Contents



1. All Children

Our Ways of Writing

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles  
1.1.2 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.3 Confidentiality Policy  
1.1.4 Consultation Policy  
1.1.5 Operational Childrens Services Supervision Policy  
1.1.6 Capacity and Consent  
1.1.7 Equality and Diversity  
1.1.8 Our Ways of Writing  


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Gateway Panel Terms of Reference  
1.2.2 Accessing Childrens Services - Common Assessment Framework  
1.2.3 Wiltshire Safeguarding Threshold Guidance  
1.2.4 Children Missing Education Policy  
  See also Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


 

1.3

Child in Need

  
1.3.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  


 

1.4

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.4.1 Initial Contacts and Referrals  
1.4.2 Assessments  
1.4.3 Wiltshire Council Protocol for Assessment  
1.4.4 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)  
  See also: Multi-Agency Safeguarding Children Procedures  
1.4.5 Case Transfer Protocol  


 

1.5

Case Recording and Visiting Requirements

  
1.5.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
1.5.2 Case Records and Retention  
1.5.3 Access to Records / Subject Access Requests  
1.5.4 Confidentiality Policy  
1.5.5 ‘Need to Know’ Procedure and Practice Guidance New
1.5.6 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
1.5.7 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
1.5.8 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  
1.5.9 Lone Working Policy  


 

1.6

Legal Proceedings

  
1.6.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.6.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline  
1.6.3 Legal Planning Meetings  
1.6.4 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings (October 2013)  
  See also: Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)  
1.6.5 Wiltshire Council Supervision Order Policy  
  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 and Representations  
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)  


2. Child Protection

  All relevant Child Protection Procedures can be found in the South West Child Protection Procedures.  
2.1 Pre-Birth (Safeguarding Unborn Babies)  
2.2 Children and Families that go Missing (Including Unborn Children)  
2.3 Children Missing from Care, Home and Education  
2.4 Children Missing from Education  
2.5 Wiltshire Harmful Sexual Behaviour Protocol  
2.6 Child Protection Step-Down Decision-Making Process – Local Practice  


3. Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1

Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

  
3.1.1 Children's Disability Service  
3.1.2 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
3.1.3 Personal Budgets and Direct Payments  
3.1.4 Short Breaks  
3.1.5 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings Updated
3.1.6 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework  


 

3.2

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
3.2.1 Deprivation 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 Updated
3.3.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  


 

3.4

Homelessness

  
3.4.1 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  
3.4.2 Practitioners Guide to Access +16 Accommodations  


 

3.5

Family and Friends Care

  
3.5.1 Kinship Care  
3.5.2 Private Fostering  
3.5.3 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making  


 

3.6

Young Carers

  
3.6.1 Young Carers  


 

3.7

Relinquished Children

  
3.7.1 Relinquished Children  


 

3.8

Mental Health

  
3.8.1 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983  


 

3.9

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
3.9.1 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
3.9.2 Reunification (Returning Home) Policy for Children and Young People who are Accommodated  
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
3.9.3 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance Updated


4. Children Looked After

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
4.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children Updated
4.1.2 Children Looked After Planning  
4.1.3 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.4 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also:  
  Wiltshire Permanence Strategy 2023-25  
  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 Looked After Children  
  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 Persons  
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 Placements in Other Arrangements  
4.2.9 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.2.10 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.11 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  


 

4.3

Monitoring and Reviews

  
4.3.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children  
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  


 

4.4

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.4.1 Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings  
4.4.2 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)  


 

4.5

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.5.1 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children  
4.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
4.5.3 Leisure Activities  


 

4.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
4.6.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
4.6.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
4.6.3 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
4.6.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  
4.6.5 Consumption of Alcohol by Foster Carers and Children and Young People in Foster Care  
4.6.6 Health and Safety Updated
4.6.7 Providing Personalised Care  


 

4.7

Change of Name and Marriage

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


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

  
  Wiltshire Council’s Accommodation & Support Protocol for Care Experienced Young People  
4.8.1 Leaving Care and Transition Updated
4.8.2 Staying Put  
4.8.3 Care Leavers Financial Support  
4.8.4 Reunification (Returning Home) Policy for Children and Young People who are Accommodated  
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  


5. Fostering and Adoption

5.1

Fostering Services

  
  Foster Carers Handbook  
5.1.1 Wiltshire Council Kinship and Fostering Service Statement of Purpose  
5.1.2 Foster Carers Charter  
5.1.3 Children and Young Peoples Guide to Fostering  
5.1.4 Fostering Panel  
5.1.5 Persons Disqualified from Fostering Updated
5.1.6 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Updated
5.1.7 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.8 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
5.1.9 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.10 Managing Concerns, Complaints & Allegations Against Foster Carers, Including Historical Allegations  
5.1.11 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
  See also Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  
5.1.12 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders  
5.1.13 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
  Wiltshire are part of a consortium of local authorities who use Adoption West, as their Regional Adoption Agency. Click here to view Adoption West Procedures.  
5.2.1 Adoption West Letterbox Forms  
5.2.2 Wiltshire Adoption Service Statement of Purpose  
  See also: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  


6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

6.1 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
6.2 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.3 Wiltshire Children's Services Practice Standards  
6.4 Childrens Social Care Quality Standards for Managers  
6.5 Ofsted Inspection Framework Updated
6.6 Amendments