Amendments

January 2020

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Strengths-Based Practice Framework	An updated Framework has been added to the manual.
Quality Management Framework	An updated Framework has been added to the manual.
Initial Referrals	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read.
Guidance for Staff: Reporting Serious Incidents and/or Child Deaths	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	This chapter has been updated to reference and note the Family Court Justice Interim Guidance on Special Guardianship, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (May 2019). (See Section 1, Introduction).
Disability Living Allowance - Fostered Children and Foster Carers	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read.
Permanence Planning Guidance	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 an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order are entitled to support from their school, through the designated teacher.
Placements in Foster Care	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read.
Placements with a Relative or Friend (Connected Persons)	This chapter has been completely rewritten and should be re-read.
Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children	This chapter has been amended to include a link to the Leaving Care and Transition Procedure in relation to Personal Adviser visits to ‘Relevant’ or ‘Former Relevant’ young people.
Education of Looked After Children	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read.
Persons Disqualified from Fostering	This chapter has been updated in Section 3, Approved Foster Carers with the process to be followed after the panel's recommendation, that the person is not suitable to act/continue as a foster carer.
Assessments and Approvals of Foster Carers	This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read.
Guidance for Foster Carers on Personal Safety and Incident Reporting	This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read.
Foster Carer Case Files	This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read.
Supervision of Foster Carers	This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read.
Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers	This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read.
Foster Carer Recording Policy	This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read.
Safe Caring	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read. Further amendments will be required when Nottinghamshire County Council agree on an alternative to the MAPA model of intervention.
Religious Identity and Delegated Authority	Information has been added on the duty of the local authority under the Children Act 1989 to consider the wishes and feelings of any child in its care in decisions made about that child. This includes children under the age of 16 years. Consequently should the wishes and feelings of a child be contrary to those of those with parental responsibility with regard to the child’s engagement with religious practices, then these must be duly considered, taking into account the age and level of understanding of the child.
Transfer of Foster Carers Policy	This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read.
Monthly Inspection Visits	This chapter has been re-written and should be re-read.
Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters	A link has been added to Attending an IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 12, Representations / Independent Review Procedure.
Placement Support and Disruption Meetings (Adoption)	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Access to Birth Information (Post Commencement Adoptions Orders)	A link has been added to Attending and IRM Panel: information sheets. See Section 3, Access to Adoption Case Records.
New Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Drug Testing in Children's Social Care (Oral Fluid Sampling)	This resource has been added to the manual.
Placement Support and Disruption Meetings (Fostering)	This chapter details the procedures to be followed for Placement Support Meetings and Disruption Meetings for foster care placements and Nottinghamshire children placed for adoption or Nottinghamshire approved adopters, where disruption occurs prior to the Adoption Order.
Transitional Personal Advisor (TPA) Service - Policy and Practice Guidance	This guidance has been added to the manual.
21Plus Service Extended Personal Advisor Support for Care Leavers Aged 21 – 24 years - Policy and Practice Guidance	This guidance has been added to the manual.
Removed Chapters
Children's Disability Service - Provision of Childcare for Working Parents of Children and Young People with Disabilities.

Next Update: July 2020

November 2019

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Children and Young People who Sexually Harm	This chapter has been updated and replaces the previous guidance issued in July 2015. This guidance should be re-read throughout.

July 2019

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Children's Disability Service - Threshold Criteria for Children's Social Care	Section 2, The Children's Disability Service (CDS) Social Work Team has been updated and sets out the work of the team and criteria for their involvement.
Decision to Look After and Care Planning	This chapter has been amended to reflect Section 3 of the Care Planning and Care Leavers (Amendment) Regulations 2014. The Care Plan must identify whether there is reason to believe the child has been trafficked or is an unaccompanied asylum seeker (see Section 2.1, The Care Plan – Contents).
Placements with Dog-owning Families (and Prospective Adopters)	This chapter has been refreshed and should be re-read.
Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation	This chapter has been updated in relation to placing young people in custody with a new Section 2.3, How to Request a Transfer or Placement Review.
Leaving Care and Transition	Amendments have been 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.
Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody	This chapter has been updated in relation to placing young people in custody with a new Section 3.8, How to Request a Transfer or Placement Review.
Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters	This chapter has been refreshed and should be re-read.
Adoption Panel	This chapter has been refreshed and should be re-read.
Placement Support and Disruption Meetings (Adoption)	This chapter has been revised and now covers Placement Support and Disruption Meetings for Adoption.
Nottinghamshire’s Youth Justice Service Policies, Procedure and Guidance	All of the guidance in this chapter has been updated.
Removed Chapters
Supervision Orders Procedure.

January 2019

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Confidentiality Policy	This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.
Quality Management Framework	This chapter has been updated.
Family Service Operating Procedures	This chapter has been updated.
Family Group Conference	This chapter has been revised and should be re-read.
Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations by Service Users	This guidance has been reviewed and updated following the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.
Guidance for Staff: Reporting Serious Incidents and/or Child Deaths	This chapter has been amended. From 29 June 2018 local authorities in England must notify the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel within 5 working days of becoming aware of a serious incident.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	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 Section 2, 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 has been added to Research in Practice supporting information and guidance on the Social Work Evidence template (SWET).
Protocol for Step Down / Step Up of Cases Between CDS Social Work Team and the Short Break Assessment and Review Team	This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read.
Support for Disabled Parents and Young Carers - Protocol Between Children’s and Adults Social Care	Section 8, Case Examples has been removed.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children	This chapter has been updated throughout to reflect the arrangements set out in Operation Innerste (also referred to as the Hertfordshire Model). The flowchart in Appendix B: Operation Innerste Flowchart has also been updated to reflect these new arrangements. The chapter should be re-read.
No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)	This policy has been rewritten and should be re-read.
Secure Accommodation – Application, Admission & Reviews	This chapter has been updated to fully reflect the updated guidance ‘Secure children’s homes: how to place a child aged under 13 (July 2018)’. Appendix A - Initial Secure Accommodation Panel Agenda, Appendix B - Secure Accommodation Review Agenda, Appendix D - Referral for a Section 25 Children Act 1989 Secure Childrens Home Placement have been updated and are available in this chapter.
Placement Support and Disruption Meetings (Fostering and Adoption)	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. A new Section 5, Disruption Meetings in Pre-Order Adoption Placements has been added.
Looked After Reviews	Section 9, The Role of the Looked After Review in Achieving Permanence for the Child has been amended to reflect the outcome of a High Court Judgement in respect of children who were subject to Section 20 and where there were concerns of significant delays in their planning for permanence. The court noted the IROs’ recognition and action over a number of reviews but acknowledged that a more robust response had been needed.
Holidays and School Trips Outside the UK	A new section has been added as Section 5, Holidays where children may be at risk.
Leaving Care and Transition	This chapter has been updated.
Working with and Supporting Birth Families	In Section 10, Notifications After Adoption Panel the following information has been added. Birth parents will be written to by the permanence team manager when adopters have been identified an notified of this and that a final contact visit is to be arranged. Birth parents will be written to by the permanence team manager to notify them if a decision has been made that adoption is no longer the permanence plan. They will be informed that the Local Authority will be returning the matter to court.
Placing Relinquished Babies for Adoption	In Section 7, Consent to Adoption additional information has been added on Consent and Competency after a recent Case The High Court in Re S (Child as parent: Adoption: Consent) [2017] EWHC 2729 (Fam).
Non Agency Adoption	In Section 3, Medical Information the following details have been amended. Upon receipt, the completed medical forms should be passed by the social worker to the Medical Adviser for comment.
Adoption Case Records	Section 3, Security Retention and Sharing of Records has been updated in line with Adoption and Care Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018, which provides that an adoption agency may disclose an adoption case record to another adoption agency for purposes related to either agency’s functions as an adoption agency. Further information has been added in relation to adoption records where an Adoption Order is not made.
Intermediary Services	In Section 6.1, No Obligation to Proceed if not Appropriate the following has been added. Where there are safeguarding concerns, Notts CC will consider convening an Intermediary Service Panel where the social worker will submit a report (analysing the risks and issues, reviewing possible mitigating actions and alternatives) to be considered by the Team Manager and in more complex cases, the Service Manager who will sign off the decision whether to offer IS or not. This decision will be conveyed to the Applicant and the report uploaded to Mosaic and in Section 7.5, Confidentiality to an approved agency providing tracing. (The information from the tracing report cannot be shared directly with the applicant but can be used by the Intermediary Agency for tracing purposes).
Special Guardianship	This chapter has been and updated throughout and should be re-read
Special Guardianship - Financial Support	In Paragraph 4.8 the following has been added. Mosaic step. An Initial House hold Income Assessment will then be done by the Family Service workers and sent to payments team to calculate whether the applicant is eligible for a means tested payment. They will inform the social worker and Service Manager for SGO. The Social Worker can then send an authorisation to the Service Manager for payments to be made once the SGO has been made.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Principles and Practice for the Safeguarding and Transfer of Children & Young People from Police Custody to Local Authority Accommodation & Suitable Accommodation where Bail is Denied	This chapter has been added to the manual.
Removed Chapters
Mobile Working; Early Support Sitting and Befriending Service; Early Support Homecare Service; Special Guardianship Court Report; Special Guardianship Support Plan.

2018 Amendments

July 2018

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Transfer Policy	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read throughout.
Child in Need Plans and Reviews (including Detention under the Mental Health Act (1983))	Section 3, Children Detained under the Mental Health Legislation (MHA) has been updated.
Managing Allegations / Concerns in Relation to Adults who work with Children	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read throughout.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	Section 4.2, Case Analysis has been updated to reflect the ‘permanence provisions’ of the Care Plan added by s.8 Children and Social Work Act 2017 (amending Section 31(3B) Children Act 1989) which a court is required to consider when deciding whether to make a Care Order.
Deprivation of Liberty	This chapter has been updated.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children	Section 4, Age Assessments has been updated with regards 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 has been added. The statutory guidance has been updated to link to the DfE 2017 Care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery – statutory guidance for local authorities. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 is referenced in relation to age assessments.
Decision to Look After and Care Planning	Section 2.1, The Care Plan – Contents has been amended to reflect the additional ‘permanence provisions’ of the Care Plan (s.8 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amends Section 31(3B) Children Act 1989) which a court is required to consider when deciding whether to make a Care Order.
Child Trust Funds and Junior ISA's for Looked After Children	This chapter has been updated to reflect the increase in the annual limit on contributions in Section 1.4, Can Additional Payments be Made?
Placements with Parents	This chapter has been updated to reflect that the DBS has no eligibility for a standard or enhanced check for birth parents or other adults living in the household. However, the Local Authority has a requirement under the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England Regulations) 2010 to obtain information about unspent convictions and cautions before placing a child back with parents. (See Section 3, Assessment and Checks before Placement).
Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children	Section 2, Exceptions, has been revised to set out more clearly the circumstances where visiting requirements differ from those set out in Section 1, Normal Frequency.
Health Care Assessments and Plans	New Section 3.4, Consent to Health Care Assessments has been added.
Leaving Care and Transition	This chapter has been extensively updated to add clarification in relation to Qualifying Young People. See Definitions.
Assessments and Approvals of Foster Carers	Section 8, After the Panel Recommendation has been updated to clarify the decision as to the suitability of the applicant must be made within 7 working days of receipt of the panel’s recommendation and final set of panel minutes – The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 4: (5.39) and Standard 14 (14.9) Fostering panels and the fostering service’s decision-maker.
Investigating Concerns and Allegations Against Foster Carers Including Historical Issues	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read throughout.
Placement for Adoption	Section 1, Planning for Permanence has been updated to reflect the additional consideration (added by s.9 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amends Section 1(4)(f) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002) into the list of considerations that whenever a court or adoption agency is coming to a decision relating to the adoption of a child), of the relationship which the child has with relatives, with any person who is a prospective adopter with whom the child is placed and with any other person in relation to whom the court or agency considers the relationship to be relevant. It has also been amended to emphasise ‘procedural fairness’ as a key aspect of the adoption planning process in respect of ensuring parents are provided with information throughout, including the dates of placement/proposed changes of a child’s Status, etc. This follows the outcome of a judicial review ([2017] EWHC 1041 (Admin)). (See new Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness).
Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters	Section 4.1, Duty to Consider Fostering for Adoption Placement has been updated to reflect the additional consideration (added by s.9 Children and Social Work Act 2017 into the list of considerations whenever a court or adoption agency is coming to a decision relating to the adoption of a child), of the relationship which the child has with relatives, with any person who is a prospective adopter with whom the child is placed and with any other person in relation to whom the court or agency considers the relationship to be relevant.
Inter Country Adoption	Section 8, Home Study has been updated to include a link to GOV.UK Benefits.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Mental Capacity Practice Resource	This resource will support practitioners working in social care to understand the Act and practice confidently when supporting young people to make decisions, assessing mental capacity and applying the Best Interests principle.
Support to Schools - Arrangements for Accessing Top-up Funding for Pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Nottinghamshire Mainstream Schools 2017-18	This booklet explains the arrangements regarding access to top-up funding for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in mainstream schools. These arrangements reflect national school funding reforms, which became effective from April 2013. The descriptors of need which are used to underpin funding decisions have been revised in line with the SEND Code of Practice issued in 2014.
Family Arrangements Policy	This chapter has been added to the manual.
Reducing Offending Behaviour	The protocol aims to strike a balance between the rights and needs of the children and young people who are looked after, the victim, the rights of carers and the provider’s decisions to instigate Police action. It is the purpose of this protocol to provide guidance on the options available and to emphasise the importance of flexibility, in deciding upon the most suitable option for dealing with some of our most vulnerable children and young people.
Youth Homelessness Prevention Plan 2016	There are three key areas this plan seeks to address, these are: To prevent young people from becoming homeless; To operate a successful support and accommodation pathway; To advocate for the needs of vulnerable young people for longer term housing options.
Young People's Health Strategy	This Strategy intends to define ‘where we want to get to’ regarding improving the health of young people in Nottinghamshire, as well as detailing some elements of ‘how we are going to get there’. It does not replace existing strategies on reducing teenage pregnancy, child and adolescent mental health or obesity (for example), but it is intended to complement them, and to articulate a clear vision for what we want to achieve when trying to improve the health of young people, and, by extension, the health of the entire population of Nottinghamshire.
Working with Fathers Strategy	The strategy sets out a framework for working with fathers in Nottinghamshire, and should be read in conjunction with the overall Parenting Support Strategy.

January 2018

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation	Section 1, Introduction has been updated to take account of the change of definition in Child Sexual Exploitation: Definition and Guide for Practitioners (DfE February 2017).
Managing Allegations / Concerns in Relation to Adults who work with Children	Paragraph 6.2 clarified for all referrals the point of contact will be the LADO Allegations Officer.
No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)	A link has been added to Securing British Citizenship for Looked After Children (NRPF). The NRPF have highlighted important information from the Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens, with regard to the responsibilities that local authorities have to ensure that children in their care have effective access to specialist legal advice so their citizenship or any entitlement to citizenship is secured.
Decision to Look After and Care Planning	This chapter has been amended to reflect the outcome of an Appeal Court hearing (2017) with respect to ‘consent’. The court recognised that the term ‘consent’ itself was not used in Section 20. However, it described previous court observations as ‘good practice guidance’, emphasising its judgment should not alter the content or effect of these. (See Section 1.3.1, Obtaining Parental Consent).
Supervision of Foster Carers	Section 3, Frequency of Supervision has been updated to reflect that in some circumstances it may be agreed between the foster carers, Supervising Social Worker and Team Manager that supervision meetings are held less frequently. This may be because the carer provides support care only or because for example the placement is very stable and there have been no concerns for many years. The decision is at the discretion of the Team Manager. Any agreed variation from monthly supervision MUST be clearly recorded by the authorising Team Manager in case notes and highlighted in the Annual Review.
Investigating Concerns and Allegations Against Foster Carers Including Historical Issues	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read throughout.
Statement of Primary Responsibilities for Staff	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read throughout.
Placement for Adoption	This chapter has been updated; a link has been added to Contact After Adoption (Research in Practice). The link contains practical resources which bring together knowledge from research and practice to support professionals to be reflective and explore their own assumptions, attitudes and values when developing contact plans.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Protocol between the Children’s Social Care (CSC) and Adult Social Care, Health and Public Protection (ASCHPP) where both are involved in case management	This protocol exists to ensure that all professional workers understand the critical importance of effective communication and that their respective roles and responsibilities are clear. This is particularly important where a case involves care proceedings.
Criminal Injuries Compensation	This procedure outlines the circumstances when it may be possible to make a claim for compensation on behalf of a looked after child subject to Section 31 Children Act 1989 for whom Children’s Services has the parental responsibility and the process which must be followed in order to proceed with making a claim.
Residential Placement Planning	This document draws together the information, advice and guidance in respect of placement planning for children and young people being accommodated in one of the three Nottinghamshire residential homes.
Special Guardianship Court Report	This template has been added.
Special Guardianship Support Plan	This template has been added.

2017 Amendments

July 2017

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Transporting Children and Young People Safely	Text in Section 3, Child Care Seats and Restraints has been replaced with a link to GOV.UK, Child car seats: the law.
Managing Allegations / Concerns in Relation to Adults who work with Children	This chapter has been updated including in Section 4, Geographical Jurisdiction- in any cross boundary situation there needs to be dialogue between LADOs of respective authorities. In Section 7.13, Strategy Meeting (Allegations Management) Minutes and Outcome - during the whole process timescales should be set so cases are completed in a timely way taking into consideration the child and adult of concern. Any delays that may arise and the reasons needs to be recorded within the Strategy Meeting minutes.
Children's Disability Service - Threshold Criteria for Children's Social Care	Section 2, The Children's Disability Service (CDS) Social Work Team has been updated to include the child’s disability must be the presenting concern for the case to transfer to CDS. Cases where one or more children have a disability but the presenting concerns are not related to these disabilities then CDS will provide consultancy and advice to the social worker involved as appropriate.
Joint Children's and Young People's Continuing Care Panel	An updated version has been added.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	This chapter has been updated to reflect the outcome of a court judgement on Ordinary Residence that was included in the updated Care and Support Statutory Guidance (DHSC, December 2016). In Related Guidance, a link has been added to guidance on SEND: 19 to 25 year olds' entitlement to EHC plans (DfE, February 2017). Section 12, Funding Issues – Ordinary Residence has also been added.
Short Breaks (away from home)	A link has been added to Friendship For All (The Children’s Society) in the Relevant Legislation, Guidance and Information section.
Child Trust Funds and Junior ISA's for Looked After Children	This chapter has been updated to reflect the increase in the annual limit on contributions to Child Trust Funds/Junior ISAs for Looked After Children (to £4128).
Placements with a Relative or Friend (Connected Persons)	A link has been added in the Relevant Legislation and Guidance Section to Family Rights Group - Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment: A Good Practice Guide. This guide sets out best practice as to how viability assessments should be conducted. Section 5, Prior to Placement Under Regulation 24 has been updated to reflect that proposed carers assessment should also consider that the accommodation and home environment is suitable including where relevant an initial risk assessment of any pets, together with the environment in which the pet is kept.
Family and Friends Policy and Guidance	A link has been added in the Relevant Guidance Section to Family Rights Group - Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment: A Good Practice Guide. This guide sets out best practice as to how viability assessments should be conducted. It lists what factors social workers conducting the assessment need to consider, including when undertaking assessments with family members overseas. It also includes research evidence, a schedule and example template and an information sheet for a family and friends carers.
Placements with Parents	Section 3, Assessment of Checks before Placement has been updated to reflect that the assessment of the home environment should include, where relevant, the need for a risk assessment of any pets and the environment in which they are kept.
Advocacy and Independent Visitors	This chapter has been updated to add a link to the Children’s Society ‘Advocacy services for children and young people – a guide for commissioners’. This guide outlines the legislative requirements of local authorities in the provision of advocacy support to children in need and looked after children.
Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read throughout.
Health Care Assessments and Plans	A link has been added to Children’s Attachment: Attachment in Children and Young People who are Adopted from Care, in Care or at High Risk of Going into Care - NICE Guidelines (NG26) in the Relevant Legislation and Guidance section.
Supervision of Foster Carers	Section 5, Support Provided by the Supervising social worker has been updated to reflect that during the placement they should assess and review any health and safety issues within the fostering household including the addition of any new pets and the environment in which they are kept.
Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters	Section 5.3 Assessments has been updated to include where the applicants have pets, a risk assessment should be conducted and any associated risks should be taken into account with regard to the pet itself and where the pet is kept. Where necessary, an independent assessment should be undertaken by a vet to establish whether the dog falls within the scope of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Inter Country Adoption	Section 3, Initial Meeting, a reference has been added to the DfE publication Intercountry Adoption and Resident Status Requirements which set out the minimum requirements, however entry clearance requirements vary depending upon the circumstances of each case and prospective adopters will need to obtain their own independent legal advice to establish the requirements that apply to their individual circumstances. In Section 4, Formal Approval, a link has been added to Intercountry adoption: means test form which contains information on how to apply for a fee reduction for people who wish to adopt a child from overseas and who earn £45,000 per year or less. In Section 12, After Approval information has been added on the Intercountry Adoption Forms: checklist for adoption which details the paperwork adoption agencies must include in the intercountry adoption applications they submit to DfE.
Special Guardianship	The DfE has updated the Special Guardianship Guidance to include details of the Adoption Support Fund as the Fund now covers therapeutic support for children, living in England, who were previously in care immediately before the making of a Special Guardianship Order – Section 9, Assessment for Support Services has been updated accordingly.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Residential Placement Planning	This document draws together the information, advice and guidance in respect of placement planning for children and young people being accommodated in one of the three Nottinghamshire residential homes.
Deleted Chapters
Permanence Panel Policy and Practice Guidance; Mosaic - Permanence Panel (not adoption) Guidance for social workers and IROs; Breaks in Partnership.

January 2017

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Whistleblowing Policy (Confidential Reporting)	A link has been added to Whistleblowing to Ofsted about Children’s Social Care Services - Policy and Guidance for Whistleblowers in the Related Information section.
Blood Borne Viruses - H.I.V, Hepatitis B and C	A link has been added to Practice Guidance: Supporting Young People with HIV Testing and Prevention in the Relevant Legislation and Guidance section. This practice guidance is for professionals who do not provide HIV testing, treatment or advice as part of their day-to-day work. It is primarily intended for those working outside health settings, such as social workers or voluntary sector practitioners.
Written Records (Including Retention)	Information has been added at Section 3.11, Retention.
Child and Family Assessment	A new Section 7, Pre-birth ‘Good Practice Steps’, has been added. In Relevant Guidance and Legislation information with regards to the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) has been added.
Child in Need Plans and Reviews (including Detention under the Mental Health Act (1983))	A new Section 3, Children Detained under the Mental Health Legislation (MHA) has been added.
Private Fostering	This chapter has been extensively updated and includes additional responsibilities for Team Managers, changes to departmental timescales and the inclusion of Reviews for children in Private fostering arrangements and should be re-read throughout.
Historical Cases of Abuse	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read throughout.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	This chapter has been updated to reflect the outcome of a judgment following an application to remove a child at birth. The judge highlighted what were thought to be ‘good practice steps’ to issuing care proceedings in respect of the removal of a child at birth.
Legal Planning Meetings	This chapter has been updated to reflect the outcome of a judgment following an application to remove a child at birth. The judge set out what were thought to be ‘basic and good practice steps’ (see Section 2, Considerations).
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	Links to the National Framework for Children and Young People’s Continuing Care and 0-25 SEND code of practice: a guide for health professionals and Advice for clinical commissioning groups, health professionals and local authorities have been added to the Related Guidance section.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read throughout.
No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)	This chapter has been extensively updated and replaced the previous No Recourse to Public Funds chapter.
Children and Young People Subject to Dual Status	A new Section 4, Children Detained under the Mental Health Legislation (MHA 1983) has been added.
Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read throughout.
Looked After Reviews	Information has been added at Section 8, Independent Reviewing Officer's Responsibilities with regards to where the ‘supporter’ is a legal representative then the IRO should note The Law Society guidance ‘Attendance of solicitors at local authority Children Act Meetings’ and related Code of Conduct (2011). All solicitors attending these meetings should be aware of the local policies and procedures in respect of Children Act Meetings and of their role in terms of ‘Working Together to safeguard Children’.
Education of Looked After Children	A link has been added to Mental Health Behaviour in Schools Guidance in the Relevant Legislation And Guidance section.
Consent to Medical Examinations	A link has been added in the Related Guidance section to the British Medical Association Consent Toolkit.
Flowchart for the Provision of CAMHS Support to Young People Placed in Foster Placements, Residential Care and Pre-Order Adoption Placements Outside Nottinghamshire	This flowchart has been updated.
Staying Put	This chapter has been updated. A link has been added to Staying Put: What does it mean for you? (Catch 22 National Care Advisory Service) a guide for young people in care or who have left care about staying with their foster carers after the age of 18 in the Relevant Guidance and Information section.
Safe Caring	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read throughout.
Substance Misuse	A link has been added to the New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Resource Pack for Informal Educators and Practitioners (Home Office) in the Relevant Legislation and Guidance section.
Exit Interviews - Children's Homes	The Relevant Legislation and Guidance section has been updated.
Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters	This chapter has been updated to include in Section 4, Fostering for Adoption if, at any point during the planning of a Fostering for Adoption placement or if the child is already in such a placement, there is any change to the circumstances of prospective carers, including relatives, a planning meeting with the Fostering for Adoption carers and all professionals involved should take place to consider the new information at the earliest opportunity, so that the carers can make an informed choice about their position. Similarly, this also allows the local authority to consider their position in light of the change in circumstances.
Special Guardianship	A link has been added to the DfE Special Guardianship Guidance (2016) in the Relevant Legislation and Guidance section. Information has also been added that a person who is, or was at any time within the last 6 months, a local authority foster parent of a child may not apply for leave to apply for an SGO unless (s)he has the consent of the local authority, or (s)he is a relative of the child or the child has lived with him/her for at least one year preceding the application.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations	This chapter deals with recording of meetings/conversations by individual service-users, in their capacity as private individuals. Note that the employees of the local authority, acting in their professional capacity, are subject to different legislative requirements, e.g. under the Data Protection Act 2018. This is a developing area, and legal advice must be sought as necessary.
Cafcass Plus Scheme - Nottinghamshire	This chapter details the scheme, the target group and the process involved.
Guidance for Staff: Reporting Serious Incidents and/or Child Deaths	This document provides guidance to staff with regard to the reporting and notification of serious incidents and/or child deaths in Children’s Social Care.
Guidance for Completing Placement Requests (PR)	The prompts provided within this guide are intended to support effective and efficient completion of the placement request to ensure the best placement match for the child.

2016 Amendments

July 2016

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Access to Records/Subject Access Request	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Child and Family Assessment	This chapter has replaced the previous chapters - 'Initial Assessments' and 'Core Assessments'.
Short Breaks (away from home)	This chapter has been fully updated to bring it in line with the Children and Families Act 2014, DfE, Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0-25 years Statutory Guidance for Organisations who work with Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (2015) and DfE, The Children Act 1989 guidance and regulation - Volume 2: care planning, placement and case review regulations (2015).
Direct Payments	Section 7, Hospital Stays has been added.
Decision to Look After and Care Planning	This chapter has been extensively updated with particular regard to Section 20 accommodation and gaining parental consent and should be read throughout.
Ceasing to Look After a Child	Section 2.3, Circumstances Around Ceasing to Look After a Child has been updated to reflect when the local authority receives a request is for the child to return home immediately, (under Section 20(8)) this must be responded to; any delay in so doing may bring severe criticism, and possible financial penalty, from a court.
Secure Accommodation – Application, Admission & Reviews	This chapter has been completely updated and should be re-read.
Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers	Section 1, Introduction has been amended to reflect that the notification must include whether the child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and, if so, details of the Local Authority which maintains the Education, Health and Care Plan.
Advocacy and Independent Visitors	This chapter has been updated to reflect the revised Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review which was published by the Department for Education in June 2015. Section 1.1, Duties of an Advocate has been added.
Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody	This chapter has been completely updated and should be re-read throughout.
Supervision of Foster Carers	Section 5, Support Provided by the Supervising social worker has been updated with a link to Nottinghamshire Fostering Home, (Fronter), a password protected virtual learning environment which hosts the Foster Carer Handbook.
Safe Caring	A link has been added to 'Child Safety Online: A practical guide for parents and carers whose children are using social media' in the Relevant Legislation, Guidance and Information section.
Special Guardianship	This chapter has been revised and updated to reflect the enhanced assessment and reporting requirements (for all applications made from 29 February 2016) as set out in the Special Guardianship (Amendment) Regulations 2016.
Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services	This chapter has been completely updated and should be re-read throughout.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Family Group Conference	This chapter has been added to the manual.
Taking Photographs in a Work Context	This policy has been added to the manual.
Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Guidance	This guidance has been added to the manual.
Adaptations (Guidance and Agreements)	These appendices have been added to the manual.
Removed Chapters
Core Assessments (including Section 47 Enquiries); Transfer Protocol - Transfer of Cases between Reception and Assessment Teams and Children's Services Teams/Disabled Children's Team; Anti-Bullying Policy; Death or Serious Injury to a Child; Consents; Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers; Local Contacts; Support Agencies; Fire Precautions in Residential and Day Establishments.

January 2016

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Confidentiality Policy	This chapter has been updated with regards to the Information Sharing: Advice for Practitioners Providing Safeguarding Services to Children, Young People, Parents and Carers (March 2015).
Quality Management Framework	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read in its entirety.
Lone Working	This chapter has been updated including the addition of new links in Section 5, Sources of Legislation and Guidance.
Protocol for Access to Mosaic by Partner Agency Staff	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Initial Referrals	This chapter has been significantly updated and should be re-read throughout.
Protocol for Step Down / Step Up of Cases Between Social Work Team and Short Breaks Personalisation Team	Section 2, Reviews (Personalisation Service) has been updated to reflect If it is felt that the case is stable the Short Breaks and Personalisation Service Team Manager will be notified of the proposed ‘step down’ and will allocate a Personalisation Officer to attend the CIN Review.
Guidance for Minute Takers of Child Protection Conferences and Complex Multi-Agency Strategy Meetings	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Transfer Protocol - A Countywide Protocol for the Transfer of Cases between Teams within the Children's Social Care Service	Section 4, General Principles has been updated to include footnote 1.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	Section 2, Pre-Proceedings has been updated to reflect that Nottinghamshire have introduced a combined child and parenting assessment.
Legal Planning Meetings	This chapter has been updated in particularly Section 3, Who can Convene Legal Planning Meetings with regards to timings and documentation required.
Welfare Reports (Section 7) Supervision Order (Section 37) Family Assistance Orders (Section 16)	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Whistleblowing Policy (Confidential Reporting)	This link has been updated.
Blood Borne Viruses - H.I.V, Hepatitis B and C	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Child Trust Funds and Junior ISA's for Looked After Children	Section 1.4, Can Additional Payments be Made and Section 2.4, Who can Pay Money into Junior ISAs? has been amended to reflect that the annual limit on contributions to Child Trust Funds/Junior ISA’s for Looked After Children increased to £4080.00.
The Use of Warnings in Social Care Records (Mosaic)	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout including the addition of Section 2, How to Record a Warning.
Supervision Orders Procedure	Section 1, Introduction has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Private Fostering	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Death or Serious Injury to a Child	This chapter has been updated in line with Working Together.
Managing Allegations / Concerns in Relation to Adults who work with Children	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Individuals who Present a Risk to Children	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Participation of Children and Young People, Parents and Carers in the Child Protection Process	Section 4, Enabling Children and Young People to Participate has been updated to reflect that the child or young person should have access to the social workers report 24 hours in advance of an Initial Child Protection Conference and 5 working days in advance of a Review Conference.
Information for General Practitioners/Social Workers Concerning Looked After Children who have a History of Self-Harm	Further links including Nottinghamshire SCP – Information for Children and Young People have been added to the Relevant Legislation And Guidance section.
Safeguarding Foreign National Children Who Go Missing	Section 2, Children in the Care of the Local Authority has been extensively updated including information being added with regards to the NSCP Children Missing from Home and Care Protocol.
Children's Disability Service - Threshold Criteria for Children's Social Care	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	Links to Care and Support Statutory Guidance (DHSC, October 2014) and the Young Carer’s (Needs Assessment) Regulations (DoE, March 2015) have been added to the Related Guidance section. A new Section 13, Young Carers and Parental Carers of Disabled Children has been added.
Short Breaks (away from home)	Section 4, Short Break Settings, has revised links to new Quality Standards for Children’s Homes and Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Transition Planning for Young People with Disabilities	This chapter has been significantly updated, particularly with regards to the Care Act 2014.
Children's Disability Service - Provision of Childcare for Working Parents of Children and Young People with Disabilities	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children	Section 4, Age Assessments now includes information/links to the ADCS Task Force/Home Office Good Practice documents.
Human Rights Assessment	Section 2, Assessment Format has been updated with links to outcome of human rights assessment and notification of human rights assessment.
Section 20 Accommodation Decisions	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Permanence Planning Guidance	This chapter has been updated to reflect the Statutory Guidance Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review.
Permanence Panel Policy and Practice Guidance	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Placements in Foster Care	This chapter has been updated to reflect the Statutory Guidance Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review. A new Section 9, Long-Term Foster Placements has also been added.
Placements with a Relative or Friend (Connected Persons)	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Family and Friends Policy and Guidance	This chapter has been extensively updated and replaced the former chapter called Family and Friends Policy.
Placement Support and Disruption Meetings (Fostering and Adoption)	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Child Missing and Recovery Orders	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children	This chapter has been updated to reflect the revised visiting requirements in respect of long term foster placements as set out in Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review.
Looked After Reviews	This chapter has been updated to include the requirements of Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review.
Notifications of Significant Events	This chapter has been updated in relation to the Regulation 40 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.
Contact Service	The Protocol for Contact Support Workers When Children are Not Relinquished Following Supervised Contact, Contact Expenses and Payments and Protocol for Reducing Supervised Contact Arrangements have been added.
Holidays and School Trips in the UK	Section 2.2, School / Organisational Trips of up to 4 days Away has been updated to reflect in long term placements a Delegated Decision Form should be in place to make it explicit when a carer can or cannot makes these decisions.
Education of Looked After Children	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Health Care Assessments and Plans	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Protecting Children from the Harmful Effects of Second-hand Smoke (Prospective Adopters)	Appendix B: Copy of Leaflet 'Smoking advice for prospective foster carers and adopters' has been updated.
Leaving Care and Transition	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Fostering Panel	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Persons Disqualified from Fostering	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Assessments and Approvals of Foster Carers	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Staying Put	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. Additional information has also been added in Section 6, Funding, to reflect 2015 fostering allowance rates.
Foster Carer Case Files	This chapter has been significantly updated and should be re-read throughout.
Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to the Foster Carer's Terms of Approval	This chapter has been significantly updated and should be re-read throughout.
Supervision of Foster Carers	An updated link has been added to the Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol England (2014) re-issued 2015 in the Relevant Legislation, Guidance and Information section.
Fostering Support Care	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Foster Carer Recording Policy	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Nottinghamshire Fostering Scheme - Payment For Skills	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters	This chapter has been updated to include the requirements of the Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers: Amendments to the Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations.
Adoption Panel	Information has been added in Section 2, Adoption Panel Membership, with regards to the Central List must be maintained by an appointed senior social worker with at least 5 years’ relevant post-qualification experience and relevant management experience.
Prospective Adopters Attending Panel	This chapter has been significantly updated, including the addition of a new Section 12, Information for those Attending Panel.
Foster to Adopt Guidance	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Independent Birth Family Counselling Service	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Placement for Adoption	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Placing Relinquished Babies for Adoption	Section 2, Responding to an Enquiry has been updated to reflect that it is recommended a pre-birth planning meeting is held prior to the birth of the baby. This will include Permanence Team social worker, safeguarding midwife and birth parents. This meeting will consider any health issues of mother and baby, placement details, contact arrangements after the birth for birth parents and plans for the care of the baby if birth parents are proposing to leave the hospital following baby’s birth.
Adoption Planning for Sibling Groups	This chapter has been updated with regards to the consideration of siblings and whether they should remain together or apart, as well as the permanence options for the children.
Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters	This chapter has been updated to include the requirements of Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review. A new Section 6, The Use of Connected Persons Placements has been added.
Child Placements Preparatory Information/Life Appreciation Days	This chapter has been updated, in particular Section 2.5 has been added.
Placement Planning Meetings and Introduction to Adoptive Parents	Information has been added into Section 2.1.4, The Adoption Placement Plan, a mandatory document and can be accessed in the framework episode ‘intro to order’.
Adoption Financial Support	Section 3, Eligibility Criteria has been updated to reflect that children under 4 years who have an identified condition which will make significant extra demands on carers and who must be in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.
Adoption Reviews	This chapter has been updated with regards to the timing of the 'Later in Life Letter' from the social worker being given to the adopters for the child within ten working days of the celebration hearing. Also the case management system (frame work) should also record the Adoption Order and the episode, Adoption Order Obtained – End Adoptive Placement is completed, as well as the episodes for SAA to set up post final order contact arrangement.
Inter Country Adoption	Section 8, Home Study, has been updated detailing that the allocated adoption social worker will carry out a home study of the applicants, which should be completed within 6 months of the receipt of the application.
Life Story Work and Preparation for Adoption	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Later Life Letters	In Section 2, Procedure - Child Placed with Nottinghamshire Adopters information has been added with regards to social workers should use the CoramBAAF Good Practice Guide – Writing A Later Life Letter.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Young Carers	This chapter has been added to the manual.
Ceasing to Look After a Child	This chapter has been added to the manual.
IRO Dispute Resolution Process	This procedure details the process in place to deal with any concerns that the IRO may have regarding the care planning process.
Family Service Operating Procedures	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Nottinghamshire’s Youth Justice Service Policies, Procedure and Guidance	This chapter has been added to the manual.
Removed Chapters
Children, Families and Cultural Services Department- Ambitions, Priorities and Principles; Confidentiality Agreement for Employees; Public Engagement Policy; Social Care and Health Divisional Standards and Audit; Kinship Care; Consultation Standards; Guidance for the Early Help Unit’s Operating Model; Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) Pathway; Managing Information with Other Local Authorities - All Children; Protocol between the Children’s Social Care (CSC) and Adult Social Care, Health and Public Protection (ASCHPP) where both are involved in case management; Protocol between the Crown Prosecution Service, Police, and Local Authorities in the exchange of information; Roles and Responsibilities of Locality Staff; Contact by Social Care Staff Outside the Usual Work Context; Professional Expectations of the Children’s Social Care Service on the Roles and Responsibilities of Managers; Roles and Responsibilities of Social Workers; Team Manager Attendance At Child Protection Conferences; Case Records for Looked After Children; Subject Access Request Policy; Retention and Destruction of Records; The Assessment Framework - Guidance; Family Support Home Care Services; Family Support Services - Family Centre Provision; Section 23 Budget; Caring for a Relative's or Friend's Child: A Fact Sheet for Prospective Carers; Children’s Services and Youth Offending Service Agreement - Children Involved in Offending and Anti Social Behaviour; Interagency Safeguarding Children Procedures of the Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) and the Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership (NCSCP) Procedures, Trafficked Children Procedure; Requests for Information from Organisations Planning to Provide Temporary Care for Children; Carers' Assessments; Specialist Integrated Resource Panel; Notification of Human Rights Assessment; Outcome Notice Human Rights Assessment; Practice Guidance - Placement Arrangements under Regulation 24 and Regulation 25 (Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010); Child Care Risk Assessment; Personal Education Allowances - Guidance for Application Process; Health Care Assessments and Plans - Arrangements within Nottingham Health Authority; Health Care Assessments and Plans - Arrangements within Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood, Mansfield, Ashfield (Excluding Hucknall); Choosing and Fitting Car Seats (Fact Sheet); Taxi Operators and Taxi Drivers Operator Protocol; Adoption Enquiries and Applications - Initial Visits; Allegations Against Prospective Adopters.

2015 Amendments

July 2015

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Child Protection Conference	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	A link has been added to Practice Direction 25b – The Duties of an Expert, The Expert’s Report and Arrangements for an Expert to Attend Court and the ADCS website information in the Related Guidance section.
Children and Young People who Sexually Harm	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Anti-Bullying Policy	A link has been added to Advice for Parents and Carers on Cyberbullying in the Related Guidance section.
Cross-Border Child Protection Cases Under the 1996 Hague Convention	A link has been added to the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit in the Related Guidance and Information section.
Child in Need Plans and Reviews	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Short Breaks (away from home)	A link has been added to Short Breaks and Personalisation Services – associated Short Breaks flyers in Relevant Legislation, Guidance and Information section.
Early Support Sitting and Befriending Service	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children	This chapter has been amended in line with Care of Unaccompanied and Trafficked Children: Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities on the Care of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking and Trafficked Children (2014). It should be re-read in its entirety.
Decision to Look After and Care Planning	Section 1, Decision to Look After a Child has been amended to include In the case of siblings, wherever it is in the best interests of each individual child, they should be placed together. Where they cannot be placed together, they must be supported to understand why they cannot live together, and there should be robust plans for contact between them, so far as this is consistent with their welfare.
Placements in Foster Care	Section 4, Placement Planning has been updated with regards to Placement Planning Meetings for foster placements and Placement Support Meetings.
Placements in Residential Care	Section 2, Placement Process has been updated with regards to a placement request and identification and approval of placements.
Out of Area Placements	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Placements in Secure Accommodation	A link has been added to Appendix 1: Legislation and Practice Guidance to Placements of Children under the Age of 13 - DfE.
Looked After Reviews	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Protecting Children from the Harmful Effects of Second-hand Smoke (Prospective Adopters)	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Fostering Panel	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout.
Supervision of Foster Carers	A link has been added to the Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol England (2014) in the Relevant Legislation, Guidance and Information section.
Monthly Inspection Visits	This chapter has been updated with regards to the Children's Homes Regulations and Quality Standards.
Physical Intervention (Restraint & Disengagement) in Residential Settings	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout in line with the Children’s Homes Quality Standards.
Contacting the Police in respect of Children in Residential Care	This chapter as updated with regards top the Quality Standards and Regulations for Children’s Homes.
Substance Misuse	This chapter as updated with regards top the Quality Standards and Regulations for Children’s Homes.
Adoption Panel	Appendix A2: Acceptance of Appointment, Agreement and Confidentiality Undertaking for Nottinghamshire Central List Panel Members (Adoption/Fostering) has been added.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Mobile Working	This chapter provides links to: Frequently Asked Questions; Mobile Working Protocols; Guidance - Working with Display Screen Equipment (Corporate Factsheet); Guidance - Using Tablets (Corporate Factsheet).
Working 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	This advice from the Department for Education provides: A set of principles for social workers working on child protection cases and care orders, where the child has links to a foreign country; A summary of the main international legislation; Guidance on agencies and organisations that social workers can seek help and advice from, or provide information to when working on these cases; and Sign-posts to other relevant guidance. This advice is non-statutory and the principles are not a complete statement of domestic and international law.
Other Agency Requests for Information from Children’s Social Care Records	This procedure only concerns requests from professionals in other agencies for information to be supplied from Children’s Social Care records.
Nottinghamshire Short Breaks Statement	A link to the Statement has been added.
Early Support Homecare Service	The purpose of this document is to set out the procedure that should be followed when receiving referrals for Homecare. Its aim is to ensure that contact and responses given are consistent across the service.
Children’s Disability Service - Early Support Service provision of Short Breaks to Children and Young People with Disabilities at Early Intervention and Targeted Levels	This chapter details the core offer of community short breaks Flexible Short Breaks Scheme (FSBS) and the enhanced offer of Targeted Short Breaks (TSB) for children and young people with a disability.
Contact Service	This chapter applies to arrangements for children placed in foster and residential care to have contact with their parents and siblings.
Transfer of Foster Carers Policy	This policy refers to the movement of registered foster carers between fostering providers where carers are planning on transferring to Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC).
Foster to Adopt Guidance	This procedure deals with placement of a child with carers who are dually approved, i.e. approved both as prospective adopters and as Local Authority foster carers.
Removed Chapters
Joint Protocol -Targeted Support Pathway for 16/17 Year Olds, Early Intervention and Support with Homelessness; Contact with Parents and Siblings; County Contact Pack.

2014 Amendments

December 2014

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Early Help Plan	The plan brings together work across the Children’s Trust to ensure that all agencies coordinate their activities to provide a coherent and seamless service to children and families.
Pathway to Provision - Multi-Agency Thresholds Guidance	An updated link has been added to this guidance.
Child Protection Conference	Section 18.2, Forms has been added.
Transfer Protocol - A Countywide Protocol for the Transfer of Cases between Teams within the Children's Social Care Service	Section 7.9, Transfers to the Court Team and Permanence Team and co working arrangements for Children's Disability Service has been added.
Legal Planning Meetings	This chapter has been updated throughout in line with revised guidance Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities on Court Orders and Pre-Proceedings (2014).
Domestic Violence and Abuse	An updated link has been added to the Interagency Safeguarding Children Procedures of the Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) and the Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership (NCSCP).
Child Sexual Exploitation	An updated link has been added to the Interagency Safeguarding Children Procedures of the Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) and the Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership (NCSCP).
Trafficked Children	An updated link has been added to the Interagency Safeguarding Children Procedures of the Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) and the Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership (NCSCP).
Child Trust Funds and Junior ISA's for Looked After Children	Section 1.4, Can Additional Payments be Made and Section 2.4, Who can Pay Money into Junior ISAs? has been amended to reflect that the annual limit on contributions to Child Trust Funds/Junior ISA’s for Looked After Children increased to £4000.00.
Children in Need Plans and Reviews	Reviews of Child in Need Plans has been amended with regards to Supervision Order Reviews which should match the processes in place for LAC and Child Protection Plans, with a consistent frequency.
Supervision Orders Procedure	Section 1, Introduction has been updated to include the CIN plan will undergo an Initial Review within 28 days and then be reviewed no later than 4 months after the order is made, with a further review no later than 9 months after the order is made.
Direct Payments	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read in its entirety.
No Recourse to Public Funds	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read in its entirety.
Permanence Planning Guidance	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 adoption, specifically Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters.
Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read in its entirety.
Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services	This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read in its entirety.
CPC Procedure for Raising Urgent Practice Issues	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Education of Looked After Children	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Operational Guidance	This chapter has been updated with links to appropriate forms.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service - Emotional Health and Wellbeing Team Operating Model	This chapter has been updated to reflect the process followed if a child become looked after and requires additional support.
Leaving Care and Transition	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Staying Put	Section 6, Funding has been updated with regard to Education Extension Funding.
Outcomes Framework for Residential Placements - Guidance for Completion	This chapter has been updated and should be re-read throughout.
Monthly Inspection Visits - Regulation 33 Visits	This chapter has been updated in line with the Children’s Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2013.
Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters	Section 1, Recruitment and Responding to Initial Enquiries has been updated with regards to the Local Authority’s duty to provide information on Adoption Support Services to anyone contacting the authority to request information about adopting a child.
Placement for Adoption	This chapter has been updated with regards to the Adoption changes under Children and Families Act 2014 and should be re-read throughout.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Guidance for the Early Help Unit’s Operating Model	This chapter deals with the ambitions, key functions and operating model of the Early Help Unit.
Protocol for Step Down / Step Up of Cases Between Social Work Team and Short Breaks Personalisation Team	This chapter deals with all cases with a legal status of S17 (6) which do not require social work intervention and the step down process to the Personalisation Service.
Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline	As a result of an overhaul of the Family Justice System throughout 2014, Public Law Outline and Court Proceedings chapters have been amalgamated to produce this new chapter.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	This procedure sets out the specific provision under the Children and Families Act 2014 in relation to children and young people aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs or disabilities.
Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters	This procedure deals with placement of a child with carers who are dually approved, i.e. approved both as prospective adopters and as Local Authority foster carers.
Notifications of Significant Events	This chapter sets out who must be notified of specified events in relation to Looked After children placed in foster care or residential care.
Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation	The information in this chapter is taken from Government guidance documents. It should be read in conjunction with the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) Procedures regarding sexual exploitation of children and young people and related procedures in this manual.
Child Arrangements Orders	Child Arrangements Orders have been introduced in April 2014 by the Children and Families Act 2014 (which amended Section 8 Children Act 1989). They replace Contact Orders and Residence Orders. This chapter details who can apply, conditions and directions.

End

Amendments

January 2020

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