Amendments

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.

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.

This chapter has been updated. Amendments were made in:

• Section 5, Leaving Care Assessment of Need - in relation to children who are victims of trafficking or unaccompanied asylum seeking children;
• Section 7, Reviews of Pathway Plans - in relation to Relevant / Former Relevant young people moving to 'unregulated' accommodation; and
• Section 8, Personal Advisers - in relation to frequency of visits by Personal Advisers.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the designated teacher to provide support to previously Looked After Children.

A new section has been added on Corporate Parenting in response to the DfE Applying Corporate Parenting Principles to Looked-after Children and Care Leavers – Statutory Guidance (Feb 2018). It includes the seven corporate parenting principles set out in the guidance.

This chapter has been substantially updated to reflect current legislation and terminology and to add links to Children Act 1989: Family and Friends Care, Family Rights Group, Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment and Looking After Someone Else's Child.

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, and a relevant link to working with parents who have a learning disability, (see Pre-proceedings) and Practice Direction 3aa - Vulnerable Persons: Participation in Proceedings and Giving Evidence) see case management in Section 4, Documentation). In Related Guidance a link was added to Research in Practice supporting information and guidance on the Social Work Evidence template (SWET).

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance.

These changes relate to the status of ‘previously Looked After Children’. A previously Looked After Child is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from ‘state care’ outside England and Wales.

It is intended that a long-term fostering placement will last throughout childhood and into adulthood, including Staying Put, as appropriate for that young person. 'Long-term fostering' as a term will be restricted to care planning for permanence.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the Designated Teacher for Looked After Children, to offer support to previously looked after children.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the designated teacher, to provide support to previously Looked After Children.

A previously Looked After Child is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from ‘state care’ outside England and Wales.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance.

These changes relate to the status of ‘previously looked after children’. A previously Looked After Child is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from ‘state care’ outside England and Wales.

Children subject to Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order are entitled to support from their school, through the designated teacher.

Good preparation for adoption and good life story work contribute towards a successful adoptive placements. The Life Story Book provides an accessible and child-friendly explanation for the child of how they have comes to be where they are today.

This resource seeks to support practitioners working in statutory social care and provider services to understand the Act and practice confidently when supporting young people to make decisions, assessing mental capacity and applying the Best Interests principle.

This chapter has been comprehensively amended. It seeks to describe a flexible framework setting out quality and assurance practice for use by senior managers and frontline staff working with children and families. The chapter advises of the Comprehensive Audit Plan for 2018/18; highlights Priority Work and includes the Single Case Audit Reflection Sheet.

This chapter was amended to update the material regarding a child missing school (see Section 2, Identifying and Tracking Children Missing Education) and when a child changes school (see Section 1.3, School Responsibilities). (Note there are two forms for missing education based on whether it is thought a child is on a school’s roll or does not have a school - but should be receiving education).

The chapter has been updated to reflect current the terminology and structure of the Department; amend Section 3, ‘Assessment’ with regard to 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 was added. Additionally, a new section ‘When Asylum Seekers go Missing after Age 18 to Avoid Deportation’ was added to assist in dealing with this issue.

This chapter has been substantially amended to reflect the Children and Social Work Act 2017 on the Leaving Care Services and Care leavers. Particularly:

• The Local Offer - all local authorities must publish up-date information about the services it offers for care leavers and other services which may assist care leavers in, or preparing for, adulthood and independent living;
• Corporate parenting: the Children and Social Work Act 2017 establishes 7 Corporate Parenting Principles, which should include and involve not only the Local Authority providing Children’s Social Care services, but also District Councils (where appropriate) and partner agencies;
• Continuing Support Up to the Age of 25: all Care leavers between the ages of 21 and up to 25 will be entitled to support irrespective of whether they are in education or training. Even when they may not initially choose such support, they can return and seek support, which can be provided on specific issues or on a more comprehensive basis where this is needed. Please Reference.

This chapter has been updated to reflect that when seeking to share information with other agencies, due consideration should be given to the statutory guidance in Information sharing advice for safeguarding practitioners, (see Section 3, Management Action).

This chapter has been amended to include a link to the London Child Sexual Exploitation Operating Protocol. (See Relevant Guidance). Note however that the Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership Protocol for Children at Risk of Sexual Exploitation is currently under review.

This chapter has been updated by amending Section 11, After Approval. After Approval information has been added on the Intercountry Adoption Forms: checklist for adoption which details the paperwork adoption agencies must include in the inter-country adoption applications they submit to the Department for Education.

Working Together 2015 states clearly that one of the key principles underpinning safeguarding should be: ‘’a child-centred approach: for services to be effective they should be based on a clear understanding of the needs and views of children.’’

This protocol is written in order to ensure consistency of practice across the Virtual School and in liaison with Social Work teams responsible for arranging care placements. It is hoped that, in developing and sharing key principles relating to education placement, earlier and more strategic involvement of the Virtual School can avoid placement in inadequate or otherwise inappropriate schools or Alternative Provision placements.

This chapter has been updated to reference the concern of Modern Slavery and the National Reporting Mechanism, (see Section 1, Background). A link to Home Office Circular: Modern Slavery Act 2015; Modern Slavery Act 2015 and GOV.UK, Modern Slavery: duty to Notify - Promotional material (2016) are provided in Relevant Guidance.

This chapter has been updated to add a link to ‘Community Care Inform: Section 20: putting the guidance from case law into practice (Nov. 2015)’; Certification by social worker upon obtaining S20 consent and Model (see Section 4, Social Work Decision Making) Section 20 agreement. (See Appendix 1: Model Section 20 Agreement).

This chapter has been updated to note The Law Society guidance ‘Attendance of solicitors at local authority Children Act Meetings’ and their Code of Conduct where the child or family who attend reviews are supported by a legal representative. (See Section 9, Chair’s Responsibilities).

This chapter has been updated to add the DfE Special Guardianship Guidance (2016) and to confirm that the special guardian will have the ability to exercise parental responsibility without seeking permission from the parents, (see Section 1, Introduction). Additional material was added also in Section 2, Who May Apply?.

This chapter has been fully updated to reflect current the approach and local processes in Southwark to Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers. The chapter also acknowledges the concerns with respect to ‘Modern Slavery’ which can be a part of trafficking and adds the Home Office Circular on Modern Slavery.

This comprehensive guidance replaces the previous content and was last updated by Southwark Legal Operations Group (SLOG) led by the Assistant Director of Safeguarding. It explains the purpose and process to follow when presenting a case to Legal Planning Meeting and provides links to supporting guidance prepared and agreed by the South London Care Proceedings Project for social work in public law care proceedings.

The term 'relinquished child' is used to describe a child, usually a baby or at pre-birth stage, whose parents are making the choice of adoption for the child.

This chapter deals with the first stages of the adoption process for relinquished children, whilst signposting other key processes that should be progressed and which are expected for any child who is Accommodated or where the plan is for adoption. It also summarises the counselling and support that will be made available to the birth family in these circumstances. Once a decision is made and consent is formally given, although not irreversible, the adoption process is as for any other child.

This new chapter identifies that it is not always possible to provide a ‘legal permanence’ but seeking to give a sense of ‘belonging’, whilst this might prove challenging, remains important if children are to achieve good outcomes for themselves. This chapter emphasises the importance of ‘permanence’ and identifies key planning processes to achieve this. An updated process flow chart is added.

• Ten Golden Rules;
• Long Term Fostering.

This chapter contains links to the Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership chapter and the London Safeguarding Children Board site.

The Southwark SCB fully reflects a multi-agency based approach to this area of safeguarding and acknowledges that the approach is underpinned by a number of significant international bodies. The chapter identifies a number of issues around FGM with respect to risk factors and acknowledges the mandatory reporting of this - the impact of the Serious Crime Act 2015.

The Southwark SCB highlights key roles and responsibilities and procedures and provides a range of contact details / information together with a useful Risk Assessment

The chapter also contains links to a range of documents upon which the chapter and suggested practice is based.

The London SCB site contains a range of publicity and information / educational resources.

This chapter reflects the statutory guidance ‘Ceasing to look after a child’ in ‘Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations (2015)’ as amended by the ‘Care Planning and Fostering (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2015’ together with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015.

This chapter reflects the Young Carers Needs (Needs Assessments) Regulations 2015 and identifies the framework that needs to be used to undertake assessments. Young Carers are defined as anyone who is under 18yrs who provides practical or emotional support to another member of the family, whether this is an adult or child.

The local authority is expected also to undertake reasonable steps to identify ‘young carers’ in their area.

This chapter explores the issue of safeguarding children who might be subject or exposed to extremist behaviour and ideologies, and as a result might themselves be, or become, subject to significant harm. The chapter seeks to explore the features which support a ‘radicalisation process’ and some of the factors which increase and reduce risk. It is acknowledged that such a process is a dynamic and individual experience for each child. Children’s Social Care have a particular responsibility for children who are Looked After.

This chapter has been updated in line with Working Together 2015 and Keeping children safe in education (2015). Amendments have been made to the process.

The chapter has been introduced to the manual to provide a link to the updated Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership's Protocol For Children At Risk of Sexual Exploitation.

This chapter has been updated in line with Statutory Guidance on Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked After Children (March 2015). It contains new sections:

• Section 1, The Responsibilities of Local Authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups;
• Section 2, Principles;
• Section 3, Health Care Assessments).

This chapter has been updated in to reflect the impact of the Single Assessment Process and to include reference to The 'Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations (2011); DfE, Short Breaks for disabled children – Departmental advice for local authorities (March 2011); (see Assessment of Needs) and Children and Families Act 2014 (see Carer's Assessment).

Note also Section 7, Short Break Settings, revised links to new Quality Standards for Children's Homes and Care Quality Commission (CQC).

This chapter has been updated in September 2015 to reflect the current relevant procedures and processes in respect of the broader Department, the Crime and Policing Act (2014) and updating it with respect to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (2012).

This chapter focuses on the issues around financial entitlements that may be available to young people. It is a complex area that depends upon their circumstances and situation and that can also impact upon the carer financially in terms of any allowances and benefits that are received or are an entitlement. The chapter benefits from template letters (in the appendices) for the young person claiming Housing and Social Benefits.

This chapter relates to Southwark's multi-agency response to Child Sexual Exploitation and should be fully explored by all Practitioners and Managers. It replaces the previous chapter and contains a link also to The London Child Sexual Exploitation Operating Protocol.

Links to the 'DfE, What to do if you suspect a child is being sexually exploited, (2012)' and 'Ofsted, The sexual exploitation of children: it couldn't happen here, could it? (2014)' are also provided.

This chapter has been updated in line with 'Looked-after Children: Contact with Siblings - Update to Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (2015)'. Additional information has been added in to Section 1.4, Actions Required after a Decision to Look After is Made in relation to sibling placement.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Families Act 2014, and the overall aim of speeding up the adoption process. The chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. The main changes are in relation to:

• The duty to consider Fostering for Adoption placements;
• The removal of the requirement to give due consideration to a child's religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background when matching a child and prospective adopters;
• Post-adoption contact;
• Placing of siblings. 

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Families Act 2014 and the overall aim of speeding up the adoption process. The chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. Information has been added in relation to: 

• Fostering for Adoption (Section 1, Recruitment and Responding to Initial Enquiries and Section, 5.4, Fostering for Adoption);
• Adoption Register (Section 9, After the Panel Recommendation);
• Duty to provide information on adoption support services (Section 1, Recruitment and Responding to Initial Enquiries and Section 2, Registration of Interest in Adoption);
• Ethnicity (Section 15.3, Ethnicity).