Contents

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and PrinciplesOctober 24, 2024
2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationOctober 24, 2024
3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityNovember 13, 2024

1.2Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

1. 1.2.1Early Help: Local Guidelines for Early Help in North Somerset are outlined in the Early Help StrategyOctober 4, 2024
2. 1.2.2Threshold Document - Continuum of Help and SupportOctober 7, 2024
3. 1.2.3Capacity and ConsentMay 21, 2024
4. 1.2.4Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsOctober 7, 2024
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsOctober 7, 2024
3. 1.3.3Local Protocol for AssessmentOctober 4, 2024
4. 1.3.4Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)October 7, 2024
5. 1.3.5Completing Section 47 Enquiries Practice GuidanceOctober 4, 2024
6. 1.3.6Transfer of Children from Family Support & Safeguarding Teams to the Children in Care TeamOctober 4, 2024
7. 1.3.7North Somerset Safeguarding Partnership Procedures

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsUnder Review

1.5Legal Proceedings

1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersFebruary 7, 2024
2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 23, 2022
3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsOctober 7, 2024
4. 1.5.4Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
5. 1.5.5Working with foreign authorities: child protection cases and care orders Departmental advice for local authorities, social workers, service managers and children's services lawyers (July 2014)
6. 1.5.6Family 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.

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.6.1Complaints and RepresentationsOctober 7, 2024
2. 1.6.2WhistleblowingOctober 4, 2024

1.7Notifications

1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)October 7, 2024

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionOctober 7, 2024
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsMarch 21, 2025
4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsMarch 21, 2025
6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffNovember 15, 2024
7. 2.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesMarch 21, 2025

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMarch 21, 2025
2. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsMay 21, 2024
3. 3.1.3Short BreaksNovember 13, 2024
4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsMarch 21, 2025
5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 2024

3.2Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

1. 3.2.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024
2. 3.2.2Deprivation of Liberty
3. 3.2.3Mental Capacity

3.3Children from Abroad

1. 3.3.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryMarch 21, 2025
2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsSeptember 23, 2024

3.4Homelessness

1. 3.4.1Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferOctober 7, 2024

3.5Family and Friends Care

1. 3.5.1Kinship CareNovember 13, 2024
2. 3.5.2Private FosteringNovember 13, 2024
3. 3.5.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024

3.6Young Carers

1. 3.6.1Young CarersMarch 21, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenMarch 21, 2025

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenMarch 21, 2025
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterOctober 7, 2024
3. 4.1.3Care PlanningAugust 19, 2024
4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 19, 2023
5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceOctober 7, 2024
6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsNovember 13, 2024
7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenFebruary 7, 2022
8. 4.1.8Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
9. 4.1.9Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 23, 2022
10. 4.1.10NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsNovember 13, 2024
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsNovember 14, 2024
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareNovember 14, 2024
4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareSeptember 19, 2023
5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 19, 2023
6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsNovember 15, 2024
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesNovember 14, 2024
8. 4.2.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationNovember 15, 2024
9. 4.2.9Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersNovember 14, 2024
10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersOctober 7, 2024
11. 4.2.11Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyMarch 21, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenNovember 14, 2024
2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsMarch 21, 2025
3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsNovember 15, 2024
4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersNovember 15, 2024
5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsNovember 15, 2024
6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsAugust 19, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsMarch 21, 2025
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)November 15, 2024

4.5Education, School Trips and Holidays

1. 4.5.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenJuly 25, 2023
2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKApril 17, 2024
3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesMarch 23, 2022

4.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansNovember 15, 2024
2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsNovember 15, 2024
3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintOctober 7, 2024

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildFebruary 7, 2024
2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionMarch 21, 2025
2. 4.8.2Staying PutOctober 7, 2024
3. 4.8.3Care Leavers EntitlementsOctober 4, 2024

4.9Youth Offending

1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesNovember 15, 2024
2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyNovember 15, 2024
3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceMarch 21, 2025

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelNovember 15, 2024
2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringJuly 26, 2022
3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersMarch 21, 2025
4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersOctober 7, 2024
6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersMarch 21, 2025
8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Assessment and Approvals of Prospective AdoptersOctober 4, 2024
2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelOctober 4, 2024
3. 5.2.3Placement for AdoptionAugust 20, 2024
4. 5.2.4Adoption SupportOctober 4, 2024
5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 4, 2024
6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsOctober 4, 2024
7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 4, 2024
8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedOctober 4, 2024
9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsOctober 4, 2024
12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsOctober 4, 2024
13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesOctober 4, 2024
14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
16. 5.2.16Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers and Approved Prospective Adopters (Early Permanence)October 4, 2024
17. 5.2.17Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersOctober 4, 2024
2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 23, 2024

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 6.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersOctober 4, 2024
2. 6.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkMarch 21, 2025
3. 6.0.3Local ContactsOctober 4, 2024
4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
5. 6.0.5Amendments