Contents


Before using the procedures listed in the manual's Contents section, please check New and Amended Procedures (Local Resources) as the current version of the procedure you need may be available there.

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

  1. All Children
  2. Case Management and Recording
  3. Prevention and Family Support
  4. Children in Particular Circumstances
  5. Children in Care
  6. Fostering and Adoption
  7. Appendices


1. All Children

Caption: All Children
   
  See also: Links to Further Relevant Northamptonshire Materials  
  Northamptonshire Children's Services Procedures Manual: Practitioner Guidance Notes  
  Northamptonshire Children's Services Procedures Manual Maintenance Practice Guidance  

1.1

Policy Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles Updated
1.1.2 Senior Leadership Alert Procedure - Essential Reporting for Safeguarding and Children's Services Updated
  See also: Senior Leadership Alert Forms  
1.1.3 Confidentiality Policy  
1.1.4 Consultation Policy  
1.1.5 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.6 Kinship Care Updated
1.1.7 Supervision Policy and Procedure  
1.1.8 Equality and Diversity  


 

1.2

Early Help Assessment and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Early Help Assessment  
1.2.2 Threshold Document - Continuum of Help and Support  
1.2.3 Capacity and Consent  


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Contacts and Referrals Updated
1.3.2 Assessments Updated
1.3.3 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) Updated
1.3.4 Allocation of Work and Transfer between Teams – Case Transfer and Closure Updated
1.3.5 Family Network Meetings Guidance  
1.3.6 Trajectories Guidance  


 

1.4

Court Proceedings

  
1.4.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.4.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
1.4.3 Legal Planning Meetings & Gateway Panel  
1.4.4 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol  
  See also: Cross-border Child Protection Cases: The 1996 Hague Convention  
1.4.5 Police Powers of Protection Updated
1.4.6 Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS)  


 

1.5

Miscellaneous

  
1.5.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24) Updated
1.5.2 Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation
(Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual)		  
1.5.3 Children at Risk of Exploitation  
1.5.4 Supplementary Guidance on Safeguarding Issues, Working Together to Safeguard Children - Appendix B: Further Sources of Information  
1.5.5 Children (Subject of a Child Protection Plan) Travelling Abroad  
1.5.6 Non Recent (Historic) Abuse Updated
1.5.7 Section 85/86 (Children Act,1989) Welfare Checks for Children Accommodated in Educational Residential or Health Provision  
1.5.8 Travel Assistance Procedure for Children's Social Care  
1.5.9 Lone Visits Procedure  


 

1.6

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
  See also: Further Relevant Northamptonshire Materials  
1.6.1 Complaints, Compliments and Representations  
1.6.2 Whistleblowing (Intranet Link)  
  Whistleblowing to Ofsted about Children's Social Care Services - Policy and Guidance for Whistleblowers  
1.6.3 Resolution and Escalation Process (IRO and CP Chair)  


2. Case Management and Recording

  See also: Links to Further Relevant Northamptonshire Materials  
2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
2.2 Case Records and Retention  
2.3 Access to Records  
2.4 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.5 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
2.6 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  


3. Prevention and Family Support

  See also: Links to Further Relevant Northamptonshire Materials  
3.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  
3.2 Private Fostering  
3.3 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New
3.4 Provision of Accommodation to Homeless 16 and 17 year olds  
3.5 Young Carers Updated
3.6 Family Agreements Good Practice Guidance  
3.7 Section 17 Financial Support for Children in Need  


4. Children in Particular Circumstances

  See also: Links to Further Relevant Northamptonshire Materials  

4.1

Children with Disabilities

  
4.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
4.1.2 Direct Payments  
4.1.3 Short Breaks  
4.1.4 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
4.1.5 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework New


 

4.2

Children from Abroad

  
4.2.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
4.2.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  


 

4.3

Relinquished Children

  
4.3.1 Relinquished Children  


 

4.4

Deprivations of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
4.4.1 Deprivations of Liberty  
4.4.2 Mental Capacity  
4.4.3 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983  


5. Children in Care

  These procedures use the term 'contact' in line with legislative provisions.
In Northamptonshire, we use the term 'family time'. The terms should be regarded as interchangeable for the purposes of these procedures.		  
  See also: Links to Further Relevant Northamptonshire Materials  

5.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
5.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children  
5.1.2 Decision to Look After Updated
5.1.3 Care Planning  
5.1.4 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
5.1.5 Permanence Planning Strategy  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
5.1.6 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
5.1.7 Placements in Foster Care  
5.1.8 Placement for Permanent Fostering  
5.1.9 Placements in Residential Care  
5.1.10 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation Updated
5.1.11 Out of Area Placements  
5.1.12 Placements with Connected Persons Updated
5.1.13 Long Term Matching of Children to Connected Person’s Carers – Policy and Practice Guidance  
5.1.14 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Updated
5.1.15 Placements with Parents  
5.1.16 Placements Outside England and Wales  
5.1.17 Placements in Other Arrangements  
5.1.18 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
5.1.19 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
5.1.20 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
5.1.21 Risk Assessment and Planning  
5.1.22 Reunification for Looked After Children  
5.1.23 Stability Network Meeting for Children in Care  
5.1.24 Resilience Fostering Scheme Guidance  
5.1.25 Health and Safety  
5.1.26 Unregulated, Unregistered & Crisis Placement Procedure  


 

5.2

Monitoring and Reviews

  
5.2.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children  
5.2.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
5.2.3 Children in Care Reviews  
5.2.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers Updated
5.2.5 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
5.2.6 Notifications of Significant Events Updated


 

5.3

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
5.3.1 Contact with Parents / Adults and Siblings  
5.3.2 Social Visits (including Overnight Stays)  


 

5.4

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
5.4.1 Holidays and School Trips in the UK  
5.4.2 Holidays and School Trips Outside the UK (When the Child is Looked After)  
5.4.3 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Updated
5.4.4 Leisure Activities  


 

5.5

Health and Wellbeing

  
5.5.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
5.5.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
5.5.3 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
5.5.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  
5.5.5 Child Safety Online: A practical guide for parents and carers whose children are using social media  


 

5.6

Identity

  
5.6.1 Change of Name of a Looked After Child  
5.6.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child  


 

5.7

Leaving Care and Transition

  
5.7.1 Leaving Care and Transition  
5.7.2 Staying Put Updated
5.7.3 Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers  
5.7.4 Joint Working Protocol for Care Leavers: NCT and Job Centre Plus  
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
5.7.5 Services for Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Young People Leaving Care - Transition to Adulthood (Leaving Care) Financial Policy and Guidance  


 

5.8

Youth Offending

  
  See also: Northamptonshire Youth Offending Service  
5.8.1 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
5.8.2 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  
5.8.3 Northamptonshire Protocol for Reducing the Unnecessary Criminalisation of Children in Care and Care Leavers  
5.8.4 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance Updated


6. Fostering and Adoption

  See also: Links to Further Relevant Northamptonshire Materials  

6.1

Fostering Services

  
6.1.1 Fostering Panel Updated
6.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
6.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Updated
6.1.4 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval Updated
6.1.5 Foster Carer Supervision Policy Updated
6.1.6 Review and Termination of Approved Foster Carers  
6.1.7 Allegations Against Foster Carers Updated
6.1.8 Finance Guidance - Foster Carers Allowances, Fees and Other Financial Support  
6.1.9 Smoking Policy for Foster Carers and Children and Young People in Care  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
6.1.10 Training and Development of Foster Carers  
6.1.11 Foster Carer Recording Policy and Practice Guidance  
6.1.12 Unannounced Home Visits to Foster Carers (UAHVs) – Policy and Practice Guidance  
6.1.13 Children’s Visits within the Fostering Service  


 

6.2

Adoption and Permanence

  
6.2.1 Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters  
6.2.2 Adoption Panel  
6.2.3 Placement for Adoption  
6.2.4 Adoption Support  
6.2.5 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements Updated
6.2.6 Adoption Reviews Updated
6.2.7 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
6.2.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
6.2.9 Non Agency Adoption  
6.2.10 Adoption Case Records  
6.2.11 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records Updated
6.2.12 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders Updated
6.2.13 Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  
6.2.14 Life Story Books Guidance  
6.2.15 Later Life Letters Updated
6.2.16 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
6.2.17 Guidance on Payment of Adoption Allowance, Special Guardianship Order Allowances and Child Arrangements Order Allowances  
6.2.18 Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Voluntary Adoption Agency - Finance Policy  
6.2.19 Financial Support for Children Subject to Special Guardianship Orders  


7. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

  See also: Links to Further Relevant Northamptonshire Materials  
7.1 Local Contacts  
7.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
7.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
  See also: Working Together to Safeguard Children - Appendix B: Further Sources of Information  
7.4 Amendments