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Amendments

2024

February 2024

Leaving Care and Transition

This chapter was amended in February 2024, to note that with effect from 1 April 2023, the leaving care allowance increased from £2,000 to £3,000.

Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds

In February 2024 Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty was updated to include information from Guidance - Placing Children: Deprivation of Liberty Orders - guidance for providers, social workers and placement commissioners on placing children, subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL), in unregistered settings and President of the Family Division Practice Guidance: Placements in Unregistered Children's Homes in England or Unregistered Care Home Services in Wales.

Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery

This chapter was updated in February 2024. Information was added in to Section 4, Assessment in relation to the National Age Assessment Board.

Capacity and Consent

In February 2024, amendments were made to reflect case-law in relation to assessing legal capacity.

Ofsted Inspection Framework

This New chapter was added in February 2024.

Health and Safety

In February 2024, additional information was added about online safety.

Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline

In February 2024, information was added into Section 4, Care Orders and Supervisions Orders on a Care Plan of the Child Remaining at Home in relation to Supervision Orders, in line with Public Law Working Group (PLWG) Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems: Supervision Orders.

Families with No Recourse to Public Funds

In February 2024 Section 5.2.5, Providing Support was updated to reflect the Home Office increase in financial support to individuals waiting to find out if they will be given asylum in the UK.

Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983

In February 2024, section 2, Ordinary Residence was updated in line with case law.

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

This chapter was amended in February 2024 to include information from Special Educational Needs and Disability: Improving Local Authority Decision Making - Report of the Administrative Justice Council's Working Group on Special Educational Needs and Disability. Information was also added into Section 15, Resolving Disagreements in relation to legal aid for foster carers and prospective adoptive parents in First Tier Tribunal appeals.

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

This chapter was refreshed throughout in February 2024 and should be re-read.

Placements in Residential Care

In February 2024, this chapter was updated to include information from Guidance - Placing Children: Deprivation of Liberty Orders - guidance for providers, social workers and placement commissioners on placing children, subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL), in unregistered settings and President of the Family Division Practice Guidance: Placements in Unregistered Children's Homes in England or Unregistered Care Home Services in Wales.

Placements in Other Arrangements

This chapter was refreshed throughout in February 2024.

2023

August 2023

Health and Safety

In August 2023 information was added into Section 6, Diet, Nutrition and Allergies in relation to allergies.

Health Care Assessments and Plans

In August 2023 information was added into Section 4, Health Plans in relation to allergies.

Allegations Against Foster Carers

In August 2023 this chapter was amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. New Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern was added.

Assessments

This chapter was updated in August 2023 in line with local procedure.

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance

This chapter was added in August 2023.

Missing Children

Decision to Look After

Section 3, Section 20 Accommodation was updated in line with case-law in August 2023.

Local Contacts

This chapter was updated in August 2023.

List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers

Leaving Care and Transition

This chapter was revised in August 2023 to include information from the revised Ofsted inspection framework.

Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation

In August 2023 this chapter was amended to include information from Annex to MOJ Circular 2022/03: Additional Information on Remand to Local Authority Accommodation (RLAA).

February 2023

Capacity and Consent

In February 2023, this chapter was refreshed in line with local procedures.

Access to Records/Subject Access Requests

Placement Planning and Disruption Meetings

Contacts and Referrals

Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles

Leisure Activities

Equality and Diversity

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children

Storage of Data on Mobile Devices

Case Records and Retention

Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers

Placements with Parents

Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)

Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings

Section 3, Supervised Contact was updated in February 2023 to reflect a finding by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman that the supervisor's observations of the contact must be clearly recorded in the child's record and shared with the parents within 3 months of the visit. This chapter was also updated in line with local procedure.

Recording Policy and Guidelines

This chapter was added to the manual in February 2023.

Placements with Connected Persons

Applications for Special Guardianship Orders

Local Contacts

Children's Consultation and Participation

Health Care Assessments and Plans

List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers

Relinquished Children

Out of Area Placements

Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management

Marriage or Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child

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

Assessments

Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding Staff

Providing Individual Care in Placement

Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers

Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers

Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship Guidance

Personal Care and Relationships

Leeds One Minute Guides

Supervision and Support of Foster Carers

Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers

Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers

Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children

Legal Gateway/Planning Meetings

Complaints and Representations

Applications for Emergency Protection Orders

Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations

Confidentiality Policy

Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child in Need)

Family and Friends Care

Child in Need Plans and Reviews

Placements Outside England and Wales

Section 3, Placements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey was updated in February 2023 in line with updated Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review.

Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983

In February 2023, this chapter was amended to refer to the Guidance issued by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Staying Put Policy

The Leeds Children's Social Work Service Staying Put Policy 2019-2020 was added in February 2023.

Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline

This chapter was updated in February 2023 in line with local procedure.

Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds

Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings

Families with No Recourse to Public Funds

Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery

Ceasing to Look After a Child

Care Planning

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

Placements in Residential Care

Permanence Planning Guidance

Placements in Foster Care

Leaving Care and Transition

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

Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation

Allegations Against Foster Carers

Decision to Look After

Fostering Panel

Persons Disqualified from Fostering

Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer Approval

Notification of Significant Events in relation to Looked After Children placed with Independent Fostering Agencies or Children's Homes

Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children

Advocacy and Independent Visitors

Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK

Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews

Risk Assessment and Planning for Placement

Direct Payments

Protocol for Referrals to Child Health and Disability Teams (CHAD)

Short Breaks

Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services

Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody

Looked After Reviews

Private Fostering

Young Carers

2022

August 2022

Protocol for Referrals to Child Health and Disability Teams (CHAD)

This chapter was re-written and added to the manual in August 2022.

Leisure Activities

This chapter was added to the manual in August 2022.

February 2022

To Transfer a Child and Family to a Different Team

This chapter was previously known as Case Transfer Policy. This chapter was updated in February 2022 and should be re-read.

2016

December 2016

Staying Put Policy

The Leeds Children's Social Work Service Staying Put Policy 2016-2017 was added in December 2016.

2015

June 2015

Transfer to Children's Social Work Service from Early Help

This chapter was added to the manual in June 2015.