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Note: In Gateshead, 'Looked After Children' and 'Care Leavers' are referred to as Cared For and Care Experienced children and young people. Contact is referred to as Family Time.

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1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

  1. 1.1.1Children’s Services Policies, Values and PrinciplesMay 1, 2024
  2. 1.1.2Strategic PlanDecember 19, 2023
  3. 1.1.3Strategic Plan (Children and Young Person's Version)December 19, 2023
  4. 1.1.4Practice Model (Documents Library)December 19, 2023
  5. 1.1.5Children in Need Including Those in Need of ProtectionDecember 19, 2023
  6. 1.1.6Confidentiality PolicyNovember 8, 2024
  7. 1.1.7Consultation PolicyDecember 19, 2023
  8. 1.1.8Family and Friends and Connected Persons Care PolicyDecember 19, 2023
  9. 1.1.9Information for Family and Friends CarersDecember 19, 2023
  10. 1.1.10Lone Working PolicyDecember 19, 2023
  11. 1.1.11Children's Consultation and ParticipationNovember 8, 2024
  12. 1.1.12Gateshead Supervision PolicyDecember 19, 2023
  13. 1.1.13Emergency Duty Team: Supervision/Staff Development PolicyDecember 19, 2023
  14. 1.1.14Capacity and ConsentNovember 8, 2024
  15. 1.1.15Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022
  16. 1.1.16FRG Initial Family and Friends Care - this resource outlines what a viability assessment for family and friend carers should look like, what social workers should consider and how to undertake international assessments.

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

  1. 1.2.1Threshold Document/Indicators of NeedDecember 19, 2023
  2. 1.2.2Children in Need (including children in need of protection): Indicators of NeedMay 1, 2024
  3. 1.2.3Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  1. 1.3.1Contacts and Referrals
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  2. 1.3.2Assessments
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  3. 1.3.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  4. 1.3.4Transfer and Closure of CasesMay 13, 2025
  5. 1.3.5Procedure for Business Support Audit at Transfer, Closure and 3 Month IntervalsDecember 19, 2023
  6. 1.3.6Allocation of Work for Young Persons Homeless Prevention WorkerDecember 19, 2023
  7. 1.3.7Gateshead Integrated Referral Services Process to Children with Disabilities TeamDecember 19, 2023
  8. 1.3.8Assessments (North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)

1.4Court Proceedings

  1. 1.4.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersMay 1, 2024
  2. 1.4.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineMay 13, 2025
  3. 1.4.3Legal PanelMay 1, 2024
  4. 1.4.4Private Law - Section 7 and 37 ReportsMay 13, 2025
  5. 1.4.5Supervision Order GuidanceDecember 19, 2023
  6. 1.4.6Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
  7. 1.4.7Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
  8. 1.4.8Family 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.

1.5Miscellaneous

  1. 1.5.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child In Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)November 8, 2024
  2. 1.5.2Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual ExploitationMay 13, 2025

1.6Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty

  1. 1.6.1Deprivation of Liberty Order Practice GuidanceDecember 19, 2023
  2. 1.6.2Mental Capacity
  3. 1.6.3Deprivation of Liberty

1.7Complaints and Whistleblowing

  1. 1.7.1Complaints and RepresentationsMay 13, 2025
  2. 1.7.2Whistleblowing PolicyDecember 19, 2023
  3. 1.7.3Whistleblowing to Ofsted about Children's Social Care Services - Policy and Guidance for Whistleblowers

2.Case Management and Recording

  1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesMay 13, 2025
  2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionDecember 19, 2023
  3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsMay 13, 2025
  4. 2.0.4Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsMay 1, 2024
  5. 2.0.5Guidance on Compiling a ChronologyDecember 19, 2023
  6. 2.0.6Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesDecember 19, 2023
  7. 2.0.7Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffMay 1, 2024

3.Prevention and Family Support

  1. 3.0.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsMay 13, 2025
  2. 3.0.2Transfer of Responsibility for Children Who Move from One Local Authority Area to AnotherDecember 19, 2023
  3. 3.0.3Private FosteringDecember 19, 2023
  4. 3.0.4Joint Protocol for 16 and 17 Year Olds Who are Homeless or Threatened with Homelessness in GatesheadDecember 19, 2023
  5. 3.0.5Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMay 1, 2024
  6. 3.0.6A Guide to the Duty to Refer

4.Children in Particular Circumstances

4.1Children with Disabilities

  1. 4.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  2. 4.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsNovember 8, 2024
  3. 4.1.3Short BreaksNovember 8, 2024
  4. 4.1.4Carers Support Needs Assessment in GatesheadDecember 19, 2023
  5. 4.1.5Children with Disabilities Team: Access to Services Eligibility CriteriaDecember 19, 2023
  6. 4.1.6Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  7. 4.1.7Ages and Stages - Children and Young People Transitioning Between ServicesDecember 19, 2023
  8. 4.1.8Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkNovember 8, 2024

4.2Children from Abroad

  1. 4.2.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryNovember 8, 2024
  2. 4.2.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsDecember 19, 2023

4.3Young Carers

  1. 4.3.1Young CarersMay 13, 2025

4.4Procedures Regarding Missing Children and Young People

  1. 4.4.1Procedures Regarding Missing Children and Young People

4.5Mental Health

  1. 4.5.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983November 8, 2024

5.Looked After Children

  1. 5.0.1Procedures Regarding Missing Children and Young People (North and South of Tyne Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)

5.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  1. 5.1.1Decision to Look AfterNovember 8, 2024
  2. 5.1.2Care PlanningDecember 19, 2023
  3. 5.1.3Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  4. 5.1.4Permanence Planning GuidanceMay 13, 2025
  5. 5.1.5Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsMay 13, 2025
  6. 5.1.6Placements in Foster CareMay 13, 2025
  7. 5.1.7Placements in Residential CareNovember 8, 2024
  8. 5.1.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationNovember 8, 2024
  9. 5.1.9Out of Area PlacementsMay 1, 2024
  10. 5.1.10Placements with Connected PersonsDecember 19, 2023
  11. 5.1.11Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsMay 1, 2024
  12. 5.1.12Placements with ParentsDecember 19, 2023
  13. 5.1.13Placements Outside England and WalesMay 13, 2025
  14. 5.1.14Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersDecember 19, 2023
  15. 5.1.15Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersDecember 19, 2023
  16. 5.1.16Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenDecember 19, 2023
  17. 5.1.17Ceasing to Look After a ChildMay 13, 2025
  18. 5.1.18Placements in Other ArrangementsMay 1, 2024
  19. 5.1.19Risk Assessment and PlanningDecember 12, 2023
  20. 5.1.20Providing Personalised CareMay 1, 2024
  21. 5.1.21Health and Safety
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  22. 5.1.22NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

5.2Monitoring and Reviews

  1. 5.2.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenMay 13, 2025
  2. 5.2.2Gateshead's Advocacy Offer for Children and Young PeopleNovember 8, 2024
  3. 5.2.3Independent Visitors PolicyDecember 19, 2023
  4. 5.2.4Looked After ReviewsMay 13, 2025
  5. 5.2.5Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersDecember 19, 2023
  6. 5.2.6South of Tyne Consortium Policy and Procedure for Secure Accommodation ReviewsDecember 19, 2023
  7. 5.2.7Serious Incident Notifications & Need to KnowNovember 8, 2024

5.3Contact and Overnight Stays

  1. 5.3.1Contact with Parents and SiblingsDecember 19, 2023
  2. 5.3.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)December 19, 2023

5.4Education, School Trips and Holidays

  1. 5.4.1Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKDecember 19, 2023
  2. 5.4.2Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenNovember 8, 2024
  3. 5.4.3Leisure ActivitiesDecember 12, 2023

5.5Health and Wellbeing

  1. 5.5.1Health Care Assessments and PlansDecember 19, 2023
  2. 5.5.2Personal Care and RelationshipsDecember 19, 2023
  3. 5.5.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementDecember 19, 2023
  4. 5.5.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintDecember 19, 2023

5.6Identity

  1. 5.6.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildJuly 26, 2022
  2. 5.6.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023

5.7Leaving Care and Transition

  1. 5.7.1Leaving Care and Transition
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  2. 5.7.2Care Leavers Entitled to Continuing Support after the Age of 21 - Personal Adviser to 25 PolicyDecember 19, 2023
  3. 5.7.3Staying PutMay 1, 2024
  4. 5.7.4Financial Arrangements for Care LeaversDecember 19, 2023
  5. 5.7.5Pathway Plan GuidanceDecember 19, 2023
  6. 5.7.6Ages and Stages - Children and Young People Transitioning Between ServicesDecember 19, 2023

5.8Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  1. 5.8.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesDecember 19, 2023
  2. 5.8.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyDecember 19, 2023
  3. 5.8.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  4. 5.8.4Documents Library also has additional local information

6.Fostering, Adoption and Special Guardianship

6.1Fostering Services

  1. 6.1.1Fostering PanelDecember 19, 2023
  2. 6.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringDecember 19, 2023
  3. 6.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  4. 6.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalDecember 19, 2023
  5. 6.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersDecember 19, 2023
  6. 6.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersDecember 19, 2023
  7. 6.1.7Allegations Against Foster Carers
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  8. 6.1.8Fostering for AdoptionDecember 19, 2023
  9. 6.1.9Training and Development of Foster CarersDecember 12, 2023

6.2Adoption (Adopt North East Regional Adoption Agency)

  1. 6.2.1Adopt North East Policies, Procedures and Guidance for Staff
  2. 6.2.2ADM Template (Documents Library)
  3. 6.2.3Adoption Mosaic guide (intranet)

6.3Special Guardianship

  1. 6.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersMay 1, 2024
  2. 6.3.2Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceMarch 28, 2024
  3. 6.3.3Policy for the Calculation and Payment of Special Guardianship AllowancesDecember 19, 2023

7.Appendices, Local Contacts and List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers

  1. 7.0.1Local Contacts
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  2. 7.0.2List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers
    Updated
    June 19, 2025
  3. 7.0.3Ofsted Inspection Framework
    Updated
    May 13, 2025
  4. 7.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
  5. 7.0.5Amendments

Last Updated: May 13, 2025

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