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Note: in South Tyneside we use the term 'Cared For Children'. Throughout these procedures, you will also find references to 'Looked After Children' in line with the terminology used in legislation and statutory guidance. The terms are interchangeable.

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1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

  1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles May 9, 2024
  2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationMay 15, 2025
  3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityNovember 9, 2023

1.2Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  1. 1.2.1Early Help Framework November 7, 2024
  2. 1.2.2Threshold Document - Continuum of Help and Support November 7, 2024
  3. 1.2.3Capacity and ConsentNovember 7, 2024
  4. 1.2.4Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsNovember 7, 2024
  2. 1.3.2AssessmentsNovember 7, 2024
  3. 1.3.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)May 9, 2024
  4. 1.3.4Allocation of Work and Transfer between TeamsTo Follow
  5. 1.3.5Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingNovember 7, 2024
  6. 1.3.6Local Protocol for Assessment (Local Resources)
  7. 1.3.7Multi-Agency Safeguarding Children Procedures

1.4Child in Need

  1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsNovember 7, 2024

1.5Legal Proceedings

  1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersMay 9, 2024
  2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineNovember 7, 2024
  3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsMay 9, 2024
  4. 1.5.4Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings (October 2013)
  5. 1.5.5Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
  6. 1.5.6Family 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.

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

  1. 1.6.1Complaints and RepresentationsNovember 7, 2024
  2. 1.6.2Whistleblowing

1.7Notifications

  1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Cared for, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)November 7, 2024

2.Case Management and Recording

  1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesNovember 7, 2024
  2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionMay 17, 2023
  3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsMay 15, 2025
  4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyNovember 7, 2024
  5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsMay 9, 2024
  6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffMay 9, 2024
  7. 2.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesMay 15, 2025

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

  1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMay 15, 2025
  2. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsNovember 7, 2024
  3. 3.1.3Short BreaksMay 15, 2025
  4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsMay 15, 2025
  5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkNovember 7, 2024

3.2Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  1. 3.2.1Deprivation of Liberty
  2. 3.2.2Mental Capacity

3.3Children from Abroad

  1. 3.3.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryMay 15, 2025
  2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsMay 9, 2024

3.4Homelessness

  1. 3.4.1Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferNovember 9, 2023

3.5Family and Friends Care

  1. 3.5.1Kinship CareMay 15, 2025
  2. 3.5.2Private FosteringNovember 7, 2024

3.6Young Carers

  1. 3.6.1Young CarersMay 15, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

  1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenMay 15, 2025

3.8Mental Health

  1. 3.8.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983November 7, 2024

4.Cared For Children

4.1Decision to Care For and Care Planning

  1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenMay 15, 2025
  2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterNovember 7, 2024
  3. 4.1.3Care PlanningMay 9, 2024
  4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildNovember 7, 2024
  5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceNovember 7, 2024
  6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsNovember 7, 2024
  7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenNovember 9, 2023
  8. 4.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningNovember 9, 2023
  9. 4.1.9Providing Personalised CareNovember 9, 2023
  10. 4.1.10NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People
  11. 4.1.11Promoting Wellbeing and Positive Identity for a Child or Young Person Who is Looked After: A Quick Guide for Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners (NICE)

4.2Placements

  1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsMay 9, 2024
  2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsNovember 7, 2024
  3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareNovember 7, 2024
  4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareNovember 7, 2024
  5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsMay 9, 2024
  6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsNovember 7, 2024
  7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesNovember 7, 2024
  8. 4.2.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationNovember 7, 2024
  9. 4.2.9Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersNovember 9, 2023
  10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersNovember 9, 2023
  11. 4.2.11Placements in Other ArrangementsMay 9, 2024
  12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyMay 15, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

  1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenNovember 7, 2024
  2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsNovember 7, 2024
  3. 4.3.3Cared For ReviewsMay 15, 2025
  4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersNovember 7, 2024
  5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsNovember 9, 2023
  6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsMay 9, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

  1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsMay 15, 2025
  2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)November 9, 2023

4.5Education, School Trips and Holidays

  1. 4.5.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Cared For and Care Experienced ChildrenNovember 7, 2024
  2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKOctober 9, 2023
  3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesMarch 23, 2022

4.6Health and Wellbeing

  1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansNovember 7, 2024
  2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJuly 26, 2022
  3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
  4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintNovember 9, 2023

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

  1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildJuly 26, 2022
  2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildFebruary 10, 2023

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

  1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionMay 15, 2025
  2. 4.8.2Staying PutNovember 7, 2024
  3. 4.8.3Care Experienced Young People: Financial ProceduresNovember 9, 2023

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesNovember 7, 2024
  2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyNovember 7, 2024
  3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceMay 15, 2025

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

  1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelJuly 26, 2022
  2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringJuly 26, 2022
  3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersMay 15, 2025
  4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalJuly 26, 2022
  5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersMarch 24, 2022
  6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
  7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersMay 15, 2025
  8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

  1. 5.2.1Adopt North East (ANE) - The Regional Adoption Agency for North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, Newcastle, and South Tyneside.
  2. 5.2.2Adopt North East Regional Adoption Agency Procedures

5.3Special Guardianship

  1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersNovember 7, 2024
  2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceMay 9, 2024

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

  1. 6.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersMay 15, 2025
  2. 6.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkMay 15, 2025
  3. 6.0.3Local ContactsMay 15, 2025
  4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children

Last Updated: October 15, 2025

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