Contents


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This contents list is sub divided into the following sections, each Section contains relevant Chapters/Procedures: (Click on the title to jump to the Section you require):

  1. All Children
  2. Case Management and Recording
  3. Children in Particular Circumstances
  4. Children with Disabilities
  5. Child Protection
  6. Looked After Children
  7. Fostering and Adoption
  8. Family and Friends Care
  9. Child Health Policies
  10. Appendices


1. All Children

1.1

Policy Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Swindon's Practice Framework and Vision and Principles for Children's Social Care and Early Help  
1.1.2 Confidentiality Policy  
1.1.3 Children, Families and Community Health Supervision Policy  
1.1.4 Children's Social Care Supervision Policy  
1.1.5 Performance Management and Quality Assurance Framework  
1.1.6 Children, Families and Community Health Travel Assistance Policy and Procedure  
1.1.7 Information Sharing Guidance for Children, Families and Community Health  
1.1.8 Participation and Engagement Strategy  
1.1.9 Financial Procedure  
1.1.10 Practice Standards For Social Workers and Practitioners  
1.1.11 Management Practice Standards  

   

1.2

Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

  
1.2.1 Early Help Services  
1.2.2 Swindon Safeguarding Children's Partnership Multi-Agency Threshold Guidance - The Right Help at the Right Time  
1.2.3 Early Help/Mash Step Up Processes  
1.2.4 Elective Home Education (EHE) Policy  

   

1.3

Children's Social Care Assessment and Planning

  
1.3.1 Contacts and Referrals  
1.3.2 Assessment  
1.3.3 Swindon MASH Protocol  
1.3.4 A Model for Risk Assessment  
1.3.5 Case Transfer Protocol  
1.3.6 Child Protection Enquiries - Section 47 Children Act 1989
(Swindon Safeguarding Partnership Procedures) 		 
1.3.7 AIM Assessment and Referral Information  
1.3.8 Conferences and CLA processes - CSMT Processes for Invites and Reports to all CP Conferences and CLA Reviews  
1.3.9 Swindon Borough Council – Pre-Birth Practice Guidance New

   

1.4

Legal Proceedings - under review

  
1.4.1 Application for Emergency Protection Orders  
1.4.2 Care and Supervision Proceedings and The Public Law Outline Updated
1.4.3 Legal Planning Meetings  
1.4.4 Obtaining Childcare Legal Advice  
  See also: Family 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.  

   

1.5

Complaints and Whistleblowing

  
1.5.1 Complaints and Representations  
1.5.2 Disclosure "Whistleblowing" Policy  
1.5.3 Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers  
1.5.4 Escalation Policy  
1.5.5 Notifications of Serious Incidents / Need to Know Policy  
1.5.6 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child In Need)  


2. Case Management and Recording

2.1 Recording Policy and Guidelines Updated
2.2 Case Records for Looked After Children Updated
2.3 Access to Records/Subject Access Requests  
2.4 Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations  
2.5 Swindon Guidance for Children, Families and Community Health Managers for Managing Caseloads  
2.6 Interpreter and Translation Procedure  
2.7 Children's Social Worker - Leaving Checklist  
2.8 Management Instruction Note: 1 EDS Practice Standards & Contacting the Service Manager on Call  
2.9 Management Instruction Note: 2 BRAG ratings in MASH, Timescales & Reviews & Repeat Contacts  


3. Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1

Prevention and Family Support

  
3.1.1 Children in Need Procedures  
3.1.2 Section 17 Payments  


 

3.2

Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  
3.2.1 Restricting a Child's Liberty  
3.2.2 Mental Capacity  

   

3.3

Children from Abroad - under review

  
3.3.1 Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery Updated
3.3.2 Families with No Recourse to Public Funds  
3.3.3 Homes for Ukraine - Guidance for Councils: Children Already Living with Sponsors in the UK without their Parent or Legal Guardian  

   

3.4

Homelessness

  
3.4.1 Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer  
3.4.2 Swindon 16 and 17 year old Homeless Protocol  

   

3.5

Young Carers

  
3.5.1 Young Carers  

   

3.6

Relinquished Children

  
3.6.1 Relinquished Children Updated

   

3.7

Missing Children

  
3.7.1 Missing Children  

   

3.8

Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  
  Swindon Youth Safety Strategy 2022-2026  
  Swindon Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2024-2025  
3.8.1 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services  
3.8.2 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody  
  See also: Memorandum of understanding for the provision of Local Authority accommodation for Children & Young People (10-17 years) following Police bail or being denied bail  
3.8.3 Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance Updated


4. Children with Disabilities

4.1 Disabled Children Team  
4.2 Practice Standards for Children's Early Help and Social Care Services  
4.3 Direct Payments  
4.4 Short Breaks  
4.5 Short Breaks at Local Offer Level (Aiming High)  
4.6 Short Breaks Scheme - The 'Home and Away' Respite Scheme  
4.7 Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities  
4.8 Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings  


5. Child Protection

5.1 Child Protection  
5.2 Child Protection Plans - Lead Social Worker Role and Responsibilities  
5.3 Quorate Child Protection Conferences  
5.4 Notification and Transfer of Children Subject to Child Protection Plans across Swindon Borough Council Boundaries Procedure  
5.5 Policy to Reduce the Number of Children Subject to Child Protection Plans for Longer than 2 Years  
5.6 Children Subject to Child Protection Plans and a Legal Order (Dual Plans)  
5.7 Safeguarding Children to Safeguarding Adults Transition Protocol  
5.8 Child Sexual Exploitation  
5.9 The Role of the Child Protection Chair  
5.10 Prevent and Channel (At Risk of Radicalisation)  
5.11 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Policy  


6. Looked After Children

  Swindon Corporate Parenting Terms of Reference  
  Swindon Permanence Strategy 2024 – 2026  

   

6.1

Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  
6.1.1 Decision to Look After Updated
6.1.2 Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children  
6.1.3 Permanence Planning Guidance  
6.1.4 Guidance on Issues Relating to Section 20 of the Children Act and Placements with Relatives - under review  
6.1.5 Disruption Meetings (Permanent Placements: Fostering and Residential)  
6.1.6 Placements in Foster Care  
6.1.7 Placements in Residential Care  
6.1.8 Memorandum of understanding for the provision of Local Authority accommodation for Children & Young People (10-17 years) following Police bail or being denied bail  
6.1.9 Out of Authority Placements for SBC Children  
6.1.10 Placements with Connected Persons Updated
6.1.11 Placements in Secure Accommodation  
6.1.12 Placements with Parents  
6.1.13 Placements Outside England and Wales  
6.1.14 Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placing Providers  
6.1.15 Ceasing to Look After a Child  
6.1.16 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children  
6.1.17 Placements in Other Arrangements  
6.1.18 Guidance for Placements in Unregistered Settings  
6.1.19 EU Settlement Scheme: Looked-after Children and Care Leavers Guidance  

   

6.2

Monitoring and Reviews

  
6.2.1 Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children  
6.2.2 Advocacy and Independent Visitors  
6.2.3 Children Looked After Reviews  
6.2.4 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers (IRO)  
6.2.5 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
6.2.6 Notification of Significant Events  
6.2.7 Local Dispute Resolution Process for Independent Reviewing Officers  
6.2.8 Fostering IRO Dispute Resolution Process  
6.2.9 Lighter Touch Looked After Reviews  

   

6.3

Contact and Overnight Stays

  
6.3.1 Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings  
6.3.2 Social Visits (including Overnight Stays)  
6.3.3 Supervised Contact Procedure  

   

6.4

Education, School Trips and Holidays

  
6.4.1 Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Updated
6.4.2 Holiday Guidance for Foster Carers  

   

6.5

Health and Wellbeing

  
6.5.1 Health Assessments and Health Care Plans Updated
6.5.2 Personal Care and Relationships  
6.5.3 Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management  
6.5.4 Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint  
6.5.5 Sexual Health Procedure  
6.5.6 Consent Guidance for Children Looked After Needing Surgery Including Dental Extraction  

   

6.6

Change of Name and Marriage

  
6.6.1 Change of Name of a Looked After Child  
6.6.2 Marriage / Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child  
6.6.3 Birth Certificate Application Process  

   

6.7

Leaving Care and Transition

  
6.7.1 Leaving Care and Transition Updated
6.7.2 Transition to Adulthood (Leaving Care) Financial Policy and Guidance 2021 – 2022  
6.7.3 Staying Put  
6.7.4 Swindon's Leaving Care Policy  
6.7.5 Placement in Supported Lodgings Policy  
6.7.6 Joint Housing Protocol for Care Leavers  


7. Fostering and Adoption

7.1

Fostering Services

  
  See also: Foster Carers Handbook  
7.1.1 Fostering Service Statement of Purpose  
7.1.2 Foster Care Approval and Matching Panel  
7.1.3 Persons Disqualified from Fostering  
7.1.4 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Updated
7.1.5 Exemptions and Variations of Approval  
7.1.6 Supervision and Support of Foster Carers  
7.1.7 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers  
7.1.8 Managing Concerns, Complaints and Allegations against Foster Carers, including Historical Allegations  
7.1.9 Foster Carers Finance Handbook  
7.1.10 Dangerous Pets Policy  
7.1.11 Foster Carers Possessing Guns and Weapons  
7.1.12 Children in Foster Care - Delegated Authority Policy  
7.1.13 Overpayment of Fostering Allowances and Fees Policy  
7.1.14 Transfer of Foster Carers Protocol  
7.1.15 Induction of Foster Carers Policy and Guidance  
7.1.16 Respite Foster Care Guidance & Procedures  
7.1.17 Emergency Foster Placement Scheme  
7.1.18 Policy and Procedure for Parent and Child Foster Placements  
7.1.19 Family Finding & Matching Policy  
7.1.20 Fostering Friendly Policy  
7.1.21 Bedroom Sharing Policy  
7.1.22 Foster Carers Social Media and Social Networks Policy  
7.1.23 Household Safety Policy  
7.1.24 Smoking Policy  

   

7.2

Adoption and Permanence

  
7.2.1 Adopt Thames Valley - Statement of Purpose  
7.2.2 Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters  
7.2.3 Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters Updated
7.2.4 Placement for Adoption  
7.2.5 Adoption Support  
7.2.6 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
7.2.7 Adoption Reviews  
7.2.8 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
7.2.9 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted Updated
7.2.10 Inter Country Adoption  
7.2.11 Non Agency Adoption  
7.2.12 Adoption Case Records  
7.2.13 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
7.2.14 Intermediary Services  
7.2.15 Life Story Books Guidance  
7.2.16 Later Life Letters  


8. Family and Friends Care

8.1 Swindon Borough Council Family and Friends Policy  
  See also: Swindon Friends and Family Care Guide  
  Swindon Children Looked After & Special Guardianship Order Policy  
8.2 Private Fostering  
8.3 Private Fostering Statement of Purpose  
8.4 Applications for Special Guardianship Orders Updated
8.5 Court Reports in Adoption / Special Guardianship Guidance  
  See also:  


9. Child Health Policies

  See: Resource Library  


10. Appendices

10.1 Local Contacts Updated
10.2 Scheme of Delegation  
10.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children  
10.4 Swindon Safeguarding Partnership Neglect Strategy (2024-2027)  
10.5 Practice Guidance - Neglect  
10.6 Practice Guidance - Forced Marriage  
10.7 Children Services Social Media Policy  
10.8 Ofsted Inspection Framework Updated
10.9 Amendments