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South Gloucestershire Social Care Procedure Manual Contents

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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. Looked After Children
  6. Fostering and Adoption
  7. Appendices


1. All Children

1.1

Policy Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children’s Services Policies, Values and Principles Updated
1.1.2 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.3 Capacity and Consent  
1.1.4 Confidentiality Policy  
1.1.5 Consultation Policy  
1.1.6 Whistleblowing Policy  
1.1.7 Equality and Diversity  

   

1.2

SAFeh and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 The Right Help in the Right Way at the Right Time (Threshold Document)  
1.2.2 Threshold of Need  
1.2.3 Single Assessment Framework Early Help  
  See also: South Gloucestershire’s Sufficiency Strategy  

   

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Initial Contacts and Referrals Updated
1.3.2 Assessments Updated
1.3.3 Developing Local Protocols for Assessment  
1.3.4 Section 47 Enquiries Updated
1.3.5 Protocol for Case Responsibility and Workflow within Children’s Social Care Services  
1.3.6 Kinship Care Policy Updated

   

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 Gateway/Planning Meetings  
1.4.4 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol  
1.4.5 Process for Handling Requests for Information from the Police  
  See also: Working with foreign authorities: child protection cases and care orders Departmental advice for local authorities, social workers, service managers and children’s services lawyers (July 2014)  

   

1.5

Safeguarding Children

 
1.5.1 Children who Display Problematic or Harmful Sexual Behaviour  
1.5.2 Children Missing Education, South Gloucestershire Council  
  See also: Children Missing Education Policy (2022)  
1.5.3 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in the Community or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24) Updated
1.5.4 Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation  
1.5.5 Social Networking Information  

   

1.6

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.6.1 Complaints and Representations  


2. Case Management and Recording

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


3. Prevention and Family Support

3.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  
3.2 Private Fostering  
3.3 Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Old Young People Who May be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation  
3.4 Principles and Procedures for 16/17 year olds Presenting as Homeless  
3.5 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New


4. Children in Particular Circumstances

4.1

Children with Disabilities

  
  See also: South Gloucestershire SEND offer  
4.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
  See also South Gloucestershire SEND Local Offer  
4.1.2 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
4.1.3 Personal Budgets and Direct Payments Updated
4.1.4 Residential/Overnight Short Breaks Outside the Home Address  
4.1.5 Open to Review Cases  
4.1.6 MARP (Multi-Agency Resource and Placements) Panel Terms of Reference  
4.1.7 Children in Need Review Timescales  
4.1.8 Children in Need Visiting Frequency  
4.1.9 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

Young Carers

  
4.3.1 Young Carers  


 

4.4

Relinquished Children

  
4.4.1 Relinquished Children  


 

4.5

Deprivations of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
4.5.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
4.5.2 Mental Capacity Act  
4.5.3 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 Updated


5. Looked After Children

5.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
5.1.1 Decision to Look After  
5.1.2 Care Planning  
5.1.3 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children  
5.1.4 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Early Permanence, Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
5.1.5 Risk Assessment and Planning  
5.1.6 Providing Personalised Care  
5.1.7 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
5.1.8 Placements in Foster Care  
5.1.9 Placements in Residential Care  
5.1.10 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
5.1.11 Out of Area Placements  
5.1.12 Placements with Connected Persons Updated
5.1.13 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Updated
5.1.14 Placements with Parents  
5.1.15 Placements Outside England and Wales  
5.1.16 Placements in Other Arrangements  
5.1.17 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
5.1.18 Delegated Authority to Foster Carers  
5.1.19 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  
5.1.20 Health and Safety  
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  

   

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 Looked After Reviews  
5.2.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers  
5.2.5 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
5.2.6 Notifications of Significant Events Updated

   

5.3

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegated Authority to Foster Carers  
5.3.1 Contact with Parents and Siblings  
5.3.2 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)  

   

5.4

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See also: Delegated Authority to Foster Carers  
5.4.1 Holidays and School Trips in the UK  
5.4.2 Holidays and School Trips Outside the UK  
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  

   

5.6

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 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
5.7.2 Leaving Care and Transition  
5.7.3 Staying Put Policy  
5.7.4 Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers  
5.7.5 South Gloucestershire Local Offer for Care Leavers  
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  

   

5.8

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
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  
5.8.3 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance Updated
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  


6. Fostering and Adoption

6.1

Fostering Services

  
 

See also:

Documents Library

South Gloucestershire Foster Carers Handbook

  
6.1.1 Fostering Panel  
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  
6.1.5 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
6.1.6 Training and Development of Foster Carers  
6.1.7 Delegated Authority to Foster Carers  
6.1.8 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
6.1.9 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
  See also: Early Permanence, Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
6.1.10 South Gloucestershire Foster Carers Handbook  

   

6.2

Adoption and Permanence

  
6.2.1 Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters Updated
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  
6.2.6 Adoption Reviews  
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 Inter Country Adoption  
6.2.10 Non Agency Adoption  
6.2.11 Adoption Case Records  
6.2.12 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
6.2.13 Intermediary Services  
6.2.14 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders Updated
6.2.15 Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  
6.2.16 Life Story Books Guidance  
6.2.17 Later Life Letters  
6.2.18 Early Permanence, Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  


7. Appendices

7.1 OFSTED Inspection Framework  
7.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
7.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
7.4 Amendments  

End