Contents


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This contents list is sub-divided into sections, as below. 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. Leaving Care and Transition
  7. Fostering and Adoption
  8. Supervision
  9. Appendices


1. All Children

Caption: section 1 of contents
     

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles Updated
1.1.2 Confidentiality Policy  
1.1.3 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.4 Providing Personalised Care  
1.1.5 Equality and Diversity  
1.1.6 Capacity and Consent  
1.1.7 Sufficiency Strategy (2022-2025)  
1.1.8 Commissioning Strategy New


 

1.2

Thresholds for Children's Services and Requests for Support

  
1.2.1 Thresholds for Children's Services  
1.2.2 Requests for Support Updated
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Single Assessment Process: Overview  
1.3.2 Contacts and Referrals New
1.3.3 Assessments Updated
1.3.4 Plan, Do, Review  
1.3.5 Early Help (Single Assessment) - Information for Practitioners  
1.3.6 Section 47 Enquiries Updated
1.3.7 Case Transfer and Allocation  
1.3.8 Principles for Working with Foreign Authorities in Child Protection Cases  
1.3.9 Written Agreements in Child Protection and Children in Need Cases  


 

1.4

Court Proceedings

  
1.4.1 Application for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.4.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
1.4.3 Legal Planning Meetings  
1.4.4 Cross-Border Child Protection Cases Under the 1996 Hague Convention  
  See also: 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.  
1.4.5 Supervision Order Procedure  
1.4.6 Viability Assessments - Guidance Notes and Screening Tools  


 

1.5

Safeguarding in Children's Social Care

  
1.5.1 Significant Incidents - Death of or Serious Harm to a Child in Need, Looked After or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24 Updated
1.5.2 Runaway and Missing from Home or Care (RMFHC) Protocol  


 

1.6

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.6.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.6.2 Whistleblowing  


2. Case Management and Recording

Caption: section 2 of contents
     
2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
2.2 Case Records and Retention  
2.3 Access to Records / Subject Access Requests  
2.4 Disposal of Diaries and Notebooks  
2.5 Electronic Recordings of Meetings and Conversations  
2.6 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  
2.7 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  


3. Prevention and Family Support

Caption: section 3 of contents
     
3.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  
3.2 Provision of Accommodation to Homeless 16 and 17 year olds  
3.3 Child Arrangements Orders and Derbyshire Support Scheme  


4. Children in Particular Circumstances

Caption: section 4 of contents
     

4.1

Children with Disabilities

  
4.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities  
4.1.2 Disabled Children's Service  
4.1.3 Personal Budgets and Direct Payments Updated
4.1.4 Short Breaks  
  See also:  
  Disability Living Allowance – Fostered Children and Children in Residential Care  
  Derbyshire Local Offer (SEND)  
4.1.5 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
4.1.6 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework  


 

4.2

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
4.2.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
4.2.2 Mental Capacity  


 

4.3

Mental Health

  
4.3.1 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 Updated


 

4.4

Children from Abroad

  
4.4.1 Unaccompanied Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
4.4.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  


 

4.5

Family and Friends/Kinship Care

  
4.5.1 Kinship Care Updated
4.5.2 Private Fostering  
4.5.3 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New


 

4.6

Young Carers

  
4.6.1 Young Carers  


 

4.7

Relinquished Children

  
4.7.1 Relinquished Children  


 

4.8

Safeguarding Children Procedures

  
4.8.1 Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Guidance on Safeguarding Children and Young People in Specific Circumstances
(Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Online Procedures) 		 


5. Children in Care

Caption: section 5 of contents
     

5.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
5.1.1 Decision to Look After  
5.1.2 Care Planning  
5.1.3 Permanence Planning Guidance  
5.1.4 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
5.1.5 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
5.1.6 Placements in Foster Care  
5.1.7 Placements in Residential Care Updated
5.1.8 Out of Area Placements  
5.1.9 Placements with Connected Persons Updated
5.1.10 Secure Accommodation Policy  
5.1.11 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
5.1.12 Placements with Parents  
5.1.13 Placements Outside England and Wales  
5.1.14 Placements in Other Arrangements  
5.1.15 Supported Lodgings  
5.1.16 Notifications from Other Local Authorities / Placement Providers  
5.1.17 Notification to Other Authorities of Children Placed Out of County  
5.1.18 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
5.1.19 Preventing Family Breakdown  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  


 

5.2

Monitoring and Reviews

  
5.2.1 Social Worker Visits to Children in Care  
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 Notification of Significant Events Updated


 

5.3

Family Time / Contact and Overnight Stays

  
5.3.1 Family Time / Contact with Parents and Siblings  
5.3.2 Overnight Stays and Social Visits  


 

5.4

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
5.4.1 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Updated
5.4.2 Education and Learning Post 16  
5.4.3 Holidays and School Trips in and Outside the UK  
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 Risk Assessment and Planning  
5.5.6 Health and Safety Updated
5.5.7 Disability Living Allowance – Fostered Children and Children in Residential Care  
5.5.8 Tattoo and Body Piercing Policy  
5.5.9 Children in Care - Pocket Money and Savings  
5.5.10 Alcohol Consumption Guidance  
5.5.11 Male Circumcision Policy and Procedure  
5.5.12 Covid Testing for Children in Care  
  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  


 

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

Children Involved In the Youth Justice System

  
5.7.1 Children in Care in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
5.7.2 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance  
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  


6. Leaving Care and Transition

Caption: section 6 of contents
     
  Charter for Care Leavers (Department for Education)  
6.1 Leaving Care and Transition  
6.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
6.3 Staying Put Updated
  See also:  
  Education and Learning Post 16  
  Local Offer for Derbyshire Care Leavers  


7. Fostering and Adoption

Caption: section 7 of contents
     

7.1

Fostering Services

  
  Fostering Services National Minimum Standards  
7.1.1 Fostering Panel Updated
7.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
7.1.3 Assessments and Approvals of Foster Carers Updated
7.1.4 Exemptions and Extensions / Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
7.1.5 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
7.1.6 Training and Development of Foster Carers  
7.1.7 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
7.1.8 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
7.1.9 Confidential Reporting and 'Whistleblowing' Policy for Derbyshire County Council Foster Carers  
7.1.10 Long Term Fostering  
7.1.11 Extensions / Alterations to Foster Carers' Homes  
7.1.12 Foster Carer Handbook  
7.1.13 Child Safety Online: A practical guide for parents and carers whose children are using social media (GOV.UK)  
  For Foster Carers Financial Information; including the skills allowance, please see the Documents Library.  


 

7.2

Adoption and Permanence

  
  Adoption National Minimum Standards  
7.2.1 Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters Updated
7.2.2 Adoption Panel  
7.2.3 Placement for Adoption  
7.2.4 Adoption Support  
7.2.5 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
7.2.6 Adoption Reviews  
7.2.7 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
7.2.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
7.2.9 Inter Country Adoption  
7.2.10 Non Agency Adoption  
7.2.11 Adoption Case Records  
7.2.12 Access to Information (Post-Commencement Adoption Orders) (Adoption East Midlands)  
7.2.13 Intermediary Services  
7.2.14 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders and the Special Guardianship Support Scheme Updated
7.2.15 Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  
7.2.16 Life Story Books  
7.2.17 Later Life Letters  
7.2.18 Fostering for Adoption / Early Permanence Placements  
  See also: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  


8. Supervision

Caption: section 8 of contents
     
8.1 Case Supervision Guidance  
8.2 Reflective Questions  
  For supervision templates, see the Documents Library.  


9. Appendices

Caption: section 9 of contents
     
9.1 Local Contacts  
9.2 Derbyshire County Council Scheme of Delegated Authority  
9.3 Local Keywords  
9.4 Working Together to Safeguard Children (Statutory Guidance, DfE)  
9.5 Ofsted Inspection Framework  
9.6 Amendments