Main Policies


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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. Contacts and Referrals
  3. Children in Need
  4. Child Protection
  5. Pre Proceedings and Court Work
  6. Children in Care
  7. Children in Particular Circumstances
  8. Fostering
  9. Adoption and Permanence Services


1. All Children

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles Updated
1.1.2 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.3 Provided Personalised Care  
1.1.4 Equality and Diversity  
1.1.5 Capacity and Consent  
1.1.6 Scheme of Delegation  
1.1.7 Ofsted Inspection Framework Updated


 

1.2

Case File Management

  
1.2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
1.2.2 Case Records and Retention  
1.2.3 Access to Records / Subject Access Requests  
1.2.4 Confidentiality Policy  
1.2.5 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
1.2.6 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  
1.2.7 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  


 

1.3

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.3.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.3.2 Whistleblowing Policy (Bradford.gov.uk)  
     

1.4

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care

  
1.4.1 Prevention and Early Help (Bradford.gov.uk)  
1.4.2 Continuum of Need and Risk Identification Tool  
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


2. Contacts and Referrals

2.1 Contacts and Referrals Updated
2.2 Assessments Updated


3. Children in Need

3.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  


4. Child Protection

4.1 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47) Updated
  See also: West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures, Child Protection Enquiries - Section 47 Children Act 1989 Procedures  
4.2 Guidance for Notifying the Deputy Director (Children's) of Serious Incidents or Significant Events  


5. Pre Proceedings and Court Work

5.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
5.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
5.3 Legal Gateway Panel  
5.4 Legal Gateway Meetings  
5.5 Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol  
  See also: Cross-border Child Protection Cases: The 1996 Hague Convention  
  and 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.  


6. Children in Care

6.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
6.1.1 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children - under review  
6.1.2 Decision for Children to enter Care  
6.1.3 Care Planning  
6.1.4 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
6.1.5 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Early Permanence Placements (One Adoption)  
6.1.6 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings  
6.1.7 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Children in Care  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  


 

6.2

Placements

  
6.2.1 Placements with Parents  
6.2.2 Placements with Connected Persons Updated
6.2.3 Placements in Foster Care  
6.2.4 Placements in Residential Care  
6.2.5 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds  
6.2.6 Out of Area Placements  
6.2.7 Placements Outside England and Wales  
6.2.8 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
6.2.9 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
6.2.10 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
  See also: Looked After Children in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
6.2.11 Placements in Other Arrangements  
  Bradford Support Accommodation Manual  
  Bradford Supported Lodgings Handbook  


 

6.3

Monitoring and Reviews

  
6.3.1 Social Worker Visits to Children in Care  
6.3.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
6.3.3 Looked After Reviews  
6.3.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers  
6.3.5 Resolving Disputes from Child Looked After Reviews  
6.3.6 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  


 

6.4

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
6.4.1 Family Time with Parents/Adults and Siblings  
6.4.2 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)  


 

6.5

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
6.5.1 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, in Care and Previously Looked After Children Updated
6.5.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
6.5.3 Leisure Activities  


 

6.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
6.6.1 Health Care Assessments and Plans  
6.6.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
6.6.3 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
6.6.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  
6.6.5 Risk Assessment and Planning  
6.6.6 Health and Safety  
  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

Change of Name and Marriage

  
6.7.1 Change of Name of a Child in Care  
6.7.2 Marriage / Civil Partnership of a Child in Care  


 

6.8

Leaving Care and Transition

  
6.8.1 Leaving Care and Transition  
6.8.2 Staying Put Updated
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
  and Bradford Supported Accommodation Manual  


 

6.9

Youth Justice

  
6.9.1 Looked After Children in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
6.9.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
6.9.3 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance  


7. Children in Particular Circumstances

7.1

Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

  
7.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
7.1.2 Personal Budgets and Direct Payments Updated
7.1.3 Short Breaks  
7.1.4 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings Updated
7.1.5 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework  


 

7.2

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
7.2.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
7.2.2 Mental Capacity  


 

7.3

Children from Abroad

  
7.3.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
7.3.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  


 

7.4

Homelessness

  
7.4.1 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  


 

7.5

Family and Friends Care

  
7.5.1 Kinship Care  
7.5.2 Private Fostering  
7.5.3 Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making New


 

7.6

Young Carers

  
7.6.1 Young Carers  


 

7.7

Relinquished Children

  
7.7.1 Relinquished Children  


 

7.8

Mental Health

  
7.8.1 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 Updated


8. Fostering

8.1

Fostering Services

  
8.1.1 Fostering Panel  
8.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
8.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Updated
8.1.4 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
8.1.5 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
8.1.6 Training and Development of Foster Carers  
8.1.7 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
8.1.8 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
  See also: Early Permanence Placements (One Adoption)  


9. Adoption and Permanence Services

9.1

Adoption

  
9.1.1 Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters (One Adoption)  
9.1.2 Adoption Panel (One Adoption)  
9.1.3 The Child's Journey - Placement for Adoption (One Adoption)  
9.1.4 Adoption Support  
9.1.5 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
9.1.6 Adoption Reviews  
9.1.7 Disruption of Adoptive Placements (One Adoption)  
9.1.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters (One Adoption)  
9.1.9 Inter Country Adoption (One Adoption)  
9.1.10 Non Agency Adoption  
9.1.11 Adoption Case Records  
9.1.12 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records (One Adoption)  
9.1.13 Intermediary Services (One Adoption)  
9.1.14 Life Story Books Guidance (One Adoption)  
  See also: Practice Guidance, Bradford Life Story Work and Practice Guidance  
9.1.15 Later Life Letters (One Adoption)  
9.1.16 Early Permanence Placements (One Adoption)  


 

9.2

Special Guardianship

  
9.2.1 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders Updated
9.2.2 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance