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

Caption:section 1 of contents
   

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Supervision Policy (Local Resources)  
1.1.2 Vision and Working Principles  
1.1.3 Children's Consultation and Participation  
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:
  • Participation Tool Kit;
  • Mind of My Own.
  
1.1.4 Capacity and Consent  
1.1.5 Equality and Diversity  


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Early Help  
1.2.2 Thresholds
(North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)		  
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Contacts and Referrals Updated
1.3.2 Assessments Updated
1.3.3 Local Protocol for Assessment - to follow  
1.3.4 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) Updated
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:
  • S47 Practitioner Guide;
  • Strategy meeting Practitioner Guide;
  • Statutory Visit Practice Guide.
  
  See also: North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures  
1.3.5 Allocation of Work and Transfer between Teams  
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:
  • Transfer process CHSW to CwD;
  • Transfer Process IRS to LT;
  • Transfer Process LT (Long Term) to CIC&CL (Children in Care and Care Leavers).
  


 

1.4

Child in Need

  
1.4.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:
  • Step Down Process.
  
1.4.2 2023 Financial Assistance Section 17  


 

1.5

Legal Proceedings

  
1.5.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders Updated
1.5.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:
  • PLO Guidance Documents.
  
1.5.3 Legal Planning/Gateway Meetings  
  NOTE: Legal Planning Meetings are known as Legal Panel in Newcastle.  
1.5.4 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol  
  See also: Cross-border Child Protection Cases: The 1996 Hague  


 

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

Caption: section 2 of contents
   
2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:
  • Record Keeping - Best Practice Guidance.
  
2.2 Case Records and Retention  
2.3 Access to Records / Subject Access Requests  
2.4 Confidentiality Policy Updated
2.5 Electronic Recording 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. Children in Particular Circumstances

Caption: section 3 of contents
   

3.1

Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

  
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  
  See also: Short Breaks Statement (Local Resources)  
3.1.4 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
3.1.5 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 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  


 

3.5

Family and Friends Care

  
3.5.1 Family and Friends Care  
3.5.2 Private Fostering  
3.5.3 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New


 

3.6

Young Carers

  
3.6.1 Young Carers  
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:
  • Support for Young Carers.
  


 

3.7

Relinquished Children

  
3.7.1 Relinquished Children Updated


 

3.8

Mental Health

  
3.8.1 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983  


4. Looked After Children

Caption:note 1 Looked After Children
 
NOTE: Whilst 'Looked After Children' is a national term and will be used throughout these tri.x procedures for ease of understanding, please be aware that in Newcastle we use the term Children in Our Care.
Caption:section 4 of contents
     
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:  

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
4.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children  
4.1.2 Decision to Look After  
4.1.3 Care Planning  
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:
  • Resource and Care Panel Guidance.
  
4.1.4 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.5 Permanence Planning Guidance  
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  
4.1.8 Risk Assessment and Planning  
4.1.9 Providing Personalised Care  


 

4.2

Placements

  
4.2.1 Placements with Parents  
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:
  • Placement with Parents a Practice Guide.
  
4.2.2 Placements with Connected Persons  
4.2.3 Placements in Foster Care  
  See also Transracial Placements - Fostering and Adoption Service  
4.2.4 Placements in Residential Care  
4.2.5 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds  
4.2.6 Out of Area Placements  
4.2.7 Placements Outside England and Wales  
4.2.8 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.2.9 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.10 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.2.11 Transracial Placements - Fostering and Adoption Service  
4.2.12 Placements in Other Arrangements  
4.2.13 Health and Safety  
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

  
4.3.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children Updated
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:
  • Statutory Visit Practice Guide.
  
4.3.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors (Local Resources)  
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

  
  NOTE: Whilst 'Contact' is a national term and will be used throughout these tri.x procedures for ease of understanding, please be aware that in Newcastle we use the term 'Family Time'.  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.4.1 Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings  
4.4.2 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  
4.5.3 Leisure Activities  


 

4.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
4.6.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
4.6.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
4.6.3 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
4.6.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  


 

4.7

Change of Name and Marriage

  
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  
  See additional local information in Local Resources, including:
  • Our Care Leavers Offer;
  • Pathway Planning Best Practice Guidance;
  • Young People's Word List.
  
4.8.2 Staying Put Updated
  See also: Staying Put Policy in Local Resources  
4.8.3 Financial Arrangements 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 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.9.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
4.9.3 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance Updated
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  


5. Fostering and Adoption

Caption: section 5 of contents
   

5.1

Fostering Services

  
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 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.7 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Investigating Standards of Care Concerns (Local Resources)  
5.1.9 Training and Development of Foster Carers  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
 

Adoption Services in Newcastle are provided by Adopt North East (ANE) the Regional Adoption Agency for North Tyneside, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland and South Tyneside.

See the Adopt North East Policies, Procedures and Guidance for Staff		  


 

5.3

Special Guardianship

  
5.3.1 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders Updated
5.3.2 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  


6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

Caption:section 6 contents
   
6.1 Local Contacts  
6.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
6.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.4 Ofsted Inspection Framework  
6.5 Amendments