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Contents
Note: in Sutton we use the term 'Children Looked After'. In this section and throughout these procedures, you will also find references to 'Looked After Children' in line with the terminology used in legislation and statutory guidance. The terms are interchangeable.
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1.1Policy, Values and Principles
- 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and PrinciplesJuly 17, 2024
- 1.1.2Confidentiality PolicyJuly 17, 2024
- 1.1.3Consultation PolicySeptember 29, 2023
- 1.1.4Children's Consultation and ParticipationSeptember 29, 2023
- 1.1.5Capacity and ConsentJuly 17, 2024
- 1.1.6Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022
- 1.1.7Sutton Children’s Placements Sufficiency Statement 2023July 17, 2024
- 1.1.8Looking After Someone Else's Child (GOV.UK)
1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning
- 1.3.1Initial Contacts and ReferralsJuly 17, 2024
- 1.3.2AssessmentsJanuary 29, 2025
- 1.3.3Developing Local Protocols for AssessmentSeptember 29, 2023
- 1.3.4Section 47 EnquiriesJuly 17, 2024
- 1.3.5Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 23, 2022
1.4Court Proceedings
- 1.4.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersJuly 26, 2022
- 1.4.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJanuary 29, 2025
- 1.4.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsJuly 17, 2024
- 1.4.4Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings (October 2013)
- 1.4.5Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
- 1.4.6Family 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
- 1.6.1Complaints and RepresentationsJanuary 29, 2024
- 1.6.2WhistleblowingSeptember 29, 2023
2.Case Management and Recording
- 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 29, 2023
- 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionSeptember 27, 2023
- 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsJanuary 29, 2025
- 2.0.4Electronic Recording of MeetingsJanuary 29, 2025
- 2.0.5Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffJanuary 29, 2025
- 2.0.6Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesSeptember 29, 2023
3.Prevention and Family Support
- 3.0.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsJuly 17, 2024
- 3.0.2Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferSeptember 27, 2023
- 3.0.3Young CarersJanuary 29, 2025
- 3.0.4Private Fostering
- 3.0.5London Safeguarding Children Procedures
- 3.0.6Deprivation of Liberty
4.1Children with Disabilities
- 4.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesUpdatedJanuary 29, 2025
- 4.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsJuly 17, 2024
- 4.1.3Short BreaksSeptember 29, 2023
- 4.1.4Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkJanuary 29, 2025
4.2Children from Abroad
- 4.2.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryUpdatedJanuary 29, 2025
- 4.2.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsJanuary 29, 2024
4.3Relinquished Children
- 4.3.1Relinquished ChildrenJuly 17, 2024
4.4Mental Capacity
- 4.4.1Mental Capacity
5.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning
- 5.1.1Decision to Look AfterJanuary 29, 2025
- 5.1.2Care PlanningSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.1.3Ceasing to Look After a ChildJuly 17, 2024
- 5.1.4Permanence Planning GuidanceJanuary 29, 2024
- 5.1.5Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsJuly 17, 2024
- 5.1.6Placements in Foster CareJanuary 29, 2024
- 5.1.7Placements in Residential CareJuly 17, 2024
- 5.1.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationJuly 17, 2024
- 5.1.9Out of Area PlacementsSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.1.10Placements with Connected PersonsJuly 17, 2024
- 5.1.11Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsJuly 17, 2024
- 5.1.12Placements with ParentsSeptember 27, 2023
- 5.1.13Placements Outside England and WalesJuly 26, 2022
- 5.1.14Placements in Other ArrangementsJanuary 29, 2025
- 5.1.15Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.1.16Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.1.17Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.1.180 - 25 Children and Young People Placement Commissioning Strategy
- 5.1.19NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People
- 5.1.20Promoting Wellbeing and Positive Identity for a Child or Young Person Who is Looked After: A Quick Guide for Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners (NICE)
5.2Monitoring and Reviews
- 5.2.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.2.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsSeptember 20, 2023
- 5.2.3Looked After ReviewsJanuary 29, 2025
- 5.2.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.2.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.2.6Notifications of Significant EventsJuly 17, 2024
5.3Contact and Overnight Stays
- 5.3.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.3.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)September 29, 2023
5.4Education, School Trips and Holidays
- 5.4.1Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKJanuary 29, 2024
- 5.4.2Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenJuly 17, 2024
- 5.4.3Leisure ActivitiesSeptember 20, 2023
5.5Health and Wellbeing
- 5.5.1Health Care Assessments and PlansSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.5.2Personal Care and RelationshipsSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.5.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
- 5.5.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.5.5Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983January 29, 2025
- 5.5.6Personalised CareSeptember 20, 2023
- 5.5.7Health and SafetyUpdatedJanuary 29, 2025
5.6Identity
- 5.6.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.6.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildSeptember 27, 2023
5.7Leaving Care and Transition
- 5.7.1Leaving Care and TransitionUpdatedJanuary 29, 2025
- 5.7.2Staying Put Policy
- 5.7.3Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers - local procedure
5.8Children Involved in the Youth Justice System
- 5.8.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesSeptember 29, 2023
- 5.8.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodySeptember 29, 2023
- 5.8.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceJuly 17, 2024
6.1Fostering Services
- 6.1.1Fostering PanelSeptember 20, 2023
- 6.1.2Training and Development of Foster CarersSeptember 20, 2023
- 6.1.3Persons Disqualified from FosteringSeptember 29, 2023
- 6.1.4Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersJanuary 29, 2025
- 6.1.5Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 29, 2023
- 6.1.6Supervision and Support of Foster CarersSeptember 29, 2023
- 6.1.7Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
- 6.1.8Allegations Against Foster CarersSeptember 29, 2023
- 6.1.9Kinship Care PolicyJuly 17, 2024
- 6.1.10Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingJuly 17, 2024
6.2Adoption and Permanence
- 6.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersJuly 17, 2024
- 6.2.2Adoption PanelMarch 17, 2023
- 6.2.3Placement for AdoptionUpdatedJanuary 29, 2025
- 6.2.4Adoption SupportJuly 17, 2024
- 6.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsSeptember 29, 2023
- 6.2.6Adoption ReviewsSeptember 29, 2023
- 6.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsSeptember 29, 2023
- 6.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedSeptember 29, 2023
- 6.2.9Inter Country AdoptionJuly 17, 2024
- 6.2.10Non Agency AdoptionJuly 17, 2024
- 6.2.11Adoption Case RecordsFebruary 8, 2022
- 6.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsJuly 26, 2022
- 6.2.13Intermediary ServicesSeptember 29, 2023
- 6.2.14Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersJuly 17, 2024
- 6.2.15Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceJuly 17, 2024
- 6.2.16Life Story Books GuidanceJuly 17, 2024
- 6.2.17Later Life LettersJuly 17, 2024
- 6.2.18Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersJanuary 29, 2024
- 6.2.19Special Guardianship Finance Policy
- 6.2.20Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere
7.Appendices
- 7.0.1Local ContactsJanuary 29, 2025
- 7.0.2List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersSeptember 29, 2023
- 7.0.3Ofsted Inspection FrameworkUpdatedJanuary 29, 2025
- 7.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
- 7.0.5Amendments
Last Updated: July 17, 2024
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