Procedures

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and PrinciplesOctober 22, 2024
2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationOctober 22, 2024
3. 1.1.3Equality and Diversity ProtocolOctober 22, 2024

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

1. 1.2.1Early Help Assessment Framework (Previously CAF)October 11, 2024
2. 1.2.2Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)October 11, 2024
3. 1.2.3Bracknell Forest Safeguarding Children Partnership Threshold GuidanceOctober 11, 2024
4. 1.2.4Capacity and ConsentJanuary 20, 2025

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsOctober 11, 2024
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsOctober 11, 2024
3. 1.3.3Referral, Assessment, Planning and Decision Making for Children in Need Procedures - Local Protocol for AssessmentOctober 11, 2024
4. 1.3.4Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)October 22, 2024
5. 1.3.5Family WorkersOctober 11, 2024
6. 1.3.6Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions (2024 Protocol)
7. 1.3.7Bracknell Forest Safeguarding Board Procedures

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsOctober 11, 2024
2. 1.4.2Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983January 20, 2025
3. 1.4.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024

1.5Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.5.1Complaints and RepresentationsOctober 11, 2024
2. 1.5.2WhistleblowingOctober 11, 2024

1.6Notifications

1. 1.6.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)October 11, 2024

2.Children with Specific Needs

1. 2.0.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesJanuary 20, 2025
2. 2.0.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsJanuary 20, 2025
3. 2.0.3Short BreaksOctober 11, 2024
4. 2.0.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsJanuary 20, 2025
5. 2.0.5Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryJanuary 20, 2025
6. 2.0.6Families with No Recourse to Public FundsOctober 11, 2024
7. 2.0.7Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferOctober 11, 2024
8. 2.0.8Private FosteringOctober 11, 2024
9. 2.0.9Young CarersDecember 5, 2024
10. 2.0.10Relinquished ChildrenJanuary 20, 2025
11. 2.0.11Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 2024
12. 2.0.12Deprivation of Liberty
13. 2.0.13Mental Capacity

3.Court Proceedings and Legal Planning

1. 3.0.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersFebruary 7, 2024
2. 3.0.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 23, 2022
3. 3.0.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsOctober 22, 2024
4. 3.0.4Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 23, 2024
5. 3.0.5Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
6. 3.0.6Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
7. 3.0.7Family 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.

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Sufficiency Strategy for Children Looked After and Care LeaversOctober 11, 2024
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterOctober 11, 2024
3. 4.1.3Care PlanningOctober 11, 2024
4. 4.1.4Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersJanuary 20, 2025
5. 4.1.5Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersAugust 25, 2023
6. 4.1.6Reunification of a Child to Parental CareOctober 11, 2024
7. 4.1.7Permanence PlanningJanuary 20, 2025
8. 4.1.8Planning for Permanency: an Overarching Strategy for Children's Services in Bracknell ForestOctober 11, 2024
9. 4.1.9Disruption Meeting for Children Looked AfterOctober 11, 2024
10. 4.1.10Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenFebruary 7, 2022
11. 4.1.11Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 23, 2022
12. 4.1.12Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
13. 4.1.13NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsOctober 22, 2024
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsJanuary 20, 2025
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareOctober 22, 2024
4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareJanuary 20, 2025
5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 19, 2023
6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsJanuary 20, 2025
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesOctober 22, 2024
8. 4.2.8Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
9. 4.2.9Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersSeptember 23, 2024
10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersOctober 11, 2024
11. 4.2.11Health and SafetyJanuary 20, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenOctober 11, 2024
2. 4.3.2Provision of Children's AdvocacyOctober 22, 2024
3. 4.3.3Provision of Independent Visitors for Children Looked AfterOctober 11, 2024
4. 4.3.4Looked After ReviewsOctober 22, 2024
5. 4.3.5Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersSeptember 23, 2024
6. 4.3.6Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsOctober 22, 2024
7. 4.3.7Notifications of Significant EventsAugust 19, 2024

4.4Education, School Trips and Holidays

1. 4.4.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenJanuary 20, 2025
2. 4.4.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKApril 17, 2024
3. 4.4.3Family Time with Parents/Adults and SiblingsOctober 22, 2024
4. 4.4.4Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)October 11, 2024

4.5Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.5.1Health Care Assessments and PlansMay 1, 2024
2. 4.5.2Personal Care and RelationshipsOctober 11, 2024
3. 4.5.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
4. 4.5.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintOctober 11, 2024

4.6Looked After Children Other

1. 4.6.1Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
2. 4.6.2Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
3. 4.6.3Change of Name of a Looked After ChildFebruary 7, 2024
4. 4.6.4Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023

4.7Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.7.1Leaving Care and TransitionJanuary 20, 2025
2. 4.7.2Staying PutOctober 22, 2024

4.8Youth Offending

1. 4.8.1Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceDecember 5, 2022
2. 4.8.2Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesOctober 22, 2024
3. 4.8.3Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationOctober 22, 2024
4. 4.8.4Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyOctober 22, 2024
5. 4.8.5Risk, Safety and Wellbeing Management Policy and GuidanceOctober 11, 2024
6. 4.8.6Safeguarding PolicyOctober 11, 2024
7. 4.8.7Caretaking and Transfer PolicyOctober 11, 2024
8. 4.8.8Enforcement of Statutory Court OrdersOctober 11, 2024
9. 4.8.9Resettlement PolicyOctober 11, 2024

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelOctober 21, 2024
2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringJuly 26, 2022
3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersJanuary 20, 2025
4. 5.1.4Assessment and Approval of Connected Person Foster CarersOctober 11, 2024
5. 5.1.5Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
6. 5.1.6Supervision and Support of Foster CarersOctober 22, 2024
7. 5.1.7Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersOctober 11, 2024
8. 5.1.8Allegations Against Foster CarersJanuary 20, 2025
9. 5.1.9Training and Development of Foster CarersJanuary 20, 2025
10. 5.1.10Disability Living Allowance Policy for Foster Carers and Children Looked AfterJanuary 20, 2025
11. 5.1.11Out of Hours Support for Foster Carers and the Children They Look AfterOctober 11, 2024
12. 5.1.12Bracknell Forest Foster Carers Handbook

5.2Adoption

1. 5.2.1Adopt Thames Valley is a regional adoption agency (RAA). It is a partnership of seven local authorities which includes Bracknell Forest and one voluntary adoption agency across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the Swindon area working together to recruit and support a range of adopters, and find forever families for children both locally in our care and nationally.

6.Case Management and Recording

1. 6.0.1Case RecordingSeptember 19, 2023
2. 6.0.2Case Records and RetentionOctober 11, 2024
3. 6.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsDecember 5, 2024
4. 6.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
5. 6.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsDecember 5, 2024
6. 6.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffOctober 22, 2024
7. 6.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesDecember 5, 2024

7.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 7.0.1Scheme of DelegationJanuary 20, 2025
2. 7.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkJanuary 20, 2025
3. 7.0.3Working Together to Safeguard Children
4. 7.0.4Amendments