Contents


NOTE: Chapters that are highlighted in blue represent Plymouth's local procedures and 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. Looked After Children
  5. Fostering, Adoption and Permanence Services
  6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices


1. All Children

Caption: section 1 of contents
     

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles  
1.1.2 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.3 Equality and Diversity  


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Early Help Assessment  
1.2.2 Building Support for Children, Young People and Families in Plymouth  
1.2.3 Capacity and Consent  
  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  
1.3.2 Assessments  
1.3.3 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)  
  See also: Plymouth Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures  


 

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  
1.5.3 Legal Planning Meetings  
1.5.4 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings (October 2013)  
  See also: Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)  
  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
(Plymouth Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)		  


 

1.7

Notifications

  
1.7.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child in Need)  


2. Case Management and Recording

Caption: section 2 of contents
     
2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
2.2 Case Records and Retention  
2.3 Access to Records/Subject Access Requests  
2.4 Confidentiality Policy  
2.5 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.6 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
2.7 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  


3. Children in Particular Circumstances

Caption: section 3 of contents
     

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 Updated
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  
3.1.5 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework New


 

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 and Asylum Seeking Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
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  
  See also: Plymouth: Friends and Families Service  
3.5.2 Private Fostering  


 

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. Looked After Children

Caption: section 4 of contents
     

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
4.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children  
4.1.2 Decision to Look After  
4.1.3 Care Planning  
4.1.4 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.5 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Adopt South West Procedures Manual, Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
4.1.6 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.7 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  
4.1.8 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.1.9 Providing Personalised Care  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  


 

4.2

Placements

  
4.2.1 Placements with Parents  
4.2.2 Placements with Connected Persons  
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 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.2.9 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.10 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.2.11 Placements in Other Arrangements  
4.2.12 Health and Safety  
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

  
4.3.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After 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, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children  
4.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
4.5.3 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  


 

4.7

Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

  
4.7.1 Change of Name of a Looked After Child  
4.7.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After 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 Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  


 

4.9

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
4.9.1 Looked After Children 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  
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
  A Guide to Child First - Youth Justice Board  
  Youth Justice Board - Standards for Children in the Youth Justice System  
  YJB and Probation Joint National Protocol for Transitions in England  
  National Appropriate Adult website  
  Probation Service Management of Young Adults Policy Framework  
  HMPPS Child Safeguarding Policy Framework  


5. Fostering, Adoption and Permanence Services

Caption: section 5 of contents
     

5.1

Fostering Services

  
5.1.1 Fostering Panel  
5.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
5.1.4 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.5 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
5.1.6 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.7 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Training and Development of Foster Carers  
  See also: Adopt South West Procedures Manual, Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  


 

5.2

Adopt South West

  
  Adopt South West is a partnership of councils (Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay).

Please see the Adopt South West Procedures Manual for the partnership.		  


 

5.3

Special Guardianship

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


6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

Caption: section 6 of contents
     
6.1 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
6.2 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.3 OFSTED Inspection Framework