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Amendments

2024

September 2024

Contacts and Referrals

In September 2024, this chapter was refreshed throughout.

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance

This chapter was updated in September 2024, links have been added to Care Experience Matters (GOV.UK), Children as Suspects and Defendants (CPS), Guidance: Use of Force, Restraint and Restrictive Practices in the Children and Young People Secure Estate and A Joint Thematic Inspection of Work with Children Subject to Remand in Youth Detention.

Staying Put

This chapter was updated in September 2024 to note that if a young person in a Staying Put arrangement dies up to and including the age of 24, notifications should be made in accordance with the Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24) Procedure.

Placements with Connected Persons (Kinship Care)

In September 2024, this chapter was refreshed throughout.

Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery

In September 2024, a link to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance was added in Section 4, Age Assessment. In Further Information, a link to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance was added.

Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles

In September 2024, this chapter was revised in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Family and Friends Care (Kinship Care)

This chapter was updated in September 2024 to reflect Championing Kinship Care: The National Kinship Care strategy.

Personal Budgets and Direct Payments

In September 2024, this chapter was revised in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)

In September 2024, this chapter was refreshed throughout.

Assessments

In September 2024, this chapter was refreshed throughout.

Notifications of Significant Events

In September 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, to note that notifications should also be made of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24. 

Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers

In September 2024, information on Ofsted checks was added into Section 5.1, Checks.

Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework

This chapter was added in September 2024.

Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters

In September 2024, a information was added to Section 3, Stage One - The Pre-Assessment Process, with details on how to request information about an applicant from Ofsted.

Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making

This chapter was added in September 2024.

Applications for Special Guardianship Orders

This chapter was updated in September 2024. Information was added into Section 17, Special Guardian Duty on the Death of the Child, that the relevant local authority should be notified if the child was previously a looked after child.

Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Section 15, Resolving Disagreements was updated in September 2024 to include information on Guidance: Carry Out an Order in Special Educational Needs Cases. 

Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children

In September 2024, this chapter was revised in response to Working Together to Safeguard Children (December 2023), and includes the ongoing development of the strategic leadership roles of Virtual School Heads (VSH) in promoting educational outcomes for children aged 0 to 18 who have, or previously had a social worker, and children in kinship care arrangements.

Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline

In September 2024, information was added in relation to family group decision-making in Section 1, Introduction and Time Limits and Section 5, Pre-Proceedings.