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NOTE: Chapters that are highlighted in blue represent Plymouth's local procedures and guidance.

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1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

  1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and PrinciplesApril 11, 2025
  2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationApril 14, 2025
  3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityApril 11, 2025

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

  1. 1.2.1Early Help AssessmentApril 11, 2025
  2. 1.2.2Building Support for Children, Young People and Families in PlymouthApril 11, 2025
  3. 1.2.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024
  4. 1.2.4Capacity and ConsentMay 21, 2024
  5. 1.2.5Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsApril 14, 2025
  2. 1.3.2AssessmentsApril 14, 2025
  3. 1.3.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)April 11, 2025
  4. 1.3.4Plymouth Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures

1.4Child in Need

  1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsApril 14, 2025

1.5Legal Proceedings

  1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersApril 14, 2025
  2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 23, 2022
  3. 1.5.3Legal Planning MeetingsApril 11, 2025
  4. 1.5.4Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
  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 RepresentationsApril 14, 2025
  2. 1.6.2Whistleblowing
    New
    April 11, 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)April 11, 2025

2.Case Management and Recording

  1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
  2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionJanuary 16, 2025
  3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsApril 14, 2025
  4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
  5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsDecember 18, 2024
  6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffApril 11, 2025
  7. 2.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesNovember 27, 2024

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 DisabilitiesAugust 20, 2024
  2. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsMay 21, 2024
  3. 3.1.3Short BreaksApril 14, 2025
  4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsAugust 20, 2024
  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 19, 2025
  2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsApril 14, 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 ReferApril 14, 2025

3.5Family and Friends Care

  1. 3.5.1Kinship Care
    Updated
    June 19, 2025
  2. 3.5.2Private FosteringApril 14, 2025
  3. 3.5.3Plymouth: Friends and Families Service

3.6Young Carers

  1. 3.6.1Young CarersApril 14, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

  1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenApril 14, 2025

3.8Mental Health

  1. 3.8.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenApril 14, 2025
  2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterOctober 9, 2024
  3. 4.1.3Care PlanningAugust 19, 2024
  4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 19, 2023
  5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceApril 14, 2025
  6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsApril 14, 2025
  7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenFebruary 7, 2022
  8. 4.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 23, 2022
  9. 4.1.9Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
  10. 4.1.10NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

  1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsApril 14, 2025
  2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsMarch 18, 2024
  3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareApril 14, 2025
  4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareSeptember 19, 2023
  5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 19, 2023
  6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsSeptember 23, 2024
  7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesApril 14, 2025
  8. 4.2.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationApril 14, 2025
  9. 4.2.9Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersApril 14, 2025
  10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersApril 14, 2025
  11. 4.2.11Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
  12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyApril 14, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

  1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenApril 14, 2025
  2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsApril 14, 2025
  3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsJune 19, 2025
  4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersSeptember 23, 2024
  5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsFebruary 14, 2025
  6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsAugust 19, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

  1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsApril 14, 2025
  2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)September 23, 2024

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 UKApril 17, 2024
  3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesMarch 23, 2022

4.6Health and Wellbeing

  1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansMay 1, 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 RestraintApril 14, 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 ChildApril 11, 2025

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

  1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionApril 14, 2025
  2. 4.8.2Staying PutApril 14, 2025

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesApril 14, 2025
  2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyApril 14, 2025
  3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance
    Updated
    June 19, 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 21, 2024
  4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
  5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersApril 14, 2025
  6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersApril 14, 2025
  7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersApril 14, 2025
  8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022

5.2Adopt South West

  1. 5.2.1Adopt South West is a partnership of councils (Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay).

5.3Special Guardianship

  1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersApril 14, 2025
  2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 23, 2024

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

  1. 6.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersApril 11, 2025
  2. 6.0.2Ofsted Inspection Framework
    Updated
    June 19, 2025
  3. 6.0.3Working Together to Safeguard Children
  4. 6.0.4Amendments

Last Updated: June 19, 2025

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