Contents

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles January 29, 2025
2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationJanuary 29, 2025
3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022

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

1. 1.2.1Early Help Framework January 29, 2025
2. 1.2.2Threshold Framework: 'Accessing the Right Help at the Right Time'January 29, 2025
3. 1.2.3Capacity and ConsentDecember 3, 2025
4. 1.2.4Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsJune 10, 2025
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsDecember 3, 2025
3. 1.3.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)June 10, 2025
4. 1.3.4Allocation of Work and Transfer between TeamsJanuary 29, 2025
5. 1.3.5Stoke-on-Trent Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual
6. 1.3.6Stoke-on-Trent Safeguarding Children Partnership Website

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsJune 10, 2025
2. 1.4.2Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024

1.5Legal Proceedings

1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersFebruary 7, 2024
2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 10, 2025
3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsJune 10, 2025
4. 1.5.4Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
5. 1.5.5Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS)
6. 1.5.6Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)

1.6Whistleblowing

1. 1.6.1WhistleblowingJanuary 29, 2025

1.7Notifications

1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)June 10, 2025

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesJune 10, 2025
2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionJanuary 16, 2025
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsJune 10, 2025
4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsDecember 18, 2024
6. 2.0.6Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesNovember 27, 2024
7. 2.0.7Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffJanuary 30, 2025

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities

1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesJune 10, 2025
2. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsJune 10, 2025
3. 3.1.3Short BreaksJanuary 29, 2025
4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsDecember 3, 2025
5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 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 SlaveryJune 10, 2025
2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsJanuary 30, 2025

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 ReferJanuary 29, 2025

3.5Kinship Care

1. 3.5.1Kinship CareJanuary 17, 2025
2. 3.5.2Private FosteringJune 10, 2025

3.6Young Carers

1. 3.6.1Young CarersJune 10, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenJune 10, 2025

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenJune 10, 2025
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look After and Care PlanningJune 10, 2025
3. 4.1.3Ceasing to Look After a ChildJune 10, 2025
4. 4.1.4Permanence Planning GuidanceJanuary 29, 2025
5. 4.1.5Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsJuly 25, 2023
6. 4.1.6Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenDecember 3, 2025
7. 4.1.7Risk Assessment and PlanningDecember 3, 2025
8. 4.1.8Providing Personalised CareJanuary 29, 2025
9. 4.1.9NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsJanuary 30, 2025
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsJanuary 29, 2025
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareJanuary 30, 2025
4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareSeptember 19, 2023
5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsJune 10, 2025
6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsJanuary 29, 2025
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesJanuary 30, 2025
8. 4.2.8Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
9. 4.2.9Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationDecember 3, 2025
10. 4.2.10Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersJune 10, 2025
11. 4.2.11Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersJanuary 29, 2025
12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyJune 10, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenJanuary 29, 2025
2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsJanuary 29, 2025
3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsDecember 3, 2025
4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersSeptember 23, 2024
5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsJanuary 29, 2025
6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsAugust 19, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Family Time with Parents/Adults and SiblingsJune 10, 2025
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)January 29, 2025

4.5Education, School Trips and Holidays

1. 4.5.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenJuly 25, 2023
2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKDecember 3, 2025
3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesDecember 3, 2025

4.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansJanuary 30, 2025
2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJanuary 29, 2025
3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour SupportDecember 3, 2025
4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintDecember 3, 2025

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildFebruary 7, 2024
2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionJune 10, 2025
2. 4.8.2Staying PutJanuary 29, 2025
3. 4.8.3Financial Arrangements for Care LeaversJanuary 29, 2025

4.9Youth Offending

1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesDecember 3, 2025
2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyJune 10, 2025
3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceDecember 3, 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 CarersJune 10, 2025
4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersJanuary 29, 2025
6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersJune 10, 2025
8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersJanuary 29, 2025
9. 5.1.9Fostering Website

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersJune 10, 2025
2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelJune 10, 2025
3. 5.2.3Placement for AdoptionJune 10, 2025
4. 5.2.4Adoption SupportDecember 3, 2025
5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 31, 2023
6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsJanuary 29, 2025
8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedJune 10, 2025
9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsJanuary 29, 2025
12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsJune 10, 2025
13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesJanuary 29, 2025
14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersJune 10, 2025
16. 5.2.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersJanuary 29, 2025
17. 5.2.17Together4Children Regional Adoption Agency Website

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceJanuary 29, 2025

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 6.0.1Local ContactsJanuary 29, 2025
2. 6.0.2List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersJune 10, 2025
3. 6.0.3Ofsted Inspection FrameworkJune 10, 2025
4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
5. 6.0.5Amendments - local procedure