Contents


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This contents list is sub divided into the following sections, each Section contains relevant Chapters/Procedures: (Click on the title to jump to the Section you require):

  1. All Children
  2. Case Management and Recording
  3. Children in Particular Circumstances
  4. Children Looked After
  5. Fostering and Adoption
  6. Appendices


1. All Children

Caption: Section 1 of Contents
   

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles Updated
1.1.2 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.3 Supervision - Supporting Staff in a Challenging Social Care Environment - under review  
1.1.4 Social Work Practice Standards - under review  
1.1.5 Managers Practice Standards - under review  
1.1.6 Quality Assurance and Performance Management Framework  
1.1.7 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy  


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 What is Early Help?  
1.2.2 Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership: Multi-Agency Thresholds  
1.2.3 Process for Early Help Transfers - under review  
1.2.4 Step Across Arrangements  
1.2.5 Capacity and Consent  
 

See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

This Report focuses on the development of early intervention policies in England and programmes directed at parents and children from conception up to age five years. It explores their evidence-base and their impact. It also includes suggestions for further reading. 		 


 

1.3

Sensory Services

  
1.3.1 Sensory Service Braille Policy  
1.3.2 Sensory Services Communication Policy Hearing Support  
1.3.3 Sensory Service Early Years Policy Hearing Support  
1.3.4 Sensory Services Early Years Policy  
1.3.5 Sensory Services Procedure for dealing with EHCP Information Requests  
1.3.6 Sensory Services Mobility Policy  
1.3.7 Sensory Services Transition Policy  


 

1.4

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.4.1 Contacts and Referrals  
1.4.2 Assessments  
1.4.3 Referral to Emergency Duty Team  
  1.4.3a One Minute Guide: Wirral Emergency Duty Team for Children's Services  
1.4.4 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)  
  See also: Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures  
1.4.5 Level 4 Pre-Birth Assessment and Planning Procedure Updated
1.4.6 Allocation of Work and Transfer Between Teams  
1.4.7 Family Group Conferences  
1.4.8 North West Notification and Transfer of Children Subject of Child Protection Plans Across Local Authority Boundaries  
1.4.9 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New


 

1.5

Children in Need and Child Protection

  
1.5.1 Children in Need Procedure  
1.5.2 North West Children in Need Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries  
1.5.3 Developing the Child Protection Plan  


 

1.6

Legal Proceedings

  
1.6.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.6.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
1.6.3 Legal Planning Meetings - Legal Gatekeeping  
1.6.4 Supervision Orders and the Role of the IRO  
1.6.5 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol  
1.6.6 Discharge of Care Order  
  See also: Cross-border Child Protection Cases: The 1996 Hague Convention  
1.6.7 North West Pre-Care and Care Proceedings Notification and Transfer Across Local Authority Boundaries  
  See also: Family 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.  

 
 

1.7

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.7.1 Complaints Policy and Procedure  
  1.7.1a Child Friendly Complaints and Comments Policy  
1.7.2 Whistleblowing  


 

1.8

Notifications

  
1.8.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24 Updated


2. Case Management and Recording

2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
2.2 Case Records and Retention  
2.3 Access to Records / Subject to Access Requests  
2.4 Confidentiality Policy  
2.5 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations - under review  
2.6 Use of Internet and Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
2.7 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  
2.8 Producing Chronologies and Recording Significant Events  
2.9 Issuing of Privacy Notices (Formally Fair Processing) in Children's Specialist Services  
2.10 Workload Management Scheme  
2.11 Managing Vexatious and Unreasonable Communication  


3. Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1

Children with Disabilities

  
3.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
3.1.2 Wirral Council Procedures and Guidance for Social Care's Role Within the Education Health Care Process  
3.1.3 Education, Health and Care Plan Quality Assurance Framework  
3.1.4 Direct Payments  
3.1.5 Short Breaks  
3.1.6 Individual Budgets for Children and Young People  
3.1.7 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  


 

3.2

Deprivations of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
3.2.1 Deprivations of Liberty  
3.2.2 Mental Capacity  


 

3.3

Children from Abroad

  
3.3.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery - under review Updated
3.3.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds - under review  


 

3.4

Homelessness

  
3.4.1 Joint Protocol on the Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who are Homeless or Threatened with Homelessness  


 

3.5

Family and Friends Care and Private Fostering

  
3.5.1 Kinship Care Updated
3.5.2 Private Fostering  
3.5.3 Private Fostering Statement of Purpose - under review  
3.5.4 Private Fostering Guide for Carers  
3.5.5 Private Fostering Guide for Parents  
3.5.6 Private Fostering Guide for Children  


 

3.6

Young Carers

  
3.6.1 Young Carers  


 

3.7

Relinquished Children

  
3.7.1 Relinquished Children  


 

3.8

Missing Children

  
3.8.1 Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership – Children and Families Who Go Missing  


 

3.9

Child Sexual Exploitation

  
3.9.1 Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership – Child Sexual Exploitation  


 

3.10

Mental Health

  
3.10.1 Aftercare Under Section 117of the Mental Health Act Updated


4. Children Looked After

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
4.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Children Looked After  
4.1.2 Decision to Look After  
4.1.3 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.4 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
4.1.5 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.6 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Children Looked After  
4.1.7 Care Planning Meetings for Children Looked After  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  


 

4.2

Placements

  
4.2.1 Placements with Parents  
4.2.2 Placements with Connected Carers (Reg 24 Placements) Updated
4.2.3 Placements in Foster Care  
4.2.4 Placements in Residential Care  
4.2.5 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds  
4.2.6 Out of Area Placements  
4.2.7 Placements Outside England and Wales  
4.2.8 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.2.9 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.10 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.2.11 Placement Stability, Procedure and Guidance  
4.2.12 Children's Homes Regulation 44 Visits Guidance and Procedures  
  See also: Children Looked After and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.2.13 Placements in Other Arrangements  


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

  
4.3.1 Social Worker Visits to Children Looked After  
4.3.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
4.3.3 Looked After Reviews  
4.3.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers  
4.3.5 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
4.3.6 Notifications of Significant Events Updated


 

4.4

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.4.1 Contact with Parents/Adults, Siblings and Connected Persons  
4.4.2 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)  
4.4.3 Family Time: Policy, Procedure and Agreement  


 

4.5

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.5.1 Education of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Updated
4.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
4.5.3 Elective Home Education Policy  
4.5.4 Special Educational Needs Policy  
4.5.6 Special Educational Needs Complaints Policy  


 

4.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
4.6.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
4.6.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
4.6.3 Behaviour Management and Safe Caring  
4.6.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint - under review  
4.6.5 Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Procedure  
4.6.6 Drugs and Substance Use (Including Smoking)  
4.6.7 Medication Procedures  
4.6.8 GP's, Dentists and Opticians  
4.6.9 Sexual Health Policy for Staff Working with Young People Under 19 Years  
4.6.10 Self-Harm and Suicide  
4.6.11 HIV  
4.6.12 Internet Safety  


 

4.7

Change of Name and Marriage

  
4.7.1 Change of Name of a Child Looked After  
4.7.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child Looked After  


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

  
4.8.1 Leaving Care and Transition Updated
4.8.2 Staying Put Updated
4.8.3 Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers Updated
4.8.4 Young People's Pathway Policy Updated
4.8.5 Charter for Care Leavers (DfE)  
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Children Looked After and Young People in Custody  
4.8.6 Wirral Council's Local Offer for Care Leavers Updated


 

4.9

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
4.9.1 Children Looked After and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.9.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Children Looked After and Young People in Custody  
4.9.3 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance Updated
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
  Probation Service Management of Young Adults Policy Framework  
  HMPPS Child Safeguarding Policy Framework  


5. Fostering and Adoption

5.1

Fostering Services

  
5.1.1 Statement of Purpose  
5.1.2 Fostering Policy  
5.1.3 Fostering Panel  
5.1.4 Persons Disqualified from Fostering
(Note: Requires 3rd Party Approval)		  
5.1.5 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Updated
5.1.6 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.7

Supervision and Support of Foster Carers

(Note: Requires 3rd Party Approval)		  
5.1.8 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.9 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
5.1.10 The Fostering Network: Principles and Protocol Governing the Transfer of Foster Carers  
5.1.11 Emergency Duty Team Service and Out of Hours Support to Foster Carers - to follow  
5.1.12 Foster Care Agreement  
5.1.13 Foster Carer Payment for Skills (FPS) Model and the Tasks, Skills, Competencies (TSC) Framework - to follow  
5.1.14 Payment for Skills Carer Progression Guidance - to follow  
5.1.15 Foster Carer Annual Personal Development Plan (PDP) and Review  
5.1.16 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
5.1.17 Long Term Competencies Report Foster Carers  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
5.1.18 Dogs and Pets Policy and Guidance  
5.1.19 Guidance on Possession of Guns and Weapons  
5.1.20 Safe Caring Policy  
5.1.21 Consent to Medical Treatment in Foster Carer Placements  
5.1.22 Children's Bedroom Guidance  
5.1.23 Guidance on Ex-Partners, Adult Children, Children of whom they have had Significant Care and Other References  
5.1.24 Safety in the Home for Foster Carers  
5.1.25 Foster Carer Household Safe Care Plan - to follow  
5.1.26 Pornography Guidelines for Foster Carers and Adopters  
5.1.27 Social Media Information for Foster Carers  
5.1.28 Guidance for Foster Carers for Recording and Record Keeping  
5.1.29 Fostering Service Smoking Policy and Guidance  
5.1.30 Foster Carers Supporting Educational Potential  
5.1.31 Staying Put Information for Foster Carers - to follow  
5.1.32 Foster Carers Contacting the Police  
5.1.33 Fostering Services, Alcohol, Drugs and Solvents Policy  
5.1.34 Assessment of a Partner for Single Foster Carers  
5.1.35 Wirral Parent and Child Fostering Policy  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
  Please see: Adoption in Merseyside for further information regarding Adoption Services in Wirral.  
5.2.1 Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters Updated
5.2.2 Adoption Panel  
5.2.3 Placement for Adoption and Matching  
5.2.4 Adoption Support  
5.2.5 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.6 Adoption Reviews  
5.2.7 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
5.2.9 Inter Country Adoption  
5.2.10 Non Agency Adoption  
5.2.11 Adoption Case Records  
5.2.12 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
5.2.13 Intermediary Services  
5.2.14 Life Journey Books Guidance  
5.2.15 Later Life Letters  
5.2.16 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
  See also: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  


 

5.3

Special Guardianship

  
5.3.1 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders Updated
5.3.2 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  


6. Appendices

6.1 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.2 Ofsted Inspection Framework  
6.3 Amendments