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. Case Management and Recording
  3. Children in Particular Circumstances
  4. Looked After Children
  5. Fostering and Adoption
  6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices


1. All Children

1.1

Policy, Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles  
  See also: Practice Standards  
1.1.2 Children's Consultation and Participation  
1.1.3 Equality and Diversity  
1.1.4 Capacity and Consent  
  See also: Rotherham Guidance on Consent; Capacity and Use of S20  
1.1.5 Code of Conduct for Employees  
1.1.6 Children's Social Work Supervision Policy and Guidance Notes (Practitioners)  
1.1.7 Social Work Progression Framework  
1.1.8 Newly Qualified Social Worker Assessed and Supported Year in Employment Framework  
1.1.9 Social Worker Job Transfer Process Guidance  


 

1.2

Early Help and Family Engagement Service

  
1.2.1 Early Help Guidance: Integrated Working With Children, Young People and Families With Vulnerable or Complex Needs
(Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)		  
1.2.2 Families For Change (FfC)  
1.2.3 Family Group Conference Service  
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


 

1.3

Thresholds of Need and Guidance

  
1.3.1 Rotherham Multi-Agency Continuum of Need Guidance  
1.3.2 Multi-Agency Threshold Descriptors  


 

1.4

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.4.1 Contacts and Referrals  
  See also: Process when information presented to MASH is linked to a staff member  
1.4.2 Assessments  
  See also: Child Sexual Exploitation Referral Pathway (CYPS Staff)  
1.4.3 Pre-Birth Procedures  
1.4.4 Cross-Border Child Protection Cases Under the 1996 Hague Convention  
1.4.5 Step Up/Step Down Protocol  
1.4.6 Evolve - Multi-Agency Child Sexual Exploitation Team  
1.4.7 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)  
  See also: Rotherham Safeguarding Children's Partnership Procedures  
1.4.8 Transfer of Cases  
1.4.9 Risk Assessment Panel  
  See also: Assessment of Risk to Children in Respect of Contact or Cohabitation with a Person Posing Risk  


 

1.5

Child in Need

  
1.5.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  
1.5.2 Section 17 Policy - draft  


 

1.6

Court Proceedings

  
1.6.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.6.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline  
1.6.3 South Yorkshire Practice Guide – The use of Section 20 in the Context of Child Protection  
1.6.4 Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings  
1.6.5 Private Law - Section 7 and 37 Reports  
1.6.6 Supervision Order Guidance  
1.6.7 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings (DfE)  
  See also: Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)  
  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.  


 

1.7

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.7.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.7.2 Whistleblowing (Confidential Reporting Code)  


 

1.8

Notifications

  
1.8.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child in Need)  
1.8.2 Need to Know Procedure: Essential Reporting for Safeguarding and Children's Services  


2. Case Management and Recording

2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines  
2.2 Case Records and Retention  
2.3 Access to Records / Subject Access Requests  
2.4 Confidentiality Policy  
2.5 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.6 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
2.7 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  


3. Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1

Children with Disabilities

  
3.1.1 Children's Disability Team  
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  
3.1.6 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework New


 

3.2

Children from Abroad

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


 

3.3

Homelessness

  
3.3.1 Joint Housing Protocol for 16 and 17 Year Olds - under review  
3.3.2 Homeless 16 and 17 Year Olds Practice Guidance - under review  
3.3.3 Prevention of homelessness and provision of accommodation for 16 and 17-year-old young people, who may be homeless and/or require accommodation - under review New


 

3.4

Family and Friends Care

  
3.4.1 Kinship Care Policy - under review  
3.4.2 Viability Assessments  
3.4.3 Private Fostering - under review  


 

3.5

Young Carers

  
3.5.1 Young Carers Updated


 

3.6

Relinquished Children

  
3.6.1 Relinquished Children  


 

3.7

Safeguarding and Child Protection

  
  See also: Child Protection Planning including Initial Child Protection Conference and Visits
(Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)		  
3.7.1 Allegations Against Staff, Carers and Volunteers
(Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)		  
3.7.2 LADO Referral Process and Threshold
(Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures) 		 
3.7.3 Missing from Home and Care Operating Guidance  
  See also: South Yorkshire Children Missing from Home and Care Protocol (2021)  
3.7.4 Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation
(Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)		  
3.7.5 Safeguarding Children From Dangerous Dogs
(Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)		  
3.7.6 Assessment of Risk to Children in Respect of Contact or Cohabitation with a Person Posing Risk  
  See also: Persons Who Pose a Risk to Children
(Rotherham Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual)		  


 

3.8

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
3.8.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
3.8.2 Mental Capacity  


 

3.9

Mental Health

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


4. Looked After Children

4.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
4.1.1 Rotherham Looked After Children and Care Leavers Sufficiency Strategy 2023-2028  
4.1.2 Looked After and Adopted Children's Therapeutic Team Statement of Purpose  
4.1.3 Decision to Look After  
4.1.4 Care Planning  
4.1.5 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Early Permanence / Fostering for Adoption Procedure.  
4.1.6 Placement Planning, Placement Support and Disruption Meetings  
4.1.7 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  
4.1.8 Risk Assessments and Planning  
4.1.9 Providing Personalised Care  
4.1.10 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
  See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  


 

4.2

Placements

  
4.2.1 Placements with Parents  
4.2.2 Placements in Foster Care  
  For Residential Care, see the: Placements Manual for Commissioned Placements  
4.2.3 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Updated
  For Out of Area, see the: Placements Manual for Commissioned Placements (intranet access required)  
4.2.4 Placements Outside England and Wales  
4.2.5 Placements in Other Arrangements  
4.2.6 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
4.2.7 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.8 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.2.9 Health and Safety  
  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  
4.3.3 Independent Visitors  
4.3.4 Looked After Reviews  
4.3.5 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers  
4.3.6 Challenge and Escalation Process Guidance - Safeguarding Children Unit – Independent Reviewing Officers (IRO's) and Conference Chairs  
4.3.7 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
4.3.8 Children Accommodated by Health and Education Authorities, Residential Care Homes, Nursing Homes or Mental Nursing Homes  
4.3.9 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 Activites  


 

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  
  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 (NICE)  


 

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  
4.7.3 Tattooing and Body Piercing Policy  


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

  
4.8.1 Leaving Care Service  
4.8.2 Staying Put Policy  
4.8.3 Guide to Financial Support for Young People Leaving Care in Rotherham  
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  


 

4.9

Youth Justice

  
4.9.1 Rotherham Looked After Team and Rotherham Youth Offending Team Draft Joint Protocol  
4.9.2 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.9.3 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
4.9.4 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance  
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  


5. Fostering and Adoption

5.1

Fostering Services

  
5.1.1 Fostering Service - Statement of Purpose  
5.1.2 Foster Carers Charter - under review  
5.1.3 Fostering Panel  
5.1.4 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.5 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
5.1.6 Policy for Funding Extensions and Adaptations to the Homes of Local Authority Foster Carers and Adopters  
5.1.7 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.8 Matching Matrix New
5.1.8 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
5.1.9 Training and Development of Foster Carers  
5.1.10 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.11 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
  See also: Early Permanence Placements / Fostering for Adoption  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
  Please Note: One Adoption West Yorkshire is the Regional Adoption Agency for Rotherham  
5.2.1 Adoption - Statement of Purpose  
5.2.2 Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters  
  See also: Policy for Funding Extensions and Adaptations to the Homes of Local Authority Foster Carers and Adopters  
5.2.3 Adoption Panel  
5.2.4 Adoption Support  
5.2.5 Placement for Adoption  
5.2.6 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.7 Adoption Reviews  
5.2.8 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.9 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
5.2.10 Adoption with a Foreign Element  
5.2.11 Non Agency Adoption  
5.2.12 Adoption Case Records  
5.2.13 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
5.2.14 Intermediary Services  
5.2.15 Life Story Books Guidance  
5.2.16 Later Life Letters  
5.2.17 Early Permanence Placements / Fostering for Adoption  
  See also: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  


 

5.3

Other Permanence Options

  
5.3.1 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders  
5.3.2 Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  
5.3.3 Child Arrangements Order (with Residence Requirement) Allowance  


6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

6.1 Local Contacts  
6.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
6.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE)  
6.4 Ofsted Inspection Framework  
6.5 Amendments