Contents


Please note: Within Warrington the children and young people we care for are known as Children in Care.
However, you will find the term Looked After Children used throughout this manual as this is the term used in the legislation and statutory guidance.


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

  1. All Children
  2. Case Management and Recording
  3. Children in Particular Circumstances
  4. Children in Care
  5. Fostering and Adoption
  6. Residential Services
  7. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices


1. All Children

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Our Approach to Children's Social Work in Warrington  
1.1.2 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.3 Capacity and Consent  
1.1.4 Equality and Diversity  


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Early Help  
1.2.2 Continuum of Need Guidance  
  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 Assessment Protocol  
1.3.4 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) Updated
  See also: Warrington Safeguarding Partnership Procedures  
1.3.5 Case Transfer Policy  


 

1.4

Child in Need

  
1.4.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  


 

1.5

Legal Proceedings

  
1.5.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.5.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
1.5.3 Legal Planning Meetings - under review  
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  
  and 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.  


 

1.6

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.6.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.6.2 Whistleblowing  


 

1.7

Notifications

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


2. Case Management and Recording

2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
2.2 Case Records and Retention  
2.3 Subject to Access Records  
2.4 Confidentiality Policy  
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

3.1

Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

  
3.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities  
3.1.2 Direct Payments  
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  


 

3.2

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
3.2.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
3.2.2 Mental Capacity  


 

3.3

Children from Abroad

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


 

3.4

Homelessness

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


 

3.5

Family and Friends Care

  
3.5.1 Kinship Care Updated
3.5.2 Private Fostering  
3.5.3 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New


 

3.6

Young Carers

  
3.6.1 Young Carers  


 

3.7

Relinquished Children

  
3.7.1 Relinquished Children  


 

3.8

Mental Health

  
3.8.1 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983  


4. Children in Care

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
4.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Children in Care  
  See also: Sufficiency Strategy  
4.1.2 Decision to Look After  
4.1.3 Care Planning  
4.1.4 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.5 Securing Permanence  
  See also: Early Permanence Placements / Fostering for Adoption  
4.1.6 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.7 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Children in Care  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  


 

4.2

Placements

  
4.2.1 Placements with Parents  
4.2.2 Placements with Connected Persons Updated
4.2.3 Placements in Foster Care  
4.2.4 Placements in Residential Care  
4.2.5 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds  
4.2.6 Out of Area Placements  
4.2.7 Placements Outside England and Wales  
4.2.8 Placements in Other Arrangements  
4.2.9 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  
  See also: Children in Care and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

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


 

4.4

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.4.1 Family Time 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 and Promoting the Education and Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Updated
4.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  


 

4.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
4.6.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
4.6.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
4.6.3 Providing Personalised Care  
4.6.4 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
4.6.5 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  
4.6.6 Leisure Activities  
4.6.7 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.6.8 Health and Safety  
  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)  


 

4.7

Change of Name and Marriage

  
4.7.1 Change of Name of a Child in Care  
4.7.2 Marriage / Civil Partnership of a Child in Care  


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

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


 

4.9

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
4.9.1 Children in Care and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.9.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
4.9.3 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System – Additional National Guidance  
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  


5. Fostering and Adoption

5.1

Fostering Services

  
5.1.1 Fostering Panel  
5.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
5.1.4 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.5 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
5.1.6 Training and Development of Foster Carers  
5.1.7 Review and Termination of Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
  See also: Early Permanence Placements / Fostering for Adoption  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
  See also: Together for Adoption Procedures  
5.2.1 Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters  
5.2.2 Adoption Panel  
5.2.3 Placement for Adoption  
5.2.4 Adoption Support  
5.2.5 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.6 Adoption Reviews  
5.2.7 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
5.2.9 Inter Country Adoption  
5.2.10 Non Agency Adoption  
5.2.11 Adoption Case Records  
5.2.12 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
5.2.13 Intermediary Services  
5.2.14 Life Story Books Guidance  
5.2.15 Later Life Letters  
5.2.16 Early Permanence Placements / Fostering for Adoption  
  See also: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  


 

5.3

Special Guardianship

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


6. Residential Services

  The following documents can be found in the Additional Local Resources Section, Residential Services:  
6.1 Admission and Discharge Policy  
6.2 Bullying Policy  
6.3 Dealing with Emergency Situations  
6.4 Communication Policy  
6.5 Direct Work with Children Living in Residential Care - Guidance for Residential Staff  
6.6 E-Safety Residential Service  
6.7 Financial Policy for Children's Residential Services  
6.8 Food Safety Policy  
6.9 Guide to ASD  
6.10 Infection Control Policy  
6.11 Medication Policy - Mainstream Medication Policy - Short Breaks  
6.12 Mobile Phones and Digital Images  
6.13 OFSTED Children's Residential Homes Inspection policy  
6.14 Policy and Guidance for the Safe Management of Seizures  
6.15 Privacy and Confidentiality  
6.16 Promoting Education  
6.17 Repairs of the Home and Cars  
6.18 Safeguarding Policy  
6.19 Substance Abuse  


7. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

7.1 Local Contacts  
7.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
7.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE, Statutory Guidance)  
7.4 Ofsted Inspection Framework  
7.5 Amendments