Amendments
August 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | This chapter has been updated to reflect case law in relation to assessing legal capacity. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | Information has been added with regard to Care Orders and Supervision Orders on a care plan of the child remaining at home in line with The Public Law Working Group recommendations to achieve best practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been updated to include information from Guidance: Area SEND Inspections Framework and Handbook (November 2022). Information was added into section 15 Resolving Disagreements there is dad from it in relation to legal aid for foster carers and prospective adoptive parents in First Tier Tribunal appeals. |
| Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings | This chapter has been updated to include information from the UK Social Work Practice in Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People Report. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Information has been added about the National Age Assessment Board. |
| Placements in Other Arrangements | This chapter has been revised throughout and should be re-read. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | This chapter has been amended to include information from Annex to MOJ Circular 2022/03: Additional Information on Remand to Local Authority Accommodation (RLAA). |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | Information has been added in relation to allergies. |
| Health and Safety | Information has been added in relation to allergies. |
| Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child | This chapter has been completely revised following the raising of the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been amended to note that the leaving care allowance has increased from £2000-£3000. It has also been updated to include information from the revised OFSTED inspection framework. |
| Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters | The title of this chapter has been amended to include early permanence and a link added to the National Early Permanence Practice Standards. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | Information has been added to clarify the timing of assessments in Special Guardianship Applications in Care Proceedings. |
| New Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Child Protection Step-Down Decision-Making Process – Local Practice | This guidance is included for the 1st time and is a flowchart. |
| Ofsted Inspection Framework | This chapter has been added and links to the frameworks and guidance for inspecting local authority children’s services. |
| Next Update: February 2024 | |
April 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Private Fostering | This policy was revised and updated throughout and should be re-read. |
February 2023
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Case Records and Retention | The information in relation to the independent enquiry into child sexual abuse has been updated following the conclusion of the enquiry period. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | The section on court hearings has been updated in line with A View From the President’s Chambers: Relaunching the PLO (November 2022). In the relevant guidance section link has been added to Pre-proceedings and Family Justice Hub (Research in Practice). |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been amended to include a link to Self-harm: Assessment, Management and Preventing Recurrence NICE Guidance in the Further Information section. |
| Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services | The information on Looked After Children who are arrested has been updated in relation to who can act as an appropriate adult. |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | The information on Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey has been updated in line with the Cross-border Placements (Effect of Deprivation of Liberty Orders) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 and Cross-Border Placements (Effect of Deprivation of Liberty Orders) (Scotland) Regulations 2022: Practice Guidance, Notice and Undertaking Template. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | This chapter has been amended in line with the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter has been amended to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Additional information was added into section 2 Positive Behaviour Support and section 5.4 Recording of Sanctions. |
| Foster Carers Handbook | This handbook was updated. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated to reflect the updated Public Law Working Group Best Practice Guidance. This includes the new interim guidance, issued by the President of the Family Division, that addresses the lawful extension of care proceedings beyond 26 weeks. Section 6.3, Placement before Special Guardianship Order is made, was added in line with guidance that states where there is no pre- existing relationship between the child and special guardians the child should be placed on an interim basis before the special guardianship order is made. |
October 2022
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Lone Working Policy | The Policy and risk assessment checklists are now available. |
August 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been amended throughout in line with Management Guidance in Public Law Children Cases: March 2022. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | The section on resolving disagreements has been updated in line with the first-tier Tribunal's extended powers to hear appeals and make non-binding recommendations about health and social care aspects of EHC plans. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Chapter has been updated to note that the National transfer scheme protocol for unaccompanied asylum seeking children has become mandatory for all local authorities with Children Services. |
| Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer | The latest version of the joint protocol for homeless 16 – 17 year old young people has been added to the Further Information section. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This chapter has been updated to refer to Guidance issued by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. |
| Ceasing to Look After a Child | This chapter has been updated to add a note regarding transferring a child’s belongings in appropriate luggage and includes a link to a link to NYAS, My Things Matter Report. (See Section 5, Administration / Process Issues). |
| Permanence Planning Guidance | The Terms of Reference of the Permanence Panel has been added. |
| Placements in Foster Care | This chapter has been amended to add a link to the NYAS ‘My Things Matter’ Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move. (See Section 4, Placement Planning). |
| Placements in Residential Care | This chapter has been amended to add a link to the NYAS ‘My Things Matter’ Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move. (See Section 2.3, Placement Planning). |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty has been updated in line with case-law. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | Section 3, Supervised Contact has been updated to reflect a finding by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman that the supervisor's observations of the contact must be clearly recorded in the child's record and shared with the parents within 3 months of the visit. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education (2021). Schools should have policies and processes in place to ensure all concerns about all adults working in or on behalf of the school or college (including supply teachers, volunteers and contractors) are dealt with promptly and appropriately. See Section 8.3, Protecting Children with a Social Worker, Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children from Adults Who May Pose a Risk to Them and/or Other Children in the School. |
| Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management | This chapter has been updated and provides guidance on managing behaviour, which includes supporting positive behaviour, de-escalation of conflicts and discipline. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint | This chapter has been revised throughout and additional information added on children and young people with extra support needs. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been amended to add a link to the NYAS ‘My Things Matter’ Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move. (See Scope Box.) |
| Fostering Panel | This chapter has been revised and updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Details | |
| Equality and Diversity | This chapter summarises the local authority's commitment to providing inclusive and equal services to a diverse range of children and young people and to promote equality and diversity as part of the recruitment and employment practice. |
| Our Ways of Writing | This approach directly links to ‘The Wiltshire Way’ Children’s Social Care approach to practice: working in a trauma aware way, strengths based and restorative in nature. This guidance has been written following an evaluation of our new ways of writing, informed by staff and parent feedback. Our Child and Voice Team are conducting a piece of work with children and young people which will inform any future guidance changes. |
| Wiltshire Harmful Sexual Behaviour Protocol | This protocol should be followed where there is suspicion, allegation or observation of a child or young person having carried out harmful sexual behaviour (HSB). |
| Leisure Activities | This chapter considers the role of leisure activities as a central part of the young person’s life, and the need, as far as possible, to give looked after children the same opportunities to take part in normal age-appropriate activities as their peers. |
| Health and Safety | This chapter explains what needs to be in place when assessing a foster/residential home in relation to health and safety issues. |
| Providing Personalised Care | This chapter provides guidance on providing personalised care which is defined as: “Care which meets each child's needs and promotes their welfare, taking into account the child's gender, religion, ethnicity, cultural and linguistic background, sexual identity, mental health, any disability, their assessed needs, previous experiences and any relevant plans.” |
May 2022
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Details | |
| Care Leavers Financial Support | This policy has been added. |
February 2022
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Operational Childrens Services Supervision Policy | The supervision policy has been updated. |
| Capacity and Consent | Section 4.3, Consent to the Use of Medication to Suppress Puberty has been updated in line with case-law. |
| Assessments | This guidance on chronologies has been updated. |
| Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations | Information has been added on recording by employees in a professional capacity. |
| Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff | This chapter has been revised throughout. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | This chapter has been extensively revised in the light of the recommendations to achieve best practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems (Public Law Working Group). |
| Legal Planning Meetings | This chapter has been revised throughout. |
| Complaints and Representations | This chapter has been amended to reflect the Children's Statutory Complaint Process: Guide for Practitioners (Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman, 2021). (See Relevant Guidance). |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been revised and updated and includes links to related reports from the House of Commons Library. (See Section 16, Further Information and Statutory Guidance). |
| Short Breaks | Information has been added in to Section 7, Short Break Settings, in relation to the prohibition on looked after children under the age of 16 being placed in 'other arrangements' placements for the purposes of a short break. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | A link has been added to the Independent Child Trafficking Guardians Referral Form. In areas where the ICTG service has been implemented, if the social worker considers a child to be a potential victim of modern slavery, they should refer them to the ICTG service by completing the online referral form. Section 6.1, Placement Options has been updated in relation to placements in 'other arrangements'. Section 4, Assessment has been updated in relation to Age Assessments. |
| Placements with Parents | Section 1, Planned Placements has been updated to add information on placements in 'other arrangements.' |
| Out of Area Placements | Section 6, Placements in Wales has been updated in line with updated Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review. |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey has been updated in line with updated Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review. |
| Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation | Information has been added in to Section 3, Local Authority Accommodation, in relation to children under the age of 16 being placed in 'other arrangements' placements. |
| Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings | A link to the Family Time Guidance has been added to these procedures. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been significantly amended to reflect the 'Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges (Ofsted, June 2021)'; updated 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' (see Scope Box) and Sexual Harassment in Education – Briefing (House Of Parliament Library, June 2021). (See Section 8.2, Protecting looked after children from sexual harassment and child on child abuse). The chapter has also been amended to reflect Promoting the Education of Children with a Social Worker: Virtual School Head Role Extension, June 2021. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention | A link to the Guidance on Positive Environments where Children can Flourish has been added |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Details | |
| Placements in Other Arrangements | This chapter explains the local authorities duties when placing a child in "other arrangements". These may include regulated and unregulated settings. |
October 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer | This chapter has been updated to add the Joint Protocol for Homeless 16-17 year old Young People in Wiltshire and the Housing Information Sheet – Joint Assessment Checklist to Section 5, Further Information. |
September 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Foster Carers Handbook | This document has been updated. |
August 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | A section on consent to the use of medication to suppress puberty has been updated and a new section on consent to life ending withdrawal of medical support has been added. The section on consent to information has been updated to reflect revisions in Working Together to Safeguard Children |
| Initial Contacts and Referrals | This chapter has been updated to reflect the latest version of Working Together and slightly amended to reference Early Help alongside the CAF. |
| Assessments | This chapter has been amended to add a new section on 16 and 17 year olds who may be Homeless and/or require Accommodation and reflects the issue of Homelessness and the vulnerability of young people identified in Working Together to Safeguard Children. |
| Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline | The link to the SWET has been updated, additional information has been included in relation to pre-birth assessment some planning where the mother has learning disabilities. This chapter has also been updated to reflect practice guidance on Special Guardianship. |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Minor amendments have been made to this chapter in line with the U.K.'s exit from the EEA. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been updated to note the high court ruling that immigration caseworkers, when deciding whether to accept that the applicant is 'destitute or at risk of imminent destitution' are required to 'have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare' of any children involved in the application, in accordance with section 55 Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. |
| Family and Friends Care | A new section on education has been added and further information on the School Admission Code. |
| Relinquished Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect case law setting out lessons for the future in non-notification cases. |
| Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children | This chapter has been revised throughout and a link added to House of Commons Library Briefing Paper: Criminal Injuries Compensation for Victims of Child Abuse. |
| Placements in Residential Care | This chapter has been updated to note that, from September 2021, looked after children under 16 years of age cannot be accommodated in unregulated independent or semi-independent placements. |
| Placements Outside England and Wales | Additional information has been added in relation to placements in Scotland, in line with a High Court case. |
| Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers | A new section on consent to life ending withdrawal of medical support has been added to reflect a High Court judgement. |
| Advocacy and Independent Visitors | This chapter has been revised and updated throughout. Links to local advocacy services have been added. |
| Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect revised Working Together and information has been added on the school admission code. |
| Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK | This chapter has been revised to update information on insurance cover and how to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card. It has also been updated to link to reissue the Home Office guidance for local authority children service departments when applying for passports on behalf of children. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | The section on pathway planning has been updated to note that immigration status should be included as a separate section on the pathway plan. This will help to ensure that young people who have been granted Pre-Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme apply to convert this to Settled Status at the appropriate. Pathway Plans should contain clear information about what action needs to be taken by whom and when to ensure that the young person's right to remain legally in the UK is not jeopardised. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Orders | This chapter has been updated to reflect Practice Guidance on Special Guardianship published by the Family Justice Council, Special Guardianship Applications in Care Proceedings. The Special Guardianship Support Plan and new Section on Special Guardianship Orders in International Cases. information was also added on the School Admission Code. |
| List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers | A note has been added regarding consent to life-ending withdrawal of medical support for a child will require an application to the High Court even if all relevant parties are in agreement. Legal advice must be sought as a matter of urgency. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Details | |
| Practice Standards | These have been revised throughout and published for the first time as part of the Procedures manual. |
| Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 | This policy applies when a child or care leaver is discharged from hospital after having been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. |
February 2021
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | This chapter has been updated to add information on a High Court case in relation to consent in the context of the use of medication to suppress puberty, also information has been added in relation to NICE Quality Standard: Decision-Making and Mental Capacity. |
| Complaints and Representations | This chapter has been revised throughout and a link to Wiltshire county council information about the DOFA has been added. |
| Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | This chapter has been amended to reference recent case law holding that, as part of the mediation process a parent/child/young person is entitled to bring along any supporter they wish, including a lawyer. |
| Families with No Recourse to Public Funds | This chapter has been revised throughout. |
| Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer | This chapter has been updated to add a link to Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG) to support the development of joint protocols that can help local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of care leavers (see Section 4, Housing Protocols for Care Leavers). |
| Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds | Additional guidance on use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty When One or More of the Relevant Criteria Under Section 25 Children Act 1989 are Not Satisfied has been added. |
| Leaving Care and Transition | This chapter has been revised with a link to Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG) to support the development of joint protocols that can help local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of care leavers. Additional content has therefore been added in a new Section Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leaver as well as Reviews of Pathway and Where Care Leavers Live or Move to a Different Local Authority Area. |
| Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody | This chapter has been revised to reflect Care leavers leaving custody in Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers: good practice advice (DfE and MHCLG). |
| New Features | |
| A section of Child Protection Procedures has been added with a new link to the South-West Child Protection Procedures. | |
December 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Wiltshire Council Kinship and Fostering Service Statement of Purpose | This document has been updated. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Wiltshire Adoption Service Statement of Purpose | This new document has been added. |
August 2020
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery | Further Information has been updated to include a link to Statutory Guidance Modern Slavery: How to Identify and Support Victims. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | A link to the Practice Guidance for Final Care Plans for Adoption has been added. |
| Notifications of Significant Events | This procedure has been updated to reflect the latest Ofsted guidance for social care providers on the types of incident which they consider to be serious and which will therefore require notification to the regulatory authority. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Title | Details |
| Capacity and Consent | In this chapter, guidance is offered in relation to the various situations in which consent is likely to be sought, with reference to previous legal judgements. This is a potentially complex practice arena and if the practitioner is in any doubt about gaining consent they should always seek further advice from managers and legal advice must be sought as necessary. |
| Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff | The use of social media in a social care and safeguarding environment is a developing area. Cases and reviews have discussed the use of social media in social work practice. There is, however, currently no specific government guidance on the issue. This chapter is designed to highlight some of the issues to be considered, with links to additional information. It is not intended to provide any legal advice, and legal advice must be sought as appropriate. Local Authorities and Courts may have local protocols in place on the use of social media/service of documents. |
| Storage of Data on Mobile Devices | This chapter provides guidance on the storage of personal data (including photographs) on mobile devices. 'Personal data' is any information about an identifiable living individual. 'Mobile devices' includes memory sticks, mobile telephones including smartphones, tablet technologies, netbooks and laptops. |
