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):

Update as of May 2024: Solihull Children’s Services are currently reviewing some of our procedures. This means that some content has been temporarily removed, whilst work is being carried out to ensure that this is up to date. If you need information about a procedure, and find that this is not available, please contact Mike Hayward or Josie Hall as an interim measure.

  1. All Children
  2. Case Management and Recording
  3. Prevention and Family Support
  4. Children in Particular Circumstances
  5. Looked After Children
  6. Fostering and Adoption
  7. Appendices


1. All Children

1.1

Policy Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles  
1.1.2 Confidentiality Policy  
1.1.3 Consultation Policy - under review  
1.1.4 Children's Consultation and Participation - under review  
1.1.5 Family and Friends Care Updated
1.1.6 Equality and Diversity  


 

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Solihull LSCP Thresholds Guidance  
1.2.2 Young Carers Updated
1.2.3 Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 Updated


 

1.3

Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Initial Contacts and Referrals  
1.3.2 Assessments - under review  
1.3.3 Pre-Birth Assessments - under review  
1.3.4 Strategy Discussion  
1.3.5 Section 47 Enquiries  
1.3.6 Capacity and Consent Updated


 

1.4

Court Proceedings

  
1.4.1 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.4.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline Updated
1.4.3 Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings  
1.4.4 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings (October 2013)  
1.4.5 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

Miscellaneous

  
1.5.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child In Need)  
1.5.2 Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation  
1.5.3 Substance Misuse & Personal Relationships Policy - under review  
1.5.4 Managing Individuals who Pose a Risk of Harm to Children  


 

1.6

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.6.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.6.2 Whistleblowing - under review  


2. Case Management and Recording

2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines - under review  
2.2 Case Records for Looked After Children  
2.3 Access to Records  
2.4 Guidance and Procedures for Social Work Staff and Managers Supervision - under review  
2.5 Social Work Chronologies: Guidance - under review  
2.6 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.7 Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff  
2.8 Storage of Data on Mobile Devices  


3. Prevention and Family Support

3.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews - under review  
3.2 Private Fostering  
3.3 Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer  
3.4 Statutory Guidance of Accommodation to Homeless 16 and 17 Year Olds (GOV.UK)  


4. Children in Particular Circumstances

4.1

Children with Disabilities

  
4.1.1 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Updated
4.1.2 Direct Payments  
4.1.3 Short Breaks  
4.1.4 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  
4.1.5 Long Stay Hospital Admissions  


 

4.2

Children from Abroad

  
4.2.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
4.2.2 Age Assessment  
4.2.3 Health Needs of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children - under review  
4.2.4 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds Updated


 

4.3

Deprivations of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
4.3.1 Deprivations of Liberty  
4.3.2 Mental Capacity  


5. Looked After Children

5.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
5.1.1 Decision to Look After - under review  
5.1.2 Care Planning  
5.1.3 Permanence Planning Guidance  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  
5.1.4 Long Term Fostering - under review  
5.1.5 Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings - under review  
5.1.6 Placements in Foster Care  
5.1.7 Placements in Residential Care Updated
5.1.8 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
5.1.9 Out of Area Placements  
5.1.10 Placements with Connected Persons  
5.1.11 Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds Updated
5.1.12 Placements with Parents  
5.1.13 Placements Outside England and Wales  
5.1.14 Placements in Other Arrangements Updated
5.1.15 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
5.1.16 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
5.1.17 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
5.1.18 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  
5.1.19 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children  
5.1.20 Risk Assessment and Planning  
5.1.21 Providing Personalised Care  
5.1.22 Health and Safety Updated
5.1.23 Saving Policy for Looked After Children  
5.1.24 Junior Individual Saving Accounts for Looked-After Children  
5.1.25 NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People  
  See also: Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  


 

5.2

Monitoring and Reviews

  
5.2.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children  
5.2.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
5.2.3 Looked After Reviews  
5.2.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers  
5.2.5 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
5.2.6 Notifications of Significant Events  


 

5.3

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
5.3.1 Family Time with Parents/Adults and Siblings  
5.3.2 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)  


 

5.4

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
  See also: Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers  
5.4.1 Holidays and School Trips in the UK  
5.4.2 Holidays and School Trips Outside the UK  
5.4.3 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Children Previously Looked After Updated


 

5.5

Health and Wellbeing

  
5.5.1 Health Assessments and Plans  
5.5.2 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
5.5.3 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint - under review  
5.5.4 Children Missing from Home or Care  
5.5.5 Leisure Activities  


 

5.6

Identity

  
5.6.1 Change of Name of a Looked After Child  
5.6.2 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child  


 

5.7

Leaving Care and Transition

  
5.7.1 Leaving Care and Transition - under review  
5.7.2 Staying Put  
5.7.3 Staying Put and Supported Lodgings Guidance and Financial Procedures - under review  
  See also: Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  


 

5.8

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
5.8.1 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System Additional National Guidance  
5.8.2 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
5.8.3 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
5.8.4 Protocol Between Youth Offending Service and Solihull MBC Children's Social Work Services - under review  
  See also: Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  


6. Fostering and Adoption

6.1

Fostering Services

  
  For more information, see the Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Website, Fostering  
6.1.1 Fostering Panel  
6.1.2 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
6.1.3 Disclosure Barring Services in Fostering and Adoption - under review  
6.1.4 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers  
6.1.5 Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval  
6.1.6 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
6.1.7 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
6.1.8 Allegations Against Foster Carers  
6.1.9 Training and Development of Foster Carers  
  See also: Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters  


 

6.2

Adoption and Permanence

  
  For more information, see: Adoption Central England (ACE) and ACE Guidance.  
6.2.1 Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters - under review  
6.2.2 Adoption Panel - under review  
6.2.3 Placement for Adoption  
6.2.4 Relinquished Children  
6.2.5 Adoption Support  
6.2.6 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
6.2.7 Adoption Reviews  
6.2.8 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
6.2.9 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
6.2.10 Inter Country Adoption  
6.2.11 Non Agency Adoption  
6.2.12 Adoption Case Records  
6.2.13 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
6.2.14 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders  
6.2.15 Special Guardianship Procedures  
6.2.16 Life Story Books Guidance  
6.2.17 Later Life Letters  
6.2.18 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters Updated


7. Appendices

7.1 Local Contacts - under review  
7.2 List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers  
7.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
7.4 CC Inform  
7.5 Social Work England Professional Standards  
7.6 Amendments  
7.7 Ofsted Inspection Framework