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Derby City Children's Social Care Procedures

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. Prevention and Early Intervention
  3. Children in Need
  4. Significant Harm
  5. Children Away from Home with Friends and Family
  6. Children in Care
  7. Fostering Services
  8. Adoption
  9. Permanence
  10. Appendices

1. All Children

CAPTION: All Children
     

1.1

All Children
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles  
1.1.2 A Strengths Based Approach  
1.1.3 Diversity and Heritage  
1.1.4 Diversity and Heritage Pledges  
1.1.5 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.6 Capacity and Consent Updated
1.1.7 Children at Risk of Exploitation - Workflow and Guidance - This process is under review - please speak to your DHoS for any queries  
1.1.8 Modern Slavery Act - Duty to Notify (NRM)  
1.1.9 Information Governance and Subject Access Requests  
1.1.10 Case Records and Retention  
1.1.11 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings (October 2013)  
1.1.12 Derbyshire Probation Trust Information Sharing Agreement  
1.1.13 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
1.1.14 Serious Incident Policy  
1.1.15 Social Work Allocation  
1.1.16 Transfer of Cases Protocol - Localities, Reception, IDCS and Children in Care Updated
1.1.17 Joint Runaway and Missing from Home or Care Protocol  
1.1.18 Supervision Policy  
1.1.19 Derby People's Services Department - Children's Workforce Strategy 2022 Update  
1.1.20 Family Group Conferencing  

   

1.2

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.2.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.2.2 Confidential Reporting Code (Whistleblowing)  
1.2.3 Have your Say - Customer Feedback Leaflet  

2. Prevention and Early Intervention

CAPTION: Prevention and Early Intervention
     
2.1 Derby City and Derbyshire Thresholds Guidance
2.2 Early Help Assessment and Processes  
2.3 Guidance for Completing a Family Early Help Assessment (Derby and Derbyshire SCP, Documents Library)  
2.4 Early Help Case Work Guidance - for Early Help Teams and Children's Centre Staff  
2.5 Staying Together Team  
2.6 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
2.7 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds Updated
2.8 Derby City Council Intentionally Homeless Protocol (including flowchart)  
2.9 Derby City and Derbyshire Joint Multi Agency Protocol for Pre Birth Assessments and Interventions  
2.10 Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures, Children at Risk of Exploitation (CRE)  
2.11 Derby and Derbyshire Joint Neglect and Graded Care Profile Practice Guidance and Assessment Tool  
2.12 Supporting Families  
2.13 Children's Centres  
2.14 Young Carers Updated
2.15 Relinquished Children  
2.16 Children Missing Education Policy  
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  

3. Children in Need

CAPTION: Children in Need
     

3.1

Contacts Referrals and Assessments
3.1.1 Social Care Single Assessment Guidance  
3.1.2 Initial Response Team: Children's Services  
3.1.3 Derby City Council Initial Response Team Flowchart  
3.1.4 Derby City Care Line: Out of Hours Social Care Service Protocol with Area Teams  
3.1.5 Processing Section 7 Requests from Court and CAFCASS  
3.1.6 Child in Need Plans, Work and Reviews Updated


 

3.2

Homeless 16 and 17 Year Olds

  
3.2.1 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  
3.2.2 Derby City's Joint Housing Protocol for 16 and 17 Year Olds  
3.2.3 Derby City Council CSC Procedure - S.17 Children Living Independently Updated
  See also: Young People at the Risk of Homelessness  


 

3.3

Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

  
3.3.1 Children and Young People 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Updated
3.3.2 Integrated Disabled Children's Service  
3.3.3 Integrated Disabled Children's Service Eligibility Criteria  
3.3.4 Direct Payments  
3.3.5 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
3.3.6 Medicines Management  
3.3.7 Restraint and Physical Intervention (Lighthouse and Early Help Community Support)  
3.3.8 A Guide to Parent Carer Needs Assessments  
 

See also: Short Breaks

  
  and Derby SEND Local Offer  


 

3.4

Short Breaks

  
3.4.1 Short Breaks Updated


 

3.5

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
3.5.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
3.5.2 Mental Capacity  


 

3.6

Mental Health

  
3.6.1 After-care under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 Updated

4. Significant Harm

CAPTION: Significant Harm
     
4.1 Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures
4.2 AIM3 Assessment Process  
4.3 Working with Harmful Sexual Behaviour (2024) New
4.4 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
4.5 Child Protection Cases under the 1996 Hague Convention  
4.6 Section 47 Enquiries  
4.7 Participation in Child Protection Conferences  
4.8 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
4.9 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
4.10 Legal Gateway Meetings  
4.11 Supervision Orders Updated
4.12 Guidance RE: Publicity when Children are Subject to Care or Adoption Proceedings  
4.13 Death of or Serious Harm to a Child  

5. Children Away from Home with Friends and Family

CAPTION: Children Away from Home with Friends and Family
     
5.1 Private Fostering - under review: for further advice or clarification, please speak to your DHoS Updated
5.2 Relative, Friend or other Person Connected with the Child: Who Should be Considered?  
5.3 Family and Friends Policy - under review  
5.4 Child Arrangements Orders and Derby Support Scheme  
5.5 Placements with Connected Persons  
5.6 Placements with Parents  
5.7 Looked After Children Exit Team: Practice Guidance/Protocol  
5.8 Application for Special Guardianship Orders  
5.9 Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  
5.10 Special Guardianship Orders and Derby Support Scheme  

6. Children in Care

CAPTION: Children in Care
     
  Our Pledge to Children in Care  


6.1

Care Planning and Family Time
 

In an emergency, please refer to the following procedures:
6.1.1 Provision of Accommodation for Children through Voluntary Arrangement (Section 20)  
6.1.2 Decision to Look After  
6.1.3 Care Planning  
6.1.4 Family Time with Parents, other Adults and Siblings  
6.1.5 Guidance on the Admission of Children to Care, Placement Planning and Review  
6.1.6 Children in Care Placements Commissioning and Sufficiency Strategy (2020-2023)  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  


 

6.2

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
6.2.1 Youth Offending Service and Children's Social Care  
6.2.2 Children in Care in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
6.2.3 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
6.2.4 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Updated
6.2.5 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
6.2.6 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System - Additional National Guidance  
  See also: HMPPS Child Safeguarding Policy Framework  


 

6.3

Placements

  
6.3.1 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
6.3.2 Placements in Foster Care  
6.3.3 Placements in Residential Care Updated
6.3.4 Out of Area Placements  
6.3.5 Placements outside England and Wales  
6.3.6 Placements in Other Arrangements Updated
6.3.7 Derby City Supported Accommodation for Older Children/Semi-Independent Living Procedures  


 

6.4

Monitoring and Reviews

  
6.4.1 Social Worker Visits to Children in Care  
6.4.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
6.4.3 Looked After Reviews  
6.4.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers  
6.4.5 Meeting the Needs of Looked After Children - Aide Memoire  


 

6.5

Education and Trips

  
6.5.1 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Updated
6.5.2 Holidays and School Trips in England/Wales  
6.5.3 Holidays and School Trips Outside England/Wales  


 

6.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
6.6.1 Health Assessments and Plans - under review  
6.6.2 Providing Personalised Care  
6.6.3 Medication Record  
6.6.4 Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service - For Looked After Children  
6.6.5 Change of Name of a Child in Care (including Naming Relinquished Babies)  
6.6.6 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child in Care  
6.6.7 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)  
6.6.8 Leisure Activities  
6.6.9 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
6.6.10 Health and Safety Updated
  See also: Promoting Wellbeing and Positive Identity for a Child or Young Person Who is Looked After: A Quick Guide for Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners.  


 

6.7

Leaving Care

  
6.7.1 Charter for Care Leavers (DfE)  
6.7.2 Our Pledge to Care Leavers (Derby City Council)  
6.7.3 Leaving Care and Transition Updated
6.7.4 Leaving Care Financial Procedures  
6.7.5 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
6.7.6 Staying Put Policy Updated
6.7.7 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
  See also: Transfer of Cases Protocol - Localities, Reception, IDCS and Children in Care.  

7. Fostering Services

CAPTION: Fostering Services
     
  Fostering Services National Minimum Standards
7.1 Fostering Panel  
7.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
7.3 Assessments and Approvals of Foster Carers  
7.4 Exemptions and Changes of Approval  
7.5 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
7.6 Review of Foster Carers  
7.7 Managing Allegations Against Foster Carers - under review  
7.8 Personal Care and Relationships (Guidance for Foster Carers)  
7.9 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
7.10 Placement with Dog Owning Families (Foster Carers)  
7.11 Foster Care Allowance (2022-2023)  
7.12 Payment for Skills  
7.13 Derby City Foster Carers Handbook  
 

See also:

  

8. Adoption

CAPTION: Adoption
     
  Adoption National Minimum Standards  
8.1 Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters - please refer to: Adoption East Midlands  
8.2 Adoption Panel - please refer to: Adoption East Midlands  
8.3 Placement for Adoption  
8.4 Adoption Support  
8.5 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
8.6 Adoption Reviews  
8.7 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
8.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption  
8.9 Inter Country Adoption  
8.10 Non Agency Adoption  
8.11 Intermediary Services  
8.12 Adoption Case Records  
8.13 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
8.14 Life Story Books Updated
8.15 Later Life Letters  
8.16 Adoption Tracking Meeting  
8.17 The Adoption Decision Process in relation to Child Permanence Reports  
8.18 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters Updated
  See also: Placement with Dog Owning Families (Foster Carers)  
  and Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  

9. Permanence

CAPTION: Permanence
     
9.1 Derby City Council Permanency Policy  

10. Appendices

CAPTION: Appendices
     
10.1 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers - under review  
10.2 Ofsted Inspection Framework  
10.3 Amendments