Act 2017. These changes relate to the status of 'previously looked after children' i.e. a previously looked-after child is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because s/he is the subject of an adoption, special guardianship or child arrangements order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales. The chapter includes a new Section 15, Mental Health and a new Section 8, Safeguarding the Looked After Child at School. In addition, the chapter reflects the statutory guidance Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) 2018, as it relates to Looked After Children and guidance regarding Data protection and safeguarding as set out in Data protection: a toolkit for schools (Open Beta: Version1.0) (August 2018). A link has also been added to the National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | A new Section 3.5, Consent to Health Care Assessments has been added. |
| Through Care Service Policy and Procedure | This policy has been updated. |
| Tower Hamlets Local Offer for Care Leavers | This link has been updated. |
| Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services | This chapter has been updated in relation to placing young people in custody, see Section 7.7, How to Request a Transfer or Placement Review. |
| Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody | This chapter has been updated in relation to placing young people in custody, see Section 3.8, How to Request a Transfer or Placement Review. |
| Adoption Panel | This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Adoption Support | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the Designated Teacher for Looked After Children, to offer support to previously looked after children. A previously looked-after child is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales). |
| Adoption Reviews | Section 5, The Conduct of Adoption Reviews (bullet point 1.f) has been amended to reflect the status of adopted children as being 'previously looked after' when considering their educational needs. A link to DfE guidance on Promoting the Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After children has also been added. |
| Inter Country Adoption | Section 8, Home Study has been updated in to include a link to GOV.UK Benefits. |
| Adoption Case Records | Section 3, Security, Retention and Sharing of Records has been updated in line with Adoption and Care Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018, which provides that an adoption agency may disclose an adoption case record to another adoption agency for purposes related to either agency's functions as an adoption agency. Further information has been added in relation to adoption records where an Adoption Order is not made. |
| Life Story Books Guidance | This chapter has been substantially updated in and should be re-read in its entirety. |
| Later Life Letters | This chapter has been fully reviewed. |
| Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters | Section 4.1, Duty to Consider Fostering for Adoption Placement has been updated to reflect the additional consideration (added by section 9 Children and Social Work Act 2017 into the list of considerations whenever a court or adoption agency is coming to a decision relating to the adoption of a child), of the relationship which the child has with relatives, with any person who is a prospective adopter with whom the child is placed and with any other person in relation to whom the court or agency considers the relationship to be relevant. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman good practice points to follow when working with Special Guardians. A link to the full report 'Firm Foundations: Complaints about Council Support and Advice for Special Guardians (Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman)' has been added into the Relevant National Guidance section of this chapter. This chapter has also been updated in regard to the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the designated teacher to provide support to previously Looked After Children. A previously Looked After Child is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales. |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | These details have been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| 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 added to the manual. |
August 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Private Fostering | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | A link to the Section 20 Consent form has been added. |
| Placements with Parents | Relevant forms have been added to this form. |
| Staying Put | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read. |
| Fostering Panel | Section 2, Membership and Section 3, Meetings have been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Chronologies - General Guidance | This new document has been added to the manual. |
| Social Worker Guide to the Conduct of Care Proceedings | This new document has been added to the manual. |
| Protocol re Naming of Staff in Court Judgements | This new document has been added to the manual. |
| Supervision Policy | This new document has been added to the manual. |
| Children Missing from Home and Care Protocol | This new document has been added to the manual. |
| Permanence Planning Meetings | This new document has been added to the manual. |
| Placement Support Protocol | This new document has been added to the manual. |
| Resolution Process IRO/LAC - Process for Resolving Disputes Around Looked After Children Planning | This new document has been added to the manual. |
| Allegations Made Against Staff Working In The Children's Workforce | This new document has been added to the manual. |
