This chapter was revised in April 2024 to include additional allocation standards and flowchart for when a young person transitions to our Leaving Care Service.

Please see the following documents for further information:

• Transitions to Leaving Care - Allocation Standards;
• Transitions to Leaving Care Standards - Flowchart.

This chapter has been updated to include a Supervision Flowchart for the FGC/Family Time Service.

• Public Law Outline (PLO) Applications to Court under Children Act 1989 and CAFCASS Plus Lincolnshire Initiative;
• Supervision Orders in Care Proceedings.

This chapter has been significantly revised to reflect local practice in Lincolnshire, revised terminology and to clarify the Placement Process with an updated flowchart, please see Appendix 1: INM Placements Referral Process.

This chapter has been updated to include definitions for the following terms:

• Child and Family Assessment;
• Looked After;
• Children in Care.

• Assessment and Progress Record;
• Holidays and School/Organisational Trips Outside the UK;
• Holidays and School/Organisational Trips Inside the UK.

This chapter has been updated throughout to reflect the current procedure and process for Support Panels.

This chapter has been updated to include updated links to Lincolnshire's new Employment Policies.

This chapter has been updated to reflect local practice and revised terminology; it should be re-read in its entirety.

4 new terms have been added:

• Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE);
• National Assessment and Accreditation system (NAAS);
• Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW);
• Social Work England (SWE).

This chapter has been significantly updated and should be re-read in its entirety.

The procedure should be read in conjunction with the Children's Services Quality Assurance Framework and Appendices which can be located within the Resources Section of this Manual under 'All Children – Quality Audit Section'.

This procedure has been updated to reflect revised guidance issued by Ofsted to Children's Homes Providers in August 2019. The revised guidance sought to clarify what is meant by a 'serious event' in relation to a child living in a Children's Homes with the aim of reducing the overall number of notifications made to Ofsted.

The protocol is intended to clarify the duties and responsibilities of agencies in the management of arrangements for the transfer to Local Authority Accommodation of children (aged 10 to 17 years) charged and denied police bail.

Anyone below the age of 18 who becomes detained or is interviewed by the police, should be treated by them as a child first.

All officers and practitioners must have the highest regard for the safety, welfare and well-being of children as required under S10 and S11 of the Children Act 2004 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This chapter has been updated to reflect Service changes.

• Managing Disruption in Task Centred Foster Placements.

This procedure has been updated to reflect a revised Pathway Assessment and Pathway Plan Process. The Pathway Assessment is now a separate process and is to be completed by the young person's 16th Birthday and recorded on MOSAIC. The Pathway Plan will then commence and is to be completed within 3 months of the young person's 16th Birthday or at the first LAC Review after their 16th Birthday. Please refer to:

• Section 6, Preparation and Assessment of Need - in relation to children who are victims of trafficking or unaccompanied asylum seeking children;
• Section 9, Personal Advisers - in relation to frequency of visits by Personal Advisers.

This chapter has been updated to add a link to the DfE Looking After Someone Else's Child - Government advice on the support and financial help you can get if someone else's child is living with you full time (see Related Guidance).

This chapter replaces a similar chapter. Supervision has a vital role to play in supporting staff in a challenging social care environment. As such, supervision is a two-way process involving rights and responsibilities for both supervisors and for those they supervise.

This chapter sets out the policy and procedure as to how staff will be supervised and also provides managers, practice leaders and supervisors with the key standards and tools required to supervise staff effectively. Managers, supervisors and supervisees are jointly responsible for ensuring that supervision meets the standards as outlined in this policy and procedure and underpins the Supervision Framework. The chapter contains updated Appendices and key references to Lincolnshire's ICS.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance.

These changes relate to the status of 'previously children in care'. A previously Child in Care is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales.

This chapter has been updated to reflect amendments made by the Children and Social Work Act 2017.

These changes relate to the status of 'previously children in care' i.e. a previously looked-after child is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship or child arrangements order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales. The chapter includes a new Section 15, Mental Health and a new Section 8, Safeguarding the Child in Care at School. A link has been added to the National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the designated teacher to provide support to previously Children in Care.

A previously Child in Care is one who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales.

It has also been updated to acknowledge the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman good practice points to follow when working with Special Guardians. A link to the full report 'Firm Foundations: Complaints about Council Support and Advice for Special Guardians (Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman) (May 2018)' has been added as Appendix 5.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the Designated Teacher for Children in Care, to offer support to previously children in care.

This chapter has been amended to reflect HHJ Greensmith's comments regarding M and N (Children: Local authority gathering, preserving and disclosing evidence) [2018] EWFC 40 (1 June 2018) (see Section 4, General Principles).

This chapter is a flowchart but has links to Lincolnshire's 'Violence at Work Policy' and the 'Employees Policy to Violence at Work'. Any potential risk should be raised with the Chair of the Meeting and evaluated; recorded on Mosaic as an attachment and should include a management plan and be shared with participants – including staff at the meeting venue. The outcome be reviewed and noted for future reference and evaluation.

New National Contacts have been added:

• Child Bereavement UK;
• Hope Again;
• Winston's Wish.

This Lincolnshire SCB chapter replaces the previous chapter and has been fully refreshed. 'The Guide' seeks to provide a shared framework for assessment, planning, delivering services and reviewing in the early stages of concern, as well as an understanding about the four tiers ('thresholds') of concern and involvement.

The thresholds and levels of support (available in March 2019) identifies universal services; early help; child in need and immediate safeguarding. The document seeks to provide a framework of the child's needs, parenting capacity and family/environmental factors for each with the exception of 'immediate safeguarding', where parental capacity and safeguarding from significant harm are the key factors.

• Meeting the Needs of Children.

Section 3, Security, Retention and Sharing of Records has been updated in line with Adoption and Care Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018, which provides that an adoption agency may disclose an adoption case record to another adoption agency for purposes related to either agency's functions as an adoption agency.

This chapter applies to all social care practitioners carrying out any social care function with children who are receiving care or treatment in any setting. The level of deprivation is not comparable to the level of restriction normally placed on a child or young person of that age, or in all circumstances the child is over 12, and constitutes a breach of Article 5 of the Human Rights Act.

This resource seeks to support practitioners working in statutory social care and provider services to understand the Act and practice confidently when supporting young people to make decisions, assessing mental capacity and applying the Best Interests principle.

'The purpose of this document is to define the arrangements that need to be in place within the Local Authority, (primarily between Children's Services, Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, and District Councils but also including other stakeholders such as Department for Work and Pensions), in relation to when a young person soon to turn, or already, 18 years of age, or 21 years if a care leaver, is receiving support within the Children's Services Commissioned Youth Housing contract'.

This chapter reflects the DfE guidance on Corporate Parenting and reflects the 7 Principles.

Section 5, Assessing and Planning for Permanence has been updated to reflect the additional 'permanence provisions' of the Care Plan (under Section 8 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amends Section 31(3B) Children Act 1989) which a court is required to consider when deciding whether to make a Care Order.

In addition updated Permanency Planning Process Flowcharts have been added. Please see Appendix 2: Permanency Planning Process Flowchart, Appendix 3: Permanency Planning Foster Care Options Flowchart, Appendix 4: Family Finding for Adoption and Permanence Process.

This chapter has been updated to reflect current practice and to include the addition of two new sections, Section 8, Process Following the Making of a Special Guardianship Order and Section 9, Financial Payment Review Process.

In addition an updated Appendix 1: Notification of Intention to Apply for a Special Guardianship Order and an updated Appendix 4: Information Pack for Financial Support Guidance for Social Workers and Supervising Social Workers has been added to the procedure.

Section 1, Planning for Permanence has been updated to reflect the additional consideration (added by Section 9 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amends Section 1(4)(f) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002) into the list of considerations that whenever a court or adoption agency is coming to a decision relating to the adoption of a child), of the relationship which the child has with relatives, with any person who is a prospective adopter with whom the child is placed and with any other person in relation to whom the court or agency considers the relationship to be relevant.

It has also been amended to emphasise 'procedural fairness' as a key aspect of the adoption planning process in respect of ensuring parents are provided with information throughout, including the dates of placement/proposed changes of a child's Status, etc. This follows the outcome of a judicial review ([2017] EWHC 1041 (Admin)) (see new Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness).

'The Child Protection Information Sharing project (CP-IS) is being implemented nationally by Health with Local Authorities and connects Children's Social Care IT Systems with those used by the NHS in unscheduled care settings.

CP-IS is the bridge for information to flow between the NHS and the Local Authority to provide better care and earlier intervention for children who are considered 'vulnerable and at risk. It allows the NHS via their own systems to check if a child who attends an unscheduled care setting has a Child Protection Plan (CPP) or is a Local Authority Looked after Child (LAC). This includes Unborn Babies subject to a Child Protection Plan'.

(From the Introduction to the chapter. Please fully read).

The term 'relinquished child' is used to describe a child, usually a baby or at pre-birth stage, whose parents are making the choice of adoption for the child.

This chapter deals with the first stages of the adoption process for relinquished children, whilst signposting other key processes that should be progressed and which are expected for any child who is Accommodated or where the plan is for adoption. It also summarises the counselling and support that will be made available to the birth family in these circumstances. Once a decision is made and consent is formally given, although not irreversible, the adoption process is as for any other child.

This chapter identifies that the YOS has been integrated into the Children's Services Directorate of Lincolnshire County Council and seeks to provide detail of the Management Board and of the Service's vision and goals.

A relevant Information table provides particularly relevant practice guidance for YOS practitioners.

The chapter includes a link to the Youth Justice Plan.

• Integrated Children's System Guidance;
• Special Guardianship Payment Review;
• Intermediary Services.

This chapter has been updated to reflect the current departmental structure and processes. Once the permanence plan has been ratified at the child's Looked After Review, the social worker must arrange a date for the case and Child Permanence Report (CPR) to be referred to Quality Assurance Advisory Group (QAAG) within 6 weeks. The social worker must give consideration to whether the current carer will consider Permanence (see Section 6, Identification of Permanent Foster Placements – Family Finders Process). In addition a new Section 9, Approval of Matching Permanent Foster Carers has been added.

This chapter has been amended. The DfE has updated the Special Guardianship Guidance to include details of the Adoption Support Fund as the Fund now covers therapeutic support for children, living in England, who were previously in care immediately before the making of a Special Guardianship Order. See also Section 4.1, Special Guardianship Support for Families.

This chapter has been updated in in line with GOV.UK Adopting a child from overseas guidance.

In Section 3, Initial Meeting the DfE have published Intercountry Adoption and Resident Status Requirements which set out the minimum requirements, however entry clearance requirements vary depending upon the circumstances of each case and prospective adopters will need to obtain their own independent legal advice to establish the requirements that apply to their individual circumstances.

In Section 4, Formal Application, a link has been added to Intercountry adoption: means test form which contains information on how to apply for a fee reduction for people who wish to adopt a child from overseas and who earn £45,000 per year or less.

In Section 12, After Approval information has been added on the Intercountry Adoption Forms: checklist for adoption which details the paperwork adoption agencies must include in the intercountry adoption applications they submit to DfE.

This chapter has been updated to note the maximum limit for paying into a Junior ISA in any year is £4128.

Note - A single link is now provided to go to the 'GOV.UK Junior individual saving accounts for looked-after children'. This enables access to the Statutory guidance, Child Trust Funds and Junior ISA sites.

Please re-reference.

Working Together to Safeguard Children states clearly that one of the key principles underpinning safeguarding should be: ''a child-centred approach: for services to be effective they should be based on a clear understanding of the needs and views of children.''

It is essential therefore that children and young people are enabled by professionals to participate in matters that affect them, particularly any plans or arrangements that will affect them and/or their family and are consulted with regard to processes designed to improve services both to them individually and more generally.

This chapter seeks to emphasise the importance and value of direct consultation with children as a way of achieving positive outcomes for them and progressing their Plans in all situations that Children's Services are involved.

This chapter has been updated to add new guidance, 'DfE, Mental health and behaviour in schools: departmental advise, (2016)' and update links to 'DfE, Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions – Statutory guidance for governing bodies of maintained schools and proprietors of academies, (2015)'.

The Contact Service is a county wide resource that provides supervised contact for children within Lincolnshire. This chapter outlines the structure of the Contact Service and aims to provide an operational overview of the service provided. This chapter should be read in its entirety.

• Youth Justice Board Protocol for Secure Remands;
• Sharing Child Protection Conference Reports;
• Young People Custodial Sentences;
• Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Orders;
• Young People and Remands;
• Young People in Police Stations;
• Young People in Criminal Courts;
• Children's Reviews.

This chapter has been updated to include additional guidance under the sub-headings of Assessments and Child Placement Abroad.

• Lease Guidance.

This chapter has been updated to reflect the 'DfE and DoH, Promoting the Health and Well-being of Children in Care – Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities, Clinical Commissioning Groups and NHS England (March 2015)'. New sections have been added:

• Section 1, The Responsibilities of Local Authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups;
• Section 2, Principles;
• Section 3.1, Good Health Assessment and Planning (Role of Social Worker in Promoting the Child's Health);
• Section 4.1, Strength and Difficulty Questionnaires; and
• Section 4.2 Out of Area Placements.

This is Lincolnshire County Council's Domestic Abuse Policy. Victims of Domestic Abuse can often be helped to get the support and protection they need through early identification and intervention by professionals, and Lincolnshire County Council is committed to this process.

This Domestic Abuse policy is for use by all professionals (the term includes unqualified managers, staff and volunteers) who have contact with children and with adults who are parents / carers, and who therefore have responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The policy is designed to complement existing protocols and procedures.

• Information Sharing Policy;
• Information Sharing Guidance;
• Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Policy.

• Delegation of Authority: Amendments to the Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations – July 2013;
• Looked-after children: contact with siblings – February 2014;
• Looked-after children and youth justice: Application of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 to looked-after children in contact with youth justice services – April 2014;
• Early permanence placements and approval of prospective adopters as foster carers: Statutory guidance for local authorities and adoption agencies – July 2014;
• Out of authority placements of looked-after children – July 2014;
• Permanence, long-term foster placements and ceasing to look after a child – March 2015.

This chapter provides a summary of advice issued by the 'Department for Education in 2014 on Working with Foreign Authorities in Child Protection Cases'.

This is a link to 2014 Children Act guidance that seeks to be 'user-friendly' for children in enabling them appreciate and understand better this key piece of legislation. The Act covers a variety of 'wide ranging ' issues, from Adoption to Leaving Care and Transition, from Family Courts to Special Educational Needs.

• Review of Adoptive Placements;
• Supported Living Policy;
• Leaving Care Guidance.

With effect from the 1st April 2015, Lincolnshire County Council has replaced the Integrated Children's System with the Mosaic system. Mosaic will be the new Case Management System for Children's and Adult Social Care.

Consequently this chapter is under review and will be replaced with new guidance on Mosaic in due course.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Families Act 2014 and the overall aim of speeding up the adoption process. The chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. Information has been added in relation to:

• Foster to Adopt (Sections 1 and 5.4);
• Adoption Register (Section 9);
• Duty to provide information on adoption support services (Sections 1 and 2);
• Ethnicity (Section 15.3).

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Families Act 2014, and the overall aim of speeding up the adoption process. The chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. The main changes are in relation to:

• The duty to consider Foster to Adopt placements;
• The removal of the requirement to give due consideration to a child's religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background when matching a child and prospective adopters;
• Post-adoption contact;
• Placing of siblings.

This chapter has been added to the Manual and now reflects the Working Together to Safeguard Children process: the Single Assessment process replaces the Initial and Core Assessments and in Lincolnshire this is call the Child and Family Assessment.

This chapter applies to all Looked After children and outlines the statutory duty to 'Promote the Educational Achievement of Children in Care' and includes Lincolnshire's Personal Education Plan (PEP) procedure. The chapter reflects the Children and Families Act 2014 which identifies the requirement of local authorities to appoint an officer to promote the educational achievement of Looked After children. These positions are often referred to as a 'Virtual School Head' as well as replacing the 'SEN' with 'Education Care and Health Plans'.