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. Children in Particular Circumstances
  4. Looked After Children
  5. Fostering and Adoption
  6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and 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 & Young Peoples Consultation and Participation  
1.1.3 Priorities on a Page New
1.1.4 Confidentiality Policy  
1.1.5 Equality and Diversity  
1.1.6 Capacity and Consent  


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Working Well with Children and Families in Lancashire  
1.2.2 Child and Family Assessment/CAF  
1.2.3 Early Help and Support Supervision Guidance  
1.2.4 Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation Updated
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Blackburn with Darwen Children's Advice and Duty Service (CADS) Practice Guidance  
1.3.2 Assessments Updated
1.3.3 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) Updated
  See also: Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and Lancashire Children's Safeguarding Assurance Procedures  
1.3.4 Pre Birth Protocol  
1.3.5 Step Up and Step Down Process  
1.3.6 Co-Working Protocol for Cases where there are Concerns Regarding Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) or Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) Updated
1.3.7 Case Transfer Policy  
1.3.8 Case Closure Managerial Practice Note  
1.3.9 Child Protection Conferences  


 

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 Gateway/Planning Meetings  
1.5.4 Issuing Proceedings  
1.5.5 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol  
  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.  
1.5.6 Escalation Process  


 

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 Access to Records / Subject Access Requests  
2.4 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.5 Storage of Data on Electronic Devices  
2.6 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  


3. Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1

Children with Disabilities

  
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 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 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 Joint Housing and Social Care Protocol for Homeless 16 & 17 Year Olds  


 

3.5

Young Carers

  
3.5.1 Young Carers Support (CANW)  


 

3.6

Relinquished Children

  
3.6.1 Relinquished Children  


 

3.7

Mental Health

  
3.7.1 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983  


4. Looked After Children

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
4.1.1 Securing Sufficient Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers 2019 - 2021 - under review  
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: Early Permanence: 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  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  


 

4.2

Placements

  
4.2.1 Placements with Parents  
4.2.2 Placements with Kinship Carers (also known as Connected Persons and Family and Friends) - Emergency and Non-Emergency Placements: Procedure and Practice Guidance Updated
4.2.3 Kinship Care Updated
4.2.4 Placements in Foster Care  
4.2.5 Private Fostering  
4.2.6 Placements in Residential Care  
4.2.7 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Updated
4.2.8 Out of Area Placements  
4.2.9 Placements Outside England and Wales  
4.2.10 Placements in Other Arrangements  
4.2.11 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.2.12 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.13 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.2.14 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  


 

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 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  
  See also: Guiding Principles for the planning, facilitation and review of Family Time  
4.4.2 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New
4.4.3 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 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 Providing Personalised Care  
4.6.3 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
4.6.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention  
4.6.5 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.6.6 Health and Safety  
4.6.7 Leisure Activities  
4.6.8 Female Genital Mutilation  
  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  


 

4.7

Identity

  
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 Updated
4.8.3 Information 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 Youth Justice Supervision Policy  
4.9.2 Youth Justice Board Case Management Guidance  
4.9.3 Youth Justice Service Equality and Diversity Policy  
4.9.4 Youth Justice Service Policy on Working with Girls and Young Women  
4.9.5 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
4.9.6 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.9.7 Operational Protocol Between Children's Services (Social Care, Leaving Care) and the Youth Justice Service  
4.9.8 Operational Protocol Between Youth Justice Service, Children's Services and Housing in respect of Young People in Need of Accommodation upon Release  
4.9.9 Supporting Young People with Special Educational Needs in Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.9.10 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

  
  See also: Fostering Statement of Purpose (2023)  
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 Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
  See also: Adoption Now (North West Regional Adoption Agency)  
5.2.1 Adoption Now Statement of Purpose  
5.2.2 Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.3 Adoption Panel
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.4 Placement for Adoption
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.5 Relinquished Babies for Adoption
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.6 Adoption Support
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.7 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.8 Adoption Reviews
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.9 Disruption of Adoptive Placements
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.10 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.11 Inter Country Adoption
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.12 Non Agency Adoption
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.13 Adoption Case Records
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.14 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.15 Intermediary Services
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.16 Life Story Work Guidance
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.17 Later Life Letters
(Bolton Children's Social Care Procedures)		  
5.2.18 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
  See also: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  


 

5.3

Special Guardianship

  
5.3.1 Blackburn with Darwen Special Guardianship Order Policy Updated
5.3.2 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  


6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

6.1 Contact Details for Safeguarding and Child Protection Concerns and Referrals  
6.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers Updated
6.3 Scheme of Delegation  
6.4 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.5 Ofsted Inspection Framework  
6.6 Amendments