Policies & Procedures

1.All Children

1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles January 10, 2025
2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationMay 13, 2025
3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022
4. 1.1.4Critical Incident/High Risk Cases Notification Guidance and TemplateMay 13, 2025
5. 1.1.5Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)January 13, 2025
6. 1.1.6Dudley Children's Services Scheme for Delegation and Decision-MakingMay 13, 2025
7. 1.1.7Transfer ProtocolJanuary 10, 2025

1.2Thresholds for Children's Services

1. 1.2.1Dudley Threshold FrameworkJanuary 10, 2025
2. 1.2.2Working Together to Safeguard Children

1.3Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.3.1Complaints and RepresentationsJanuary 13, 2025
2. 1.3.2WhistleblowingJanuary 10, 2025
3. 1.3.3Dispute Resolution ProtocolMay 13, 2025

2.Early Help

1. 2.0.1Early Help Framework January 10, 2025

3.Assessment and Planning

1. 3.0.1Initial Contacts and Referrals to Dudley Children's Services Front DoorJanuary 13, 2025
2. 3.0.2AssessmentsJanuary 14, 2025
3. 3.0.3Pre-Birth AssessmentsJanuary 10, 2025
4. 3.0.4Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)May 13, 2025
5. 3.0.5Capacity and ConsentMay 21, 2024

4.Safeguarding

1. 4.0.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsJanuary 13, 2025
2. 4.0.2Family Group ConferencesJanuary 10, 2025
3. 4.0.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024
4. 4.0.4West Midlands Regional Safeguarding Procedures Manual

5.Court Proceedings and Legal Planning

1. 5.0.1Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsAugust 19, 2024
2. 5.0.2Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersJanuary 13, 2025
3. 5.0.3Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 23, 2022
4. 5.0.4Section 7 and Section 37 ReportsJanuary 10, 2025
5. 5.0.5Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
6. 5.0.6Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
7. 5.0.7Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS)

6.Children in Care

6.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 6.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenMay 13, 2025
2. 6.1.2Decision to Look AfterJanuary 13, 2025
3. 6.1.3Care PlanningJanuary 13, 2025
4. 6.1.4Permanence Planning GuidanceJanuary 10, 2025
5. 6.1.5Placement Planning and Placement Stability MeetingsJanuary 13, 2025
6. 6.1.6Placements with ParentsMay 13, 2025
7. 6.1.7Placements with Connected PersonsJanuary 13, 2025
8. 6.1.8Placements in Foster CareJanuary 13, 2025
9. 6.1.9Placements in Residential CareSeptember 19, 2023
10. 6.1.10Placements in Secure AccommodationSeptember 19, 2023
11. 6.1.11Out of Area PlacementsJanuary 13, 2025
12. 6.1.12Placements Outside England and WalesJanuary 13, 2025
13. 6.1.13Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
14. 6.1.14Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationJanuary 13, 2025
15. 6.1.15Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersJanuary 10, 2025
16. 6.1.16Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersJanuary 10, 2025
17. 6.1.17Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Children in CareJanuary 10, 2025
18. 6.1.18Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 23, 2022
19. 6.1.19Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
20. 6.1.20Health and SafetyMay 13, 2025
21. 6.1.21NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

6.2Monitoring and Reviews

1. 6.2.1Social Worker Visits to Children in CareJanuary 10, 2025
2. 6.2.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsJanuary 10, 2025
3. 6.2.3Child in Care ReviewsMay 13, 2025
4. 6.2.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersJanuary 13, 2025
5. 6.2.5Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 19, 2023
6. 6.2.6Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsJanuary 13, 2025
7. 6.2.7Notifications of Significant EventsAugust 19, 2024

6.3Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 6.3.1Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)January 13, 2025
2. 6.3.2Family Time with Parents/Adults and SiblingsJanuary 13, 2025

6.4Education, School Trips and Holidays

1. 6.4.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenJuly 25, 2023
2. 6.4.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKApril 17, 2024

6.5Health and Wellbeing

1. 6.5.1Health Care Assessments and PlansJanuary 13, 2025
2. 6.5.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJuly 26, 2022
3. 6.5.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
4. 6.5.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintJanuary 13, 2025
5. 6.5.5Leisure ActivitiesMarch 23, 2022

6.6Identity

1. 6.6.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildFebruary 7, 2024
2. 6.6.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child in CareJanuary 13, 2025
3. 6.6.3Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
4. 6.6.4Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024

6.7Leaving Care and Transition

1. 6.7.1Leaving Care and TransitionMay 13, 2025
2. 6.7.2Staying PutJanuary 13, 2025

6.8Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 6.8.1Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceMay 13, 2025
2. 6.8.2Children and Young People in Care in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesJanuary 13, 2025
3. 6.8.3Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyJanuary 13, 2025

6.9Financial

1. 6.9.1Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsMay 21, 2024
2. 6.9.2Junior Individual Saving Accounts for Children in Care

7.Fostering and Adoption

7.1Fostering Services

1. 7.1.1Kinship CareMay 13, 2025
2. 7.1.2Private FosteringJanuary 13, 2025
3. 7.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersMay 13, 2025
4. 7.1.4Fostering PanelJuly 26, 2022
5. 7.1.5Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
6. 7.1.6Supervision and Support of Foster CarersJanuary 13, 2025
7. 7.1.7Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
8. 7.1.8Allegations Against Foster CarersMay 13, 2025
9. 7.1.9Persons Disqualified from FosteringJuly 26, 2022
10. 7.1.10Fostering in Dudley website

7.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 7.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersMay 13, 2025
2. 7.2.2Adoption PanelJanuary 13, 2025
3. 7.2.3Placement for AdoptionMay 13, 2025
4. 7.2.4Adoption SupportJanuary 13, 2025
5. 7.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsJanuary 13, 2025
6. 7.2.6Adoption ReviewsJanuary 13, 2025
7. 7.2.7Instability in an Adoptive PlacementJanuary 13, 2025
8. 7.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedMay 13, 2025
9. 7.2.9Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
10. 7.2.10Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 7.2.11Adoption Case RecordsJanuary 13, 2025
12. 7.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsJuly 26, 2022
13. 7.2.13Intermediary ServicesJuly 26, 2022
14. 7.2.14Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersJanuary 13, 2025
15. 7.2.15Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersJanuary 13, 2025
16. 7.2.16Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 23, 2024
17. 7.2.17Special Guardianship Order - No Detriment PolicyJanuary 10, 2025
18. 7.2.18Policy for Consideration of a Name Change for Children who are to be AdoptedJanuary 10, 2025
19. 7.2.19Adoption@Heart Regional Adoption Agency for Dudley

8.Children in Particular Circumstances

1. 8.0.1Short BreaksJanuary 13, 2025
2. 8.0.2Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferJanuary 13, 2025
3. 8.0.3Young CarersJanuary 13, 2025
4. 8.0.4Relinquished ChildrenJanuary 13, 2025
5. 8.0.5Children Missing from Home or CareJanuary 10, 2025

8.1Children with Disabilities

1. 8.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMay 13, 2025
2. 8.1.2Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsMay 13, 2025
3. 8.1.3Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 2024

8.2Children from Abroad

1. 8.2.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryMay 13, 2025
2. 8.2.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsJanuary 13, 2025

8.3Mental Health Issues

1. 8.3.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024
2. 8.3.2Deprivation of Liberty
3. 8.3.3Mental Capacity

9.Case Management and Recording

1. 9.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
2. 9.0.2Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsJanuary 13, 2025
3. 9.0.3Case Records and RetentionJanuary 13, 2025
4. 9.0.4Access to RecordsJanuary 13, 2025
5. 9.0.5Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
6. 9.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffJanuary 13, 2025
7. 9.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesNovember 27, 2024

10.Contacts and Appendices

1. 10.0.1Local ContactsJanuary 10, 2025
2. 10.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkMay 13, 2025
3. 10.0.3Amendments