Amendments

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

This chapter was refreshed throughout in November 2024.

This chapter was refreshed in November 2024.

In November 2024 links to sources of further information were updated.

This chapter was updated in November 2024.

In November 2024, this chapter was refreshed.

In November 2024, information on Ofsted checks was added in to Section 4, Checks and References.

In November 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.

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

This chapter was refreshed in May 2024.

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

In May 2024 further links were added in Relevant Guidance.

In May 2024 additional information was added about online safety.

In May 2024 new section Transfer protocol for DCT or CIOC to Transitions Team was added.

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

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

In May 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 May 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 May 2024, Section 2, Ordinary Residence was updated in line with case law.

In May 2024 this chapter was updated to include information from Guidance - Placing Children: Deprivation of Liberty Orders (Ofsted) - guidance for providers, social workers and placement commissioners on placing children, subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL), in unregistered settings.

Links to national guidance were updated in May 2024.

In May 2024 links were added to further information.

In May 2024 a link was added to guidance on supported accommodation.

This chapter was updated in May 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.

This chapter was updated in May 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 May 2024.

This chapter was updated throughout in May 2024.

In May 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.