Contents



1. All Children

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 Updated
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 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
1.5.6 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
1.5.7 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  
1.5.8 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 Updated
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 and Child in Need)  


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 New


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 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


 

3.2

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 Family and Friends Care  
3.5.2 Private Fostering  


 

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  
  Youth Justice Board National Standards and Case Management Guidelines  
  Joint national protocol for transitions in England - Protocol to support the planned and safe movement of young people from youth offending teams (YOTs) to the Probation Service when they turn 18.  
  National Appropriate Adult website  
  Probation Service Management of Young Adults Policy Framework  
  HMPPS Child Safeguarding Policy Framework  
  A Guide to Child First - Youth Justice Board  


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  
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 Updated
4.2.9 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation Updated
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 Education of 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 Updated
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 Updated


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

  
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 Fostering Panel  
5.1.4 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.5 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
5.1.6 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.7 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.9 Managing Concerns, Complaints & Allegations Against Foster Carers, Including Historical Allegations  
5.1.10 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters Updated
  See also Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  
5.1.11 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders Updated
5.1.12 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 New
6.6 Amendments