Amendments
August 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles | Amendments have been made line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Contacts and Referrals | Amendments have been made line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Assessments | Amendments have been made line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) | Amendments have been made line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | Information has been added in relation to family group decision-making in line with the Children's Social Care National Framework and Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24) | Amendments have been made in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, to note that notifications should be made of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | Information on this guidance has been added into Section 15, Resolving Disagreements. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | A link has been added to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. |
| Kinship Care | Amendments have been made to reflect Championing Kinship Care: The National Kinship Care Strategy. Information about Ukrainian children being cared for my family and friends in the UK has also been included. |
| Young Carers | This chapter has been updated to include information about Ukrainian children being cared for my family and friends in the UK. |
| Placements with Connected Persons | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | Amendments have been made in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, to note that notifications should 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 Children and Previously Looked After Children | Amendments have been made to reflect Championing Kinship Care: The National Kinship Care Strategy. |
| Staying Put | Amendments have been made in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, to note that notifications should be made of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24. |
| Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance | Links have been added:
|
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | Amendments have been made in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, to note that notifications should be made of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Children and Young People's Continuing Care National Framework | This new chapter has been added to Children in Particular Circumstances. |
| Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making | This new chapter is based on the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Next Update: February 2025 |
February 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been amended 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. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been amended 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 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 When One or More of the Relevant Criteria Under Section 25 Children Act 1989 are Not Satisfied 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 Other Arrangements | This chapter has been updated to reflect updated Ofsted Guidance. |
| Health and Safety | This chapter has been refreshed and additional information added in relation to online safety. |
| Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been refreshed and replaces the previous chapter: Education of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children. |
August 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | This chapter has been amendmended to reflect case-law in relation to assessing legal capacity. |
| 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). Also, information was 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. |
| 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) and also The Civil Legal Aid (Financial Resources and Payment for Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 regarding the availability of non means tested legal aid for Tribunal appeals. |
| 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. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | A link has been added to Self-harm: Assessment, Management and Preventing Recurrence NICE Guidance. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Information has been added in to section 4 Assessment in relation to the National Age Assessment Board. |
| Decision to Look After | This chapter has been updated in line with case-law on the use of Section 20 Accommodation. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | From April 2023, supported accommodation settings for 16 and 17 year olds are required to be registered with Ofsted in accordance with the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023. |
| 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 updated. |
| 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 | 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. It has also been updated to include information from the revised Ofsted Inspection Framework. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been amended in line with the revised keeping Children Safe in Education. |
| Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted | This chapter has been updated. |
| 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). |
| 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 Title | Details |
| Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance | This chapter has been added. |
| OFSTED Inspection Framework | This chapter has been added. |
February 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | 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 | 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 Approvals of Prospective Adopters | This chapter has been refreshed as part of the continuing improvement of the manual. |
| Adoption Panel | This chapter has been refreshed as part of the continuing improvement of the manual. |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter has been refreshed as part of the continuing improvement of the manual. |
| Adoption Support | This chapter has been refreshed as part of the continuing improvement of the manual. |
| Disruption of Adoptive Placements | This chapter has been refreshed as part of the continuing improvement of the manual. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Case Transfer Protocol and Guidance | This new chapter, developed by Portsmouth, has been added to the manual. |
August 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | 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 reviewed and updated. 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 | This chapter has been reviewed and updated. 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 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. |
| 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 | This chapter has been updated to reflect that 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 | This chapter has been refreshed throughout. |
| Care Planning | This chapter has been reviewed and refreshed and has been separated from Decision to Look After. |
| 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. |
| 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 amended 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 amended 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 | Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty has been updated in line with case-law. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | This chapter has been updated. |
| 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. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint | This chapter has been reviewed and refreshed. |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter has been reviewed and refreshed. |
| 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. |
| Fostering Panel | This chapter has been reviewed and refreshed. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been reviewed and refreshed. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Equality and Diversity | This chapter has been added to comply with the revised OFSTED framework. |
| Portsmouth Childcare Sufficiency Assessment | This link has been added to the manual. |
| Portsmouth Local Offer | This link has been added to the manual. |
| Risk Assessment and Planning | This chapter has been added to comply with the revised OFSTED framework. |
| Providing Personalised Care | This chapter has been added to comply with the revised OFSTED framework. |
| Health and Safety | This chapter has been added to comply with the revised OFSTED framework. |
| Leisure Activities | This chapter has been added to comply with the revised OFSTED framework. |
| Training and Development of Foster Carers | This chapter has been added to comply with the revised OFSTED framework. |
February 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | This chapter has been updated to reflect a High Court judgement that consent to life-ending withdrawal of medical support for a child will require an application to the High Court. |
| Contacts and Referrals | This chapter has been updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children Revisions December 2020. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | The link to the SWET (updated April 2021) has been updated. This chapter has been amended to reflect the Practice Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council) and information has been added in relation to pre-birth assessments and planning where the mother has learning disabilities, in line with the Court of Appeal judgement in D (A Child) [2021] EWCA Civ 787. |
| Complaints and Representations | This chapter has been amended to add information from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's guide for dealing with children's services statutory complaints. |
| 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 links added to reports from the House of Commons Library. Probation Services are now delivered by the now unified National Probation Service. |
| Short Breaks | The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review, statutory guidance has been updated. This makes changes in relation to the prohibition on placements of children under 16 in 'other arrangements' (previously known as 'unregulated accommodation'), in line with Regulation 27A Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended by Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021). |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review, statutory guidance has been updated. This makes changes in relation to the prohibition on placements of children under 16 in 'other arrangements' (previously known as 'unregulated accommodation'), in line with Regulation 27A Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended by Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021). And the Independent Child Trafficking Guardians Referral Form has been added: In areas where the ICTG service has been implemented, if the first responder 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. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been amended to take account of the UK's withdrawal from the EU and reflect the UK's exit from the EEA. and to note that 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. |
| Family and Friends Care | From 1 September 2021, the School Admissions Code provides that children being raised by family and friends carers under a Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order, who struggle to get a school place during the year, will be supported in finding one. |
| Relinquished Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect a High Court case 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 | The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review, statutory guidance has been updated. This makes changes in relation to the prohibition on placements of children under 16 in 'other arrangements' (previously known as 'unregulated accommodation'), in line with Regulation 27A Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended by Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021). Probation Services are now delivered by the now unified National Probation Service. |
| Placements in Residential Care | The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review, statutory guidance has been updated. This makes changes in relation to the prohibition on placements of children under 16 in 'other arrangements' (previously known as 'unregulated accommodation'), in line with Regulation 27A Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended by Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021). |
| Out of Area Placements | The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review, statutory guidance has been updated. This makes changes in relation to the prohibition on placements of children under 16 in 'other arrangements' (previously known as 'unregulated accommodation'), in line with Regulation 27A Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended by Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021). |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review, statutory guidance has been updated. This makes changes in relation to the prohibition on placements of children under 16 in 'other arrangements' (previously known as 'unregulated accommodation'), in line with Regulation 27A Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended by Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021). Additional information has 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 | The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review, statutory guidance has been updated. This makes changes in relation to the prohibition on placements of children under 16 in 'other arrangements' (previously known as 'unregulated accommodation'), in line with Regulation 27A Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended by Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021). |
| Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers | This chapter has been updated to reflect a High Court judgement that consent to life-ending withdrawal of medical support for a child will require an application to the High Court. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | From 1 September 2021, the School Admissions Code provides that children being raised by family and friends carers under a Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order, who struggle to get a school place during the year, will be supported in finding one. In addition, this chapter has been updated to reflect the following guidance: Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges (Ofsted); updated Keeping Children Safe in Education; Sexual Harassment In Education - Briefing (House of Parliament Library); Promoting the Education of Children with a Social Worker: Virtual School Head Role Extension, June 2021; Tackling Child Exploitation: Resources Pack (Local Government Association). |
| Leaving Care and Transition | Brexit: 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. Probation Services are now delivered by the now unified National Probation Service. |
| Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody | Reunification of Probation Services - from 24 June 2021, probation services will be delivered by the National Probation Service. |
| Placement for Adoption | Some CoramBAAF forms have been changed / no longer exist. |
| Adoption Case Records | Some CoramBAAF forms have been changed / no longer exist. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | From 1 September 2021, the School Admissions Code provides that children being raised by family and friends carers under a Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order, who struggle to get a school place during the year, will be supported in finding one. This chapter has also been updated to reflect the Practice Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council). |
| 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). |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | 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 new chapter sets out The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review, statutory guidance has been updated. This makes changes in relation to the prohibition on placements of children under 16 in 'other arrangements' (previously known as 'unregulated accommodation'), in line with Regulation 27A Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended by Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021). |
| YJB and Probation Joint National Protocol for Transitions in England | This Protocol is designed to support the planned and safe movement of young people from youth offending teams (YOTs) to the Probation Service when they turn 18. |
September 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | 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. It has also been updated to include Information in relation to NICE Quality Standard: Decision-Making and Mental Capacity. |
| Assessments | This chapter has been updated to reflect Working Together to Safeguard Children Revisions December 2020. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter 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 reflect the Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: Good Practice Advice (DfE and MHCLG). |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | This chapter has been updated to include information on the use of the 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. |
| Advocacy and Independent Visitors | This chapter has been reviewed and updated throughout. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect Working Together to Safeguard Children Revisions December 2020. |
| Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK | This chapter had been reviewed and updated throughout. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: Good Practice Advice (DfE and MHCLG). |
| Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: Good Practice Advice (DfE and MHCLG). |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | The Attending IRM Panel – Information Sheets have been withdrawn and replaced by Prepare for a Review Panel: Adopters and Foster Carers. |
| Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers | The Attending IRM Panel – Information Sheets have been withdrawn and replaced by Prepare for a Review Panel: Adopters and Foster Carers. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters | The Attending IRM Panel – Information Sheets have been withdrawn and replaced by 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 Title | Details |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter covers when a child or care leaver is discharged from hospital after having been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. |
February 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Complaints and Representations | Information contained in this procedure has been reviewed and refreshed as required. Note that, in Section 6, Stage One - Local Resolution the First Stage of a Complaint must be acknowledged by the Complaints manager within 3 days. |
| Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff | This chapter has been amended to reflect Social Work England Professional Standards and Guidance on the use of social media by staff (see Section 3, Use of Social Media by Staff in a Personal Capacity). See also: Social Work England and PCFSW Best Practice Guide for Digital Practice and Digital Professionalism/e-Professionalism and Digital Capabilities (Draft, June 2020). |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | The National Referral Mechanism Digital Referral System: Report Modern Slavery has been added to Section 3, Managing the Case and Section 11, Further Information has been updated to include a link to Statutory Guidance Modern Slavery: How to Identify and Support Victims. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | Section 6, Placements of Children under 13 Years has been updated following publication of revised DfE guidance. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This procedure has been updated throughout to reflect the latest Ofsted guidance for social care providers on the types of incident which they consider to be serious and which will therefore require notification to the regulatory authority. |
August 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Assessments | This chapter has been reviewed and a paragraph on considering wider family members has been added to Section 8, Contribution of the Child, Family and Wider Network. |
| Local Contacts | The list of local contacts has been updated. |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | The list of designated managers has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | 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. |
| Whistleblowing | This new Portsmouth chapter sets out what staff should do if they have any concerns about colleagues or the work they are undertaking. |
| 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. |
February 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been updated, to reference and note the Family Court Justice Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (May 2019) (see Section 1, Introduction). |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This chapter has been amended, to reflect the Ofsted Twitter 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?). |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | An update has 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. |
| Private Fostering | This chapter has been amended. It confirms in Section 14, After the Private Fostering Arrangement Ends that any request for support by the young person should be made to the local authority in which they are resident or where the education and training is being 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 (see Scope of This Chapter). |
| Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews | This chapter has been reviewed and updated. The requirement for clear separation of reviews (for clarifying whether the criteria for keeping a child in secure accommodation are met, and the child's looked after review) has been emphasised. 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 they must be chaired by different individuals. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This chapter has been reviewed and updated throughout. It should be read in its entirety. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated and revised throughout. It incorporates changes introduced by the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and updated Keeping Children Safe in Education (2018). A new section has been added with regard to Unaccompanied Migrant Children, and the role of the Virtual School Head in relation to Previously Looked After children is emphasised. It also includes a reference to Upskirting (which is now a criminal offence) and a new section on 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. |
| 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). |
| 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 | This chapter has been amended, to reflect the national changes in adoption registration and matching (see Section 9, After the Panel Recommendation). A link has also been added to Attending an IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 10, Representations/Independent Review Procedure. |
| 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). |
| Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records | A link has been added to Attending and IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 3.2, Adoption Orders made on or after 30 December 2005. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated, to reference and reflect the Family Court Justice Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (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 Court Justice Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (May 2019). See Section 3, Special Guardianship - Matters to be Dealt with in Report for the Court and final Sections 11 and 12. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| 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). |
