Amendments
October 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles | This chapter has been updated. |
| Multi-Agency Practice Standards | This PDF document has been replaced with an updated version. |
| Contacts and Referrals | This chapter has been refreshed in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children plus local amendments added. |
| Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) | This chapter has been updated in line with 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 Section 1, Introduction and Time Limits and Section 5, Pre-Proceedings, and a link has been added to the Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making Procedure. |
| Personal Budgets and Direct Payments | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation | A link has been added in Section 4, Assessment to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. In Further Information, a link has been added to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children | The St. Helens Guidance for Social Workers for Child In Need Statutory Visits has been updated in the Relevant Guidance section. |
| Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | A link has been added into the Further Information section to Guidance: Working Together to Improve School Attendance (GOV.UK) - Guidance to help schools, academy trusts, governing bodies and local authorities maintain high levels of school attendance, including roles and responsibilities. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Assessments | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Next Update: April 2025 |
April 2024
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| St. Helens Descriptions of Need Document | This document has been updated. |
| 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. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | Section 5.2.5, Providing Support has been updated to reflect the Home Office increase in financial support to individuals waiting to find out if they will be given asylum in the UK. |
| St. Helens Connected Carers Policy (2023) | This policy has been updated. |
| St. Helens Private Fostering Guidance | This guidance has been updated. |
| Young Carers | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act | Section 2, Ordinary Residence has been updated in line with case law. |
| Placements in Children's Homes | 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 Revised Practice Guidance on the Court’s Approach to Unregistered Placements (October 2023). |
| 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 throughout in line with Revised Practice Guidance on the Court’s Approach to Unregistered Placements (October 2023) and Revised National Listing Protocol for Applications that Seek Deprivation of Liberty Orders Relating to Children under the Inherent Jurisdiction. |
| Health and Safety | This chapter has been updated. |
| Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children | A link to the St. Helens Guidance for Social Workers for Child in Need Statutory Visits has been added into Relevant Guidance. |
| Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Scheme of Delegated Decision-Making Framework | These details have been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| St. Helens Family Arrangements Protocol | This protocol has been added to the manual. |
| Kinship Care | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| North West Regional Protocols Resource | This resource has been added to the manual. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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October 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Multi-Agency Early Help Strategy for Children, Young people and Families in St. Helens 2023-2026 | This chapter has been updated throughout. |
| Capacity and Consent | Amendments have been made to reflect case-law in relation to assessing legal capacity. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | Information has been 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. Section 8, Court Hearings has been updated in line with A View From the President's Chambers: Relaunching the PLO (November 2022) and that section should be re-read. In Relevant Guidance, a link has been added to Pre-proceedings and Family Justice Hub (Research in Practice). |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been updated. Information in relation to legal aid for foster carers and prospective adoptive parents in First Tier Tribunal appeals. It has also been updated to include information from Guidance: Area SEND Inspections Framework and Handbook (November 2022) has been added into Section 15, Resolving Disagreements. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been updated. Information in relation to the National Age Assessment Board has been added into Section 4, Assessment. |
| Decision to Look After | Section 3, Section 20 Accommodation has been updated in line with case-law. |
| Permanence Planning Guidance | This chapter has been updated throughout. |
| 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 throughout. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | Information in relation to allergies has been added into Section 4, Health Plans. |
| 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 revised to include information from the revised Ofsted inspection framework. |
| Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern has been added. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Providing Personalised Care | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Health and Safety | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Leisure Activities | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Ofsted Inspection Framework | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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April 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Case Records and Retention | This chapter has been updated in relation to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act | 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. |
| 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 (see Section 5, Administration/Process Issues). |
| Permanence Planning Guidance | This chapter has been updated to add St. Helens own Permanence and Policy Guidance Document. |
| 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 (see Section 4, Placement Planning). |
| Placements in Children's Homes | 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 (see Section 2.3, Placement Planning). |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | A link has been added into Relevant Guidance section above to Healthcare Standards for Children and Young People in Secure Settings. |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey has been updated in line with 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 in line with the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter has been amended to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Additional information has been added into Section 2, Positive Behaviour Support and Section 5.4, Recording of Sanctions. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention | This chapter has been refreshed throughout. |
| Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child | This chapter has been amended to reflect that the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 raised the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales, with effect from 26 February 2023. |
| 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 (see Scope of This Chapter). |
| Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services | Section 2, Looked After Children who are Arrested has been updated in relation to appropriate adults. |
| Special Guardianship Policy | This policy has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
October 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Equality, Diversity and Inclusion | This chapter has been updated and replaces Comprehensive Equality Policy. |
| Supervision Policy for Staff in Children's Social Care | This policy has been updated. |
| St. Helens CSC Quality Assurance Framework | This policy has been updated. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been amended throughout in line with Management Guidance in Public Law Children Cases: March 2022. |
| 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. |
| Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children | Accommodation for Looked After Children document has been added. |
| Decision to Look After | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Care Planning | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| 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 and Siblings | Section 3, Supervised Contact has been updated to reflect a finding by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman that the supervisor's observations of the contact/family time must be clearly recorded in the child's record and shared with the parents within 3 months of the visit. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | This chapter has been updated. |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter has been revised. |
| Fostering Panel | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter has been refreshed. |
| Scheme of Delegated Decision-Making Framework | This document has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Multi-Agency Practice Standards | A link to this document has been added to the manual. |
| Risk Assessment and Planning | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Training and Development of Foster Carers | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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April 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | Section 4.3, Consent to the Use of Medication to Suppress Puberty has been updated in line with case-law. |
| Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) | A link has been added to the Strategy Discussion/Section 47 Practice Guidance. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been reviewed and revised to reflect Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems (Public Law Working Group). |
| Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings | This chapter has been reviewed and updated. |
| Complaints and Representations | This chapter has been amended to reflect the Children's Statutory Complaint Process: Guide for Practitioners (Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman, 2021) (see Relevant Guidance). |
| Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations | Part 1 of this chapter has been updated in line with case-law. Information has also been added on recording by employees in a professional capacity. |
| Use of Social Medial 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 | This chapter has been refreshed and updated and includes links to related reports from the House of Commons Library. (See Section 16, Further Information and Statutory Guidance). |
| Short Breaks | Information in relation to the prohibition on looked after children under the age of 16 being placed in 'other arrangements' placements for the purposes of a short break has been added into Section 7, Short Break Settings. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | A link has been added to the Independent Child Trafficking Guardians Referral Form. In areas where the ICTG service has been implemented, if the social worker 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. Section 6.1, Placement Options has been updated in relation to placements in 'other arrangements'. Section 4, Assessment has been updated in relation to Age Assessments. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | Section 1.3, Section 20 Accommodation has been revised in line with the Public Law Working Group (PLWG) Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems. |
| Placements with Parents | Section 1, Planned Placements has been updated to add information on placements in 'other arrangements'. |
| Out of Area Placements | Section 6, Placements in Wales has been updated in line with updated Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review. |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey has been updated in line with updated Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | Information has been added into Section 3, Local Authority Accommodation, in relation to children under the age of 16 being placed in 'other arrangements' placements. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been significantly amended to reflect the 'Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges (Ofsted)'; updated 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' (see Further Information) and Sexual Harassment in Education – Briefing (House Of Parliament Library, June 2021). (See Section 8.2, Protecting looked after children from sexual harassment and peer on peer abuse). The chapter has also been amended to reflect Promoting the Education of Children with a Social Worker: Virtual School Head Role Extension, June 2021. |
| Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK | This guidance has been reviewed and updated throughout. Section 2.3, Insurance Cover has been updated to include details of how to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which provides access to reduced cost or free medical insurance in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Section 2.4, Obtaining a Passport has also been updated to link to reissued Home Office guidance for Local Authorities Children's Services Departments when Applying for Passports on Behalf of Children. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention | A link has been added to Guidance: Positive Environments Where Children Can Flourish (Ofsted). See Section 8, Further Information. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Placements in Other Arrangements | This procedure has been added to the manual. |
October 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Multi-Agency Think Family Procedure | This multi-agency procedure has been updated. |
| Capacity and Consent | Section 4.3, Consent to the Use of Medication to Suppress Puberty has been updated and new Section 5.4, Consent to Life-ending Withdrawal of Medical Support has been added to reflect High Court judgments. Section 2.1, Consent to Information Sharing has been updated to reflect revisions contained in the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Contacts and Referrals | Guidance contained in this chapter has been reviewed and updated as required to reflect guidance from the refreshed Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | The link has been updated to the SWET (updated April 2021). Section 2, Pre-Proceedings has been updated to include information in relation to pre-birth assessments and planning where the mother has learning disabilities. It has also been updated to reflect Practice Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council, June 2020). See in particular Section 9, Expectations of the Local Authority by the Court. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | Section 15, Resolving Disagreements 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. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Minor amendments have been made to this chapter in line with the UK's exit from the EEA. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been updated to take account of the UK's withdrawal from the EU and reflect the UK's exit from the EEA. In addition amendments have been made 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. |
| 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 add a link to Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG) to support the development of joint protocols that can help local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of care leavers. (See Section 4, Housing Protocols for Care leavers). |
| Relinquished Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect case-law 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 | This chapter has been updated. |
| Placements in Residential Care | This chapter has been updated to note that, from September 2021, looked after children under 16 years of age cannot be accommodated in unregulated independent or semi-independent placements. |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | In Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey, additional information has been added in relation to placements in Scotland, in line with a High Court case. |
| Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers | New Section 7.4, Consent to Life-ending Withdrawal of Medical Support has been added, to reflect a High Court judgment. |
| Advocacy and Independent Visitors | This chapter has been updated. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | In Section 6, When a Child Needs or Joins a New School, information has been added on the School Admission Code. It has also been updated to reflect changes from the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | Section 6, Pathway Planning has been updated to note that, 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 at the appropriate. Pathway Plans should contain clear information about what action needs to be taken by whom and when to ensure that the young person's right to remain legally in the UK is not jeopardised. A link has been added to Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG) to support the development of joint protocols that can help local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of care leavers. Additional content has therefore been added in a new Section 8, Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leaver as well as Section 7, Reviews of Pathway Plans and Section 13, Where Care Leavers Live or Move to a Different Local Authority Area. |
| Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Section 2.6 Care leavers leaving custody in Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG) 2020. (See Section 3.9, Planning for Release). |
| Local Contacts | These details have been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act | This policy applies when a child or care leaver is discharged from hospital after having been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. |
April 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | Information has been added in relation to NICE Quality Standard: Decision-Making and Mental Capacity. |
| Child and Family Assessment Protocol and Guidance | St. Helens Pre-Birth Guidance has been added into Section 4.1, Pre-birth 'Good Practice Steps'. |
| Complaints and Representations | Information contained in this procedure has been reviewed and refreshed as required. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been extensively refreshed throughout but is not as a result of legislative change. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | A new 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 added. Section 6, Placements of Children under 13 years has been updated following publication of revised DfE guidance. A revised link has been added to Secure Children's Homes. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | A revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. |
| Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers | A revised link has been added to Prepare for a review panel: adopters and foster carers. |
| Scheme of Delegated Decision-Making Framework | This chapter has been substantially updated and should be re-read. |
October 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Child and Family Assessment Protocol and Guidance | This chapter has been updated to reflect current terminology and practice. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Further Information has been updated to include a link to Statutory Guidance Modern Slavery: How to Identify and Support Victims. |
| Private Fostering | This chapter has been updated in Section 12, Review of Private Foster Carers, to reflect local guidance. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This chapter has been substantially updated and replaces the previous version. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019 which replaces the 2018 version. Section 8, Safeguarding the Looked After Child at School has been amended to include reference to Upskirting (which is now a criminal offence) and serious violence. In Section 1.3, Role of the Local Authority, Virtual School Head (VSH), and School OFSTED's advice that Local Authorities should exercise due diligence in ensuring schools for LAC pupils are registered with the DFE has been added. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Use of Social Medial Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
| Storage of Data on Mobile Devices | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
April 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Multi-Agency Early Help Strategy for Children, Young people and Families in St. Helens 2019-2022 | This strategy has been updated and should be re-read. |
| Assessments | This chapter has been updated in line with the new digital referral system for reporting potential victims of Modern Slavery. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been updated to reference and note the Family Justice Council: Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship (Family Justice Council, May 2019). (See Section 1, Introduction) |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This chapter has been amended to reflect the Ofsted X (formerly known as 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?). |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been updated to take account of the new NRM digital referral form to report Modern Slavery. |
| 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 local guidance with regard to the Duty to Refer. See Section 3, Homelessness: Code of Guidance - Referral Process. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Appendix A: Early Help (EH) Plan on a page, St. Helens Multi-Agency Procedures (SHSCP) | This appendix has been added to the manual. |
| Case Management Pathway for Team Managers | This link has been added to the manual. |
October 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children's Consultation and Participation | The Related Guidance section has been updated to add supporting resources with regard to children's consultation and participation. |
| Supervision Policy for Staff in Children's Social Care | This policy has been updated. |
| Assessments | This chapter has been revised to reflect updated guidance on Assessment in Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Case Transfer & Allocation Protocol | This protocol has been updated. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been amended to reflect changes from 'Practice Direction 27a - Family Proceedings: Court Bundles (Universal Practice to be Applied in the High Court and Family Court)', in relation to the required maximum length of certain court documents, (unless otherwise specifically directed by the court). In addition, a new subsection of Section 4.1, Local Authority Documentation - 'Final Care Plan' provides further detail on the importance of recording information on the Care Plan which will help the child, parent or the child's carer understand why decisions have been or are being made. |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child In Need) | This chapter has been updated throughout to reflect Working Together to Safeguard Children and the process for reporting a serious incident to the Panel via the Child Safeguarding Incident Notification System. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This chapter has been amended to reflect HHJ Greensmith's comments regarding M and N (Children: Local authority gathering, preserving and disclosing evidence) [2018] EWFC 40 (1 June 2018). |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | A new Section 6, Suitable Placements has been added. Details of the National Transfer Scheme Protocol for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Version 2.0 March 2018 have been added into Section 1, Introduction and Definitions. |
| Private Fostering | This chapter 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. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | This chapter has been amended to reflect Section 3 of the Care Planning and Care Leavers (Amendment) Regulations 2014. The Care Plan must identify whether there is reason to believe the child has been trafficked or is an unaccompanied asylum seeker (see Section 2.1, The Care Plan - Contents). |
| Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children | A link has been added to Related Guidance to St. Helens Council Criminal Injuries Compensation for Children in Care Procedure. |
| 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). |
| Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to include a link to the Leaving Care and Transition Procedure in relation to Personal Adviser visits to 'Relevant' or 'Former Relevant' young people. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect changes brought by the Children and Social work Act 2017. 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. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | Links have been added into Related Local Guidance:
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| Special Guardianship Policy | This policy has been updated. |
| Local Contacts | These details have been updated. |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | These details have been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Supervision Guidance | This guidance has been added to the manual. |
| Team Meetings | A link has been added to Local Resources. |
| Missing Children Protocol | A link has been added to Local Resources. |
April 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Children's Consultation and Participation | This chapter has been updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been amended to reflect case-law M and N (Children: Local authority gathering, preserving and disclosing evidence). The link has been updated to the Social Work Evidence Template. |
| Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child In Need) | This chapter has been updated in line with the requirement for local authorities to notify the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel within 5 working days of becoming aware of a serious incident. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance. |
| Recording Policy and Guidelines | This guidance has been reviewed and updated to reflect recent case-law. |
| Case Records and Retention | This chapter has been updated in line with the Adoption and Care Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018. |
| Access to Records / Subject Access Requests | This guidance has been reviewed and updated in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Confidentiality Policy | This guidance has been reviewed and updated in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations | This guidance has been reviewed and updated in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. |
| 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 updated chapter links to statutory guidance and to the guide to the duty to refer including the referral process. The duty to refer was brought in by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. |
| Relinquished Children | This guidance has been reviewed and updated to reflect recent case-law. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | This guidance has been reviewed and updated to reflect recent case-law. |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance. |
| Permanence Planning Guidance | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance. |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | This chapter has been updated to reflect the updated guidance Secure Children's Homes: How to Place a Child aged under 13 (July 2018). |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | This chapter has been updated in relation to placing young people in custody. |
| Looked After Reviews | This guidance has been reviewed and updated to reflect recent case-law. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been revised throughout in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and with local practice. |
| Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services | This chapter has been updated in relation to placing young people in custody. |
| Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody | This chapter has been updated in relation to placing young people in custody. |
| Removed Chapters | |
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October 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| St. Helens Multi Agency Quality Assurance Framework (St. Helens Multi-Agency Procedures) |
A link has been added to the updated version in the St. Helens Multi-Agency Procedures. |
| Assessments | Section 4, Communication has been updated to include reference to parents with learning disabilities. The chapter has also been updated in line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Child in Need Plans and Reviews | This chapter has been updated by adding a new Section Moving to Another Authority. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been updated to provide some emphasis on parents who lack capacity and added links to the President of the Family Division, Family Proceedings: Parents with a Learning Disability note. |
| Deprivations of Liberty | This has been updated to link to a central resource. As this area is likely to remain subject to changes in legislation and case-law, tri.x have revised this chapter throughout and will maintain it as a central resource, updating it as necessary in accordance with legal changes. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | This chapter has been revised throughout to include additional information on trafficking and modern slavery. |
| Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who May be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation | This link has been updated. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | Section 2.1, The Care Plan – Contents has been amended to reflect the additional 'permanence provisions' of the Care Plan (s.8 Children and Social Work Act 2017) which a court is required to consider when deciding whether to make a Care Order. |
| Permanence Planning Guidance | Section 5, Assessing and Planning for Permanence has been updated to reflect the additional 'permanence provisions' of the Care Plan (under s.8 Children and Social Work Act 2017) which a court is required to consider when deciding whether to make a Care Order. |
| Placements with Parents | This chapter has been given a general refresh and minor amendments made. |
| Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children | Section 2, Exceptions, has been revised to set out more clearly the circumstances where visiting requirements differ from those set out in Section 1, Normal Frequency. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This chapter has been updated to include additional local information. From 29 June 2018 local authorities in England must notify the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel within 5 working days of becoming aware of a serious incident. |
| Contact with Parents and Siblings | Section 2, Different Types of Contact has been updated to take account of the use of mobile communication with regards to contact. |
| Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK | In Section 2.4, Insurance, the link has been updated to the European Health Insurance Card. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | A new Section 3.5, Consent to Health Care Assessments has been added. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been revised throughout in line with Children and Social Work Act 2017. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Whistleblowing Helpline - Speak Up | This link has been added. |
| Raising Concerns at Work | This link has been added. |
| Public Concern at Work | This link has been added. |
April 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Supervision Policy for Staff in Children's Social Care | This local document has been added to the procedures. |
| Contacts and Referrals | Minor amendments have been made throughout in line with local practice. |
| Case Transfer & Allocation Protocol | An updated version has been added. |
| Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children | Section 3, Assessment has been updated. In advance of undertaking an age assessment for an unaccompanied asylum seeking child, local authorities must seek Home Office assistance with verifying the authenticity of identity documents e.g. travel documents or a birth certificate. A link to the relevant contact details for local authorities has been added. The statutory guidance has been updated to link to the DfE 2017 Care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery – statutory guidance for local authorities. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 is referenced in relation to age assessments. A link has been added to Securing British Citizenship for looked After Children - NRPF Network. |
| Young Carers | A link has been added to local Young Carers Referral Pathway. |
| Looked After Reviews | This chapter has been refreshed in relation to the circumstances in which a Looked After Review should be brought forward. Minor amendments have been made throughout in line with local practice. |
| Staying Put | Local financial information has been added. |
| Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers | Minor amendments have been made throughout in line with local practice. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Multi-Agency Think Family Procedure (St. Helens Multi-Agency Procedures) | A link has been added to this. |
| Multi-agency Early Help Strategy for Children, Young people and Families in St. Helens 2016-2019 | A link has been added to this. |
| St. Helens Multi Agency Quality Assurance Framework (St. Helens Multi-Agency Procedures) | A link has been added to this. |
| Mental Capacity Resource | Everyone working with (or caring for) any young person from the age of 16 who may lack capacity must comply with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. |
| Deprivations of Liberty | The Deprivations of Liberty procedure should be used by practitioners working with children and young people under the age of 18, where a deprivation of liberty may be occurring. |
