Procedures

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles November 29, 2024
2. 1.1.2Equality and DiversityNovember 29, 2024

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

1. 1.2.1Early InterventionNovember 29, 2024
2. 1.2.2Levels of Need and Intervention - ThresholdsNovember 29, 2024
3. 1.2.3Capacity and ConsentMay 21, 2024

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsNovember 29, 2024
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsApril 29, 2025
3. 1.3.3Assessment ProcessNovember 29, 2024
4. 1.3.4Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)December 2, 2024
5. 1.3.5Case TransferNovember 29, 2024
6. 1.3.6Pan Berkshire Child Protection Procedures, Child Protection Enquiries - Section 47 Children Act 1989 Procedure - link to SCP

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsDecember 17, 2024
2. 1.4.2Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983April 29, 2025
3. 1.4.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 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 23, 2022
3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsAugust 19, 2024
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 RepresentationsNovember 29, 2024
2. 1.6.2Report a Serious Concern/WhistleblowingNovember 29, 2024

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)November 29, 2024

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionNovember 29, 2024
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsNovember 27, 2024
4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsJanuary 3, 2025
6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffMarch 28, 2024
7. 2.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesNovember 29, 2024

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities

1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
   Updated
   April 29, 2025
2. 3.1.2Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings
   Updated
   April 29, 2025
3. 3.1.3Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsMay 21, 2024
4. 3.1.4Short BreaksJanuary 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 Slavery
   Updated
   April 29, 2025
2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsJanuary 3, 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 ReferNovember 29, 2024

3.5Kinship Care

1. 3.5.1Kinship CareApril 29, 2025
2. 3.5.2Private FosteringJanuary 3, 2025

3.6Young Carers

1. 3.6.1Young CarersNovember 29, 2024

3.7Relinquished Children

1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenDecember 17, 2024

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Children in Care
   Updated
   April 29, 2025
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterNovember 29, 2024
3. 4.1.3Care PlanningDecember 2, 2024
4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 19, 2023
5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceNovember 29, 2024
6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsDecember 27, 2024
7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Children in CareJanuary 2, 2025
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 ParentsJanuary 1, 2025
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsApril 29, 2025
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareJanuary 1, 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 PlacementsJanuary 2, 2025
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesJanuary 3, 2025
8. 4.2.8Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
9. 4.2.9Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationJanuary 3, 2025
10. 4.2.10Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersSeptember 23, 2024
11. 4.2.11Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersNovember 29, 2024
12. 4.2.12Health and Safety
    Updated
    April 29, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenJanuary 2, 2025
2. 4.3.2Children Rights, Advocacy and Independent VisitingJanuary 3, 2025
3. 4.3.3Children in Care ReviewsApril 29, 2025
4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersNovember 29, 2024
5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsJanuary 2, 2025
6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsNovember 29, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Family Time with Parents/Adults and SiblingsJanuary 2, 2025
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)December 17, 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 ChildrenApril 29, 2025
2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKNovember 29, 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 RelationshipsDecember 2, 2024
3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintMay 22, 2024

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 Transition
   Updated
   April 29, 2025

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 4.9.1Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance
   Updated
   April 29, 2025
2. 4.9.2Children and Young People in Care in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesJanuary 2, 2025
3. 4.9.3Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyJanuary 2, 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. 5.1.3Recruitment, Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers
   Updated
   April 29, 2025
4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersDecember 2, 2024
6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster Carers
   Updated
   April 29, 2025
8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersApril 29, 2025

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters
   Updated
   April 29, 2025
2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelMarch 17, 2023
3. 5.2.3Placement for Adoption
   Updated
   April 29, 2025
4. 5.2.4Adoption SupportMarch 18, 2024
5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 31, 2023
6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsDecember 2, 2024
7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsNovember 28, 2023
8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted
   Updated
   April 29, 2025
9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsFebruary 8, 2022
12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsDecember 2, 2024
13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesJuly 26, 2022
14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
16. 5.2.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersAugust 25, 2023
17. 5.2.17Adopt Thames Valley
18. 5.2.18Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersApril 29, 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. 6.0.1Local ContactsApril 29, 2025
2. 6.0.2List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersApril 29, 2025
3. 6.0.3Ofsted Inspection Framework
   Updated
   April 29, 2025
4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
5. 6.0.5Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Policies & Procedures
6. 6.0.6Amendments