Amendments

This chapter was refreshed in January 2025.

In January 2025, links to sources of further information were updated.

In January 2025, a link was added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

In January 2025, information was added to Section 3, Stage One-The Pre-Assessment Process, with details on how to request information about an applicant from Ofsted.

In January 2025, Section 5.2, Pre-Placement was amended to reflect that each child over 2 has their own bedroom (previously over 3).

In January 2025, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

This chapter was refreshed in January 2025.

In January 2025, Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness was updated in line with case-law.

In January 2025, information on Ofsted checks was added in to Section 5, Checks and References.

In January 2025, information was added into Section 1, Child in Need Planning Meetings in relation to a parent who has disclosed domestic abuse.

This chapter was added to the procedures manual in January 2025.

This chapter was updated in January 2025.

In January 2025, Section 15.1, Registering an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability) was updated in line with case law.

In January 2025, links to further information were updated. 

This chapter was updated in August 2024 to reflect Championing Kinship Care: The National Kinship Care strategy.

In August 2024 this chapter was revised in response to Working Together to Safeguard Children (December 2023), and includes the ongoing development of the strategic leadership roles of Virtual School Heads (VSH) in promoting educational outcomes for children aged 0 to 18 who have, or previously had a social worker, and children in kinship care arrangements.

This chapter was added to the procedures manual in August 2024.

In August 2024 information was added in relation to family group decision-making in Section 1, Introduction and Time Limits and Section 5. Pre-Proceedings, and a link added to chapter Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making.

In August 2024 a link was added in Section 4, Age Assessment to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance.  In Further Information, a link was added to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance.

This chapter was added to the procedures manual in August 2024.

In August 2024 this chapter was updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children. New Section 3, Death of a Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24 was added.

In August 2024 Section 15. Resolving Disagreements was updated to include information on Guidance:  Carry Out an Order in Special Educational Needs Cases.

In August 2024 this chapter was revised in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.

This chapter was updated in August 2024 to note that if a young person in a Staying Put arrangement dies up to and including the age of 24, notifications should be made in accordance with the procedure on Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24).

Additional links were added in August 2024.

This chapter was updated in August 2024.  Information was added into Section 17, Special Guardian Duty on the Death of the Child, that the relevant local authority should be notified if the child was previously a looked after child.

In August 2024 Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty was 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.

In August 2024 this chapter was updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, to note that notifications should also be made of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24.