Amendments

This chapter was added to the manual in November 2024.

In November 2024, this chapter was revised in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In November 2024, this chapter was revised in response to Working Together to Safeguard Children (December 2023), and includes the ongoing development of the strategic leadership roles of Virtual School Heads (VSH) in promoting educational outcomes for children aged 0 to 18 who have, or previously had a social worker, and children in kinship care arrangements.

In November 2024, this chapter was refreshed.

This chapter was updated in November 2024, links have been added to Care Experience Matters (GOV.UK), Children as Suspects and Defendants (CPS), Guidance: Use of Force, Restraint and Restrictive Practices in the Children and Young People Secure Estate and A Joint Thematic Inspection of Work with Children Subject to Remand in Youth Detention.

In November 2024, information was added in relation to family group decision-making in Section 1, Introduction and Time Limits and Section 5, Pre-Proceedings, and a link was added to the Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making Procedure.

In November 2024, Section 15, Resolving Disagreements was updated to include information on Guidance: Carry Out an Order in Special Educational Needs Cases.

This chapter was updated in November 2024 to reflect Championing Kinship Care: The National Kinship Care strategy.

This chapter was refreshed in November 2024.

This chapter was added to the manual in November 2024.

In November 2024, information on Ofsted checks was added into Section 4.1, Checks.

In November 2024, a link was added in Section 4, Assessment to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. In Further Information, a link was added to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance. Links to sources of further information were also updated.

This link was added to the manual in November 2024.

In May 2024, Section 2, Ordinary Residence was updated in line with case law.

In May 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.

This chapter was updated in May 2024.

This chapter was amended in May 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.

In May 2024 additional information was added about online safety.

In May 2024, Section 4, Different Situations whereby Children may be Living with Family and Friend Carers was updated to include information about Ukrainian children being cared for my family and friends in the UK.

In May 2024, Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty was updated throughout in line with Revised Practice Guidance on the Court’s Approach to Unregistered Placements (October 2023) and Revised National Listing Protocol for Applications that Seek Deprivation of Liberty Orders Relating to Children under the Inherent Jurisdiction. And to include information from Guidance - Placing Children: Deprivation of Liberty Orders (Ofsted) - guidance for providers, social workers and placement commissioners on placing children, subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL), in unregistered settings.

In May 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 Revised Practice Guidance on the Court’s Approach to Unregistered Placements (October 2023).

In May 2024 this chapter was updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.  New Section 3, Death of a Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24 was added.

In May 2024 this chapter was updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, to note that notifications should also be made of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24. 

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

This chapter was updated in November 2023. Information was added into Section 15, Resolving Disagreements in relation to legal aid for foster carers and prospective adoptive parents in First Tier Tribunal appeals.

This chapter was amended in November 2023 to note that with effect from 1 April 2023, the leaving care allowance increased from £2,000 to £3,000. It was also revised to include information from the revised Ofsted inspection framework.

In November 2023 this chapter was refreshed and a link added (above) to National Early Permanence Practice Standards (Coram Centre for Early Permanence). 

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

This chapter was updated in November 2023 and should be reread.

In November 2023 amendments were made to reflect case-law in relation to assessing legal capacity.

In November 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.

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

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

In November 2023 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.

This chapter was added in November 2023.

In November 2023 Appendix D: Family and Friends Initial Viability Assessment Form was updated.