Contents


1. Policy, Strategy and Principles

Caption: section 1 contents
       
1.1 Children’s Services Policies, Strategy and Principles Updated
1.2 The Hertfordshire Policy Statement on the Education of Children Looked After  
1.3 Equality and Diversity  
1.4 Ofsted and Need to know Notifications Updated
1.5 Scheme of Delegation to Officers  
1.6 Complaints and Representation  
1.7 Whistleblowing  
1.8 Social Media Policy  
1.9 Hertfordshire Outcome Framework for Children, Young People and Families  
1.10 Capacity and Consent  


2. Case Management and Recording

Caption: section 2 contents
     
2.1 Children/Young People and Families Record-Keeping  
2.2 Access to Records  
2.3 Case Retention and Destruction of Records  
2.4 Liquidlogic Children's System (LCS) Livelink Guidance  
2.5 Professional Supervision  
2.6 Personal Safety and Lone Working Guidance  
2.7 Management Reviews: Single Agency, Multi-Agency and External  
2.8 Children's Practitioners Case Allocation  
2.9 Student Social Workers Case Allocation  
2.10 Managing Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Information and Minutes  
2.11 Managing Incoming Correspondence for Client Files (Open and Closed)  
2.12 Guidance for Parents and Carers - Recording Meetings  
2.13 Case Escalation Process  
2.14 Case Allocation Escalation Resolution Process Between Teams  
2.15 Step Up/Step Down Process and Transfer Protocol - Practitioner Guidance Updated
2.16 Complex Case Panel Terms of Reference and Referral Form  
2.17 Case Responsibility Out of Hours  
  Please see: CS0583 Responding to Children’s Services Safeguarding Out of Hours Service Involvement - Herts CC  
2.18 The Voice of the Child and Family Updated
2.19 Audit Escalation Policy  


3. Children in Need and Safeguarding

Caption: section 3 contents
       
 

Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures

  
  For Procedures relating to Child Protection (e.g. Referrals, S47, Child Protection Conferences, Safeguarding Guidance) and East of England Joint Protocol on Children Subject to Child Protection Plan Moving Between Local Authority Boundaries, please see the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual.  

3.1

Referrals and Assessments

  
3.1.1 Continuum of Need for Children and Young People 2023  
3.1.2 Families First and Early Help  
  See also: Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)  
3.1.3 Contacts and Referrals  
3.1.4 Child and Family Assessments - under review  
  For information in relation to the Multi-Agency Child Exploitation panel (MACE), please see the Safeguarding Children Abused Through Sexual Exploitation (HSCP Procedures).  
3.1.5 Chronologies and Historical Information Updated
3.1.6 Consent to Information Sharing Updated
3.1.7 Hertfordshire Family Safeguarding Service: Guide to Information Sharing Updated
3.1.8 Family Safeguarding LCS Workbook  
3.1.9 Safeguarding Referrals for Children- New and Open to the Adoption Service Updated
3.1.10 Processing Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) Tasks Updated

   

3.2

Child in Need Planning and Review

  
3.2.1 Hertfordshire Multi-Agency Children in Need Protocol and Procedures  
3.2.2 Written Communication with Children and Young People  
3.2.3 Direct Work with Children & Young People  
3.2.4 Independent Chair – Child In Need (IC-CIN)  

   

3.3

Support to Families

  
3.3.1 Section 17 and Financial Support for Children and Families - under review  
3.3.2 Family Group Conferences  
  FGC Referrals - Top Tips  
    FGC Children's Leaflet  
    FGC Family & Young People Leaflet  
3.3.3 Safeguarding Referrals for Children - New and Open to the Adoption Service  

   

3.4

Court Proceedings

  
3.4.1 Court Proceedings  
3.4.2 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders Updated
3.4.3 Public Law Outline  
3.4.4 Legal Planning Meetings  
3.4.5 Private Law Applications (including Section 7 and Section 37 Reports)  
3.4.6 Summary of Orders  
3.4.7 Appeals  
3.4.8 Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation  
3.4.9 Parents Travel Costs Relating to Court Proceedings  
3.4.10 East of England Joint Protocol on Supervision Orders  
3.4.11 Child Arrangements Orders  
3.4.12 Family Assistance Order  

   

3.5

Safeguarding

  
3.5.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child  
  Please see PGN entitled 'CS0541PGN Need to Know Notifications and Death or Serious Injury to a Child'  
3.5.2 Transporting Children - under review  
3.5.3 International Cross Border Child Protection Cases  


4. Children with Additional Vulnerabilities

Caption: section 4 contents
       
4.1 Young Carers  
4.2 Separated Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
4.3 Age Assessment  
4.4 Young People with Mental Health Difficulties  
    Tools for Supporting Children and Young People's Mental Health  
4.5 Homeless 16 and 17 Year Olds  
4.6 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  
4.7 Withdrawal of UK Visas and Immigration Support for Asylum Seekers with Families  
4.8 Children and Young People Who Go Missing from Home or Care, or Who are Vulnerable to Sexual Exploitation  
  See also:  
4.9 Children Missing from Education  
4.10 Mental Capacity Act  
4.11 Multi-Agency Panel Terms of Reference  
4.12 Hertfordshire's Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Exploitation  
4.13 Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours  
4.14 The Prevent Guidance  
4.15 Children's Services Guide to Supporting Transgender Children, Young People and Parents / Carers  
4.16 Deprivations of Liberty  

   

4.17

Homeless Families with Children

  
  Please see Hertfordshire Joint Housing Needs Protocol  

   

4.18

Shared Care for Disabled Children

  
4.18.1 Shared Care Process Pack: Statement of Purpose and Supporting Documents  


5. 0-25 Together Service

Caption: section 5 contents
       
5.1 0-25 Together Service Updated
5.2 Carer's Assessment  
5.3 Direct Payments for Disabled Children  
5.4 Short Breaks - under review  
5.5 Transition Pathways for Disabled Children  
  See also: Preparing for Adulthood: Referrals to adult Social Care  
5.6 Handling an Incident in 0-25 Together Service - Joint Policy with ACS  
5.7 Need to Know Notifications for 0-25 Together Service  
5.8 Family Safeguarding and 0-25 Together Services Guidance on Support Hours  
5.9 Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework New


6. Specialist Adolescent Services Hertfordshire (SASH)

Caption: section 6contents
       
6.1 Specialist Adolescent Service Hertfordshire (SASH) - HCC – SASH Policies and Procedures Page including Operational Procedures, Supervision Guidance, Structure Charts, Guidance on Support Hours, etc.''  
  For information in relation to the Multi-Agency Child Exploitation panel (MACE), please see the Safeguarding Children Abused Through Sexual Exploitation (HSCP Procedures).  


7. Children Looked After and Care Leavers

Caption: section 7 contents
       

7.1

Planning

  
7.1.1 East and West Practice and Resources Panel PARP Updated
7.1.2 Authorisation for a Child to be Looked After and Funding Agreements Outside East and West Practice and Resources Panel  
7.1.3 Decision to Look After and Initial Care Planning  
7.1.4 Care Planning Guidance  
7.1.5 Planning Placements  
7.1.6 Permanence Planning Updated
7.1.7 Placement Disruption and Disruption Meetings  
7.1.8 Placement Endings  
7.1.9 Requests to Remove a Child/Young Person from Care  
7.1.10 The Sufficiency Duty in Relation to Accommodation for Children/Young People  
7.1.11 Ceasing to Look After a Child/Young Person under Section 20  

   

7.2

Placements

  
7.2.1 Placement of Children Looked After  
7.2.2 Placement with Family and Friends/Connected Persons (Including Regulation 24 Placements)  
7.2.3 Placement of Children Looked After in Supported Lodgings  
7.2.4 Placements in Secure Accommodation Updated
7.2.5 Placement with Parents or Person who has, or has held Parental Responsibility Immediately Prior to Making of a Care Order or Interim Care Order  
7.2.6 Children Placed with Parents for Assessment - under review  
7.2.7 Placement Outside Hertfordshire  
7.2.8 Placement of Children Looked After and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17 in Semi-Independent Placements  
7.2.9 Semi-Independent Placement - 'Other Arrangements' Service Standards and Expectations of Semi-Independent - Supported Accommodation Providers (Contract Requirements and Inspection Requirements)  
7.2.10 Children Placed in Hertfordshire - Notifications by Other Local Authorities/Placement Providers  
7.2.11 Placement Outside England and Wales  
7.2.12 Police Information Checks When Making Care Arrangements for Children with Friends/Family in an Emergency  
7.2.13 Police Protection Guidance  
7.2.14 Placements in Other Arrangements  
7.2.15 Placements in Residential Care  
7.2.16 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  

   

7.3

Monitoring Placements

  
7.3.1 Statutory Visits to Children/Young People Looked After Updated
7.3.2 Independent Visitors  
7.3.3 Advocacy for Children and Young People Making a Complaint  
7.3.4 Reward Policy for Children in Care Council (CHICC) and Children Looked After Undertaking Consultation Work - under review  

   

7.4

Reviews

  
7.4.1 Looked After Reviews  
7.4.2 Looked After Review Timetable Matrix  
7.4.3 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
7.4.4 Local Authority Responsibilities in the Appointment of IROs and Establishment of an Effective IRO Service  

   

7.5

Contact with Family and Friends (Including Overnight Stays)

  
7.5.1 Contact with Parents, Family and Friends  
7.5.2 Supervised Contact and the Hertfordshire Contact Service  
7.5.3 Overnight Stays Away from the Placement or Other Staying Contact or Care Arrangements  
7.5.4 Weekend Contact Visits  

   

7.6

Education, Leisure, Holidays and School Trips

  
7.6.1 Education of Children Looked After Updated
7.6.2 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK  
7.6.3 Financial Allowances Policy for Children Looked After Placed in Residential (Special) Schools  
7.6.4 Holidays with Parents, Other Family and Friends (Including 16 Plus Travel)  
7.6.5 Leisure Activities  

   

7.7

Health and Wellbeing

  
7.7.1 Health Care Assessments, Health Checks and Health Care Plans  
7.7.2 Consent to Medical Examination and Treatment  
7.7.3 GPs, Dentists and Opticians  
7.7.4 Blood Borne Viruses - Guidance for the Protection of Looked After Children  

   

7.8

Leaving Care

  
7.8.1 Care Leavers and Transition to Adulthood  
7.8.2 Staying Put Policy Updated
7.8.3 Staying Put - Living Together Agreement  
7.8.4 Staying Close  
7.8.5 Transition to Adulthood (Leaving Care) Finance Policy and Guidance  
7.8.6 Housing for Children Looked After and Care Leavers  
7.8.7 'Capacity' and Financial Arrangements for Children Looked After and Care Leavers Aged 16 & 17  

   

7.9

Children Involved in the Justice System

  
7.9.1 Children Looked After in Contact with Youth Justice Services Updated
7.9.2 Former Children Looked After in Detention  
7.9.3 Child Looked After - Remands and Custodial Sentences up to age of 16  
7.9.4 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance Updated

   

7.10

Miscellaneous

  
7.10.1 Criminal Injuries Compensation  
7.10.2 Birth Certificates  
7.10.3 Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child Looked After  
7.10.4 Children Looked After and Social Networking  
7.10.5 Memory Boxes and Personal History Document Boxes for Children Looked After  
7.10.6 EU Settlement Scheme: Looked after Children and Care Leavers Guidance  

   

7.11

Children Looked After Personal Finances

  
7.11.1 Children Looked After Finances Framework - HCC (hertfordshire.gov.uk).  


8. Fostering

8.1

Introduction, Purpose, Overview and Panel

  
8.1.1 Fostering - Introduction, Purpose and Overview Updated
8.1.2 Fostering Panel Updated
8.1.3 Links to all Fostering Forms and Letters  

   

8.2

Private Fostering

  
8.2.1 Private Fostering  

   

8.3

Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers

  
8.3.1 Criteria for Foster Carers  
8.3.2 Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers Updated
8.3.3 Employees of Hertfordshire County Council Acting as Foster Carers  
8.3.4 Change in Composition of Foster Carer Households (including New Partners) Updated
8.3.5 Disclosure and Barring Checks and Persons Disqualified from Fostering Updated

   

8.4

Support and Supervision of Foster Carers

  
8.4.1 Support and Supervision of Foster Carers Updated
8.4.2 Allowances and Payments in Fostering – Monitoring and Auditing Updated
8.4.3 Support for Foster Carers Placed 'On Hold'  
8.4.4 Delegated Authority to Foster Carers  
8.4.5 Fostering Support and Fostering Support Meetings Updated

   

8.5

Reviews, Allegations and De-registration of Foster Carers

  
8.5.1 Foster Carer Reviews Updated
8.5.2 Termination of Approval of Foster Carers and Supported Lodgings Carers  
8.5.3 Managing Allegations and Quality of Care Concerns in Fostering Updated
8.5.4 Independent Reviews of Hertfordshire County Council Foster Carers  

   

8.6

Variations and Changes

  
8.6.1 Exemptions and Variations of Approval  

   

8.7

Long Term Fostering

  
8.7.1 Long Term Fostering Updated
  Where there is a disruption of a long term fostering placement, please see Placement Disruption and Disruption Meetings.  

   

8.8

Kinship Care - Connected Person Carers

  
8.8.1 Family and Friends Foster Care - under review  
8.8.2 Family and Friends/Connected Persons Policy and Placement Procedure (Including Regulation 24 Placements) - under review  
8.8.3 Support, Training and Payment to Family and Friends - Connected Person Carers - under review  

   

8.9

Parent and Child Foster Placement

  
8.9.1 Parent and Child Foster Placements  

   

8.10

Case Recording

  
8.10.1 Foster Care Case Recording  

   

8.11

Foster Care Practice Issues

  
8.11.1 Safer Caring in Foster Care  
8.11.2 Promoting Positive Behaviour  


9. Special Guardianship

Caption: contents section 9
     
9.1 Special Guardianship Orders Policy and Procedure - under review Updated
9.2 Court Reports in Special Guardianship Guidance - under review  


10. Adoption and Permanence

Caption: section 10 contents
       
10.1.1 Adoption Statement of Purpose  
10.1.2 Legal Framework and Adoption Charter  
10.1.3 Link to all Adoption Forms and Letters  
  See also: Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere  

   

10.2

Assessment, Approval and Deregistration of Adopters and Prospective Adopters

  
  10.2.1 Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters Updated
  10.2.2 Criteria for Prospective Adopters  
  10.2.3 Smoking  
  10.2.4 Obesity  
  10.2.5 Review of Suitability to Adopt  
  10.2.6 Independent Review Mechanism  
  10.2.7 Hertfordshire County Council Employees Who Wish to Become Substitute Carers for Children and Young People  
  10.2.8 Fostering for Adoption  
  10.2.9 Adopt East  

   

10.3

Adoption Panel

  
  10.3.1 Adoption Panel and Agency Decision Maker's Decision  
  10.3.2 Adoption Panel Job Descriptions and Person Specifications  
  10.3.3 Practice Checklists for Adoption Panel Members and Agency Decision Maker  
  10.3.4 The Role of the Legal Adviser  
  10.3.5 Panel Papers  

   

10.4

Placement for Adoption - please note this section is under review

  
  10.4.1 Placement for Adoption  
  10.4.2 Relinquished Children  
  10.4.3 Family Finding for Harder to Place Children  
  10.4.4 Children's Guide to Adoption  

   

10.5

Adoption Support Services - please note this section is under review

  
  10.5.1 Adoption Support  
  10.5.2 Introduction and Legal Expenses - under review  
  10.5.3 Extensions, Alterations and House Purchase - under review  
  10.5.4 Safeguarding Referrals for Children - New and Open to the Adoption Service  
  10.5.5 Adoption Support Team - Guidance on Support Hours - under review  

   
10.6 Supporting Adoptive Placements - under review  
10.7 Adoption Reviews - under review  
10.8 Disruption of Adoptive and Long Term Foster Placements - under review  
10.9 Managing Allegations Against Adults Who Work With Children and Young People - under review  
10.10 Inter Country Adoption - under review  

   

10.11

Adoption by Non Agency Adopters - please note this section is under review

  
  10.11.1 Non Agency Adoption - under review  
  10.11.2 Partner Applications for Adoption - under review  
  10.11.3 Adoption by Local Authority or Independent  Foster Agency,  Foster Carers of a Foster Child Already Placed with them - under review  
  10.11.4 Adoption by Relatives - under review  
  10.11.5 Adoption by Private Foster Carers - under review  
  10.11.6 Surrogacy - under review  

   
10.12 Adoption Case Records  
10.13 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records - under review  
10.14 Intermediary Services - under review  
10.15 Court Reports in Adoption (Placement Orders and Adoption Orders) - under review Updated

   

10.16

Birth Families - Consent and Involvement - please note this section is under review

  
  10.16.1 Involving and Supporting Birth Families in the Adoption Process  
  10.16.2 Parental Responsibility and Consent  

   

10.17

Planning for Permanence in Adoption - please note this section is under review

  
  10.17.1 Permanence Planning, Placement Strategy and Guidance  
  10.17.2 Post Adoption Agreements - under review  
  10.17.3 The Purpose of Contact in Permanence - under review  

   

10.18

The Adoption Service

  
  10.18.1 Delegation of Duties in the Adoption and Family and Friends (Special Guardianship) Service - under review  

   

10.19

Adoption Practice Guidance - please note this section is under review

  
  10.19.1 Life Story Work with Children and Young People - under review  
  10.19.2 Life Story Books - under review  
  10.19.3 Later Life Letters - under review  
  10.19.4 Ending Contact - under review  


11. Finances

Caption: section 11 contents
     

11.1

Children in Need

  
  Section 17 and Financial Support for Children and Families - under review  
  Direct Payments for Disabled Children  
  Family Safeguarding and 0-25 Together Service Guidance on Support Hours Brokerage Forms  

   

11.2

Children Looked After

  
  To Access policies, procedures, and leaflets related to Children Looked After, Care Leavers, Fostering and Children's Homes - see the Children Looked After Finances Framework.  


12. Hertfordshire Joint Housing Needs Protocol

Caption: section 12 contents
     
12.1 Hertfordshire Joint Housing Needs Protocol  
12.2 Universal Credit Exemptions Leaflet and Universal Credit Exemption Letter  
12.3 Leaflet - Information Regarding Housing Authorities duties for Families with Children at Risk of Homelessness  
12.4 Information Regarding Children's Services for Families with Children at Risk of Homelessness  


13. Hertfordshire Children's Homes

Caption: section 13 contents
     
13.1 Financial Allowances for Children Looked After and Young People Living in Hertfordshire Children's Homes  
  13.1.1 HCC Residential Policies and Procedures Intranet Page  
  13.1.2 Financial Allowances for Children Looked After and Young People Living in Hertfordshire Children's Homes  


14. Appendices

Caption: contents section 14
     
14.1 Policies, Procedures, Forms and Leaflets  
14.2 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
14.3 NICE - When to suspect child maltreatment  
14.4 National Minimum Standards  
14.5 Amendments