Contents



1. All Children

1.1

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.1.1 Threshold Framework: Luton Safeguarding Children Board  
1.1.2 Luton Supervision Framework - Children, Families & Education Directorate  
1.1.3 Capacity and Consent  
  See also: Effective Support for Children and Young People in Luton  
  Luton Family Network Meetings Guidance (Local Resources)  
  CSC Induction Programme Booklet  
1.1.4 Equality and Diversity New
1.1.5 Children’s Consultation and Participation New
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  


 

1.2

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.2.1 Contacts and Referrals  
1.2.2 MASH Timescales and RAG Rating Policy  
1.2.3 Luton Protocol for Single Assessments in Children's Social Care  
1.2.4 Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)  
  See also: Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Safeguarding Children's Board Procedures  
1.2.5 Child Protection - Information Sharing System - under review  
1.2.6 Protocol for the Channel Panel in Luton, Central Bedfordshire and Bedfordshire Borough  
1.2.7 Risk Assessment and Planning New
1.2.8 Providing Personalised Care  


 

1.3

Child in Need

  
1.3.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  


 

1.4

Legal Proceedings

  
1.4.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.4.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline New
1.4.3 Legal Gateway Meetings New
1.4.4 Public Law Outline Procedures and Guidance  
1.4.5 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: Child Protection Cases: The 1996 Hague Convention  
1.4.6 East of England Region Joint Protocol on Supervision Orders  
  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.  


 

1.5

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.5.1 Children's Social Care Complaints Procedure  
1.5.2 Whistleblowing  


 

1.6

Notifications

  
1.6.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child In Need)  


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 Chronology  
2.6 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
2.7 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  
2.8 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  


3. Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1

Children with Disabilities

  
  See also: Local Resources  
3.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities  
3.1.2 Direct Payments  
3.1.3 Short Breaks  
3.1.4 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Condition in Long-Term Residential Settings  
  See also: Short Breaks Strategy (Local Resources)  


 

3.2

Children from Abroad

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


 

3.3

Homelessness

  
  Please see Local Resources.  


 

3.4

Safeguarding and Child Protection

  
3.4.1 Safeguarding Children who Run Away or Go Missing  
3.4.2 Children Missing from Education
(Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Safeguarding Children's Board Procedures)		  
3.4.3 Safeguarding Children from Child Sexual Exploitation  
3.4.4 Multi-Agency Gang Panel (MAGPan)  
3.4.5 Business Process For Looked After Children's Reviews and Care Plan Monitoring  
3.4.6 Protocol for Forced Marriage  
3.4.7 Supporting Vulnerable Children and Families during COVID-19 Practice Guidance  


 

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

Education

  
3.7.1 Elective Home Education (EHE) Policy  
3.7.2 Unregistered Schools Strategy  
3.7.3 Ofsted Complaints Protocol: Complaints About Schools from Ofsted Received By the LA  


 

3.8

Relinquished Children

  
3.8.1 Relinquished Children  


 

3.9

Mental Health

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


 

3.10

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
3.10.1 Deprivation of Liberty  
3.10.2 Mental Capacity  


4. Looked After Children

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 Decision to Look After Updated
4.1.3 Care Planning New
4.1.4 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
4.1.5 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
4.1.6 Placement Planning, Stability and Placement Disruption Meetings  
4.1.7 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  
 

See also: NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

and 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

  


 

4.2

Placements

  
4.2.1 Placements with Parents  
4.2.2 Placements with Connected Persons  
4.2.3 Placements in Foster Care  
  See also: Pace Fostering  
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 Updated
4.2.8 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation Updated
4.2.9 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
4.2.10 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
4.2.11 Placements in Other Arrangements  
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
4.2.12 PACE BEDS - Guidance for Luton YOS, Bedfordshire Police, Luton Borough Council & EDT Workers  
4.2.13 Health and Safety New


 

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 Escalation of Concerns For Looked after Children and Safeguarding (including Dispute Resolution) Procedure  
4.3.6 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
4.3.7 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 Updated
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 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 Activities New


 

4.6

Health and Wellbeing

  
4.6.1 Personal Care and Relationships  
4.6.2 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management Updated
4.6.3 Restrictive Physical Intervention  
4.6.4 Health Care Assessments and Plans  


 

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  


 

4.8

Leaving Care and Transition

  
4.8.1 Leaving Care and Transition  
4.8.2 Staying Put - under review  


 

4.9

Youth Offending

  
  See: Youth Justice Board Standards for children in the youth justice system  
4.9.1 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services Updated
4.9.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
  See also:  
  Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
  YJB and Probation Joint National Protocol for Transitions in England  
  National Appropriate Adult website  
  Probation Service Management of Young Adults Policy Framework  
  HMPPS Child Safeguarding Policy Framework  


5. Fostering and Adoption

5.1

Fostering Services

  
  See Luton Borough Council Fostering Statement of Purpose Updated
5.1.1 Fostering Panel Updated
5.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
5.1.3 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Updated
5.1.4 Pace Fostering (Local Resources)  
5.1.5 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
5.1.6 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
5.1.7 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
5.1.8 Allegations Against Foster Carers - under review Updated
5.1.9 Fostering Service Smoking Policy  
5.1.10 Training and Development of Foster Carers New
  See also: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  


 

5.2

Adoption and Permanence Services

  
5.2.1 Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Prospective Adopters Updated
5.2.2 Adoption Panel Updated
5.2.3 Placement for Adoption Updated
5.2.4 Adoption Support Updated
5.2.5 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
5.2.6 Adoption Reviews  
5.2.7 Disruption of Adoptive Placements Updated
5.2.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
5.2.9 Inter Country Adoption  
5.2.10 Non Agency Adoption  
5.2.11 Adoption Case Records  
5.2.12 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
5.2.13 Intermediary Services  
5.2.14 Life Story Books Guidance  
5.2.15 Later Life Letters  
5.2.16 Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
  See also: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  


 

5.3

Special Guardianship

  
5.3.1 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders  
5.3.2 Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance  


6. Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

6.1 Agency Decision Making Process  
6.2 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
6.3 Amendments