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October 2011

Contents

1. Display and Browser Options
2. Structure of the Manual
3. Amendments
4. How to Find a Chapter
5. Search Feature
6. Terminology
7. Keywords
8. Contact Us and Alerts
9. Compliance
10. Copyright
11. Printing and Retaining Copies

1. Display and Browser Options

People with a visual impairment may have difficulty accessing this Manual.

To change the size of the text/layout - please use these accessibility buttons

which are on menu bar on the left side of every screen. Click a larger button to increase your text size, the very largest being high visibility mode.

2. Structure of the Manual

This Manual has been designed and published by Tri-X-Childcare for The London Borough of Lambeth Children's Services.

2.1 What is included

The Manual is designed to contain all policies, procedures and guidance for Lambeth Children's Services, we have also incorporated a copy of the London Child Protection Procedures (see below).

Policies and Values: All Lambeth's Policies and Values are located in one Chapter, see 'Values' (on the left hand side of the screen). This Chapter outlines the key policies, values and principles for Children's Services, all procedures in this Manual should be read in the context of this Chapter.

Procedures and Guidance: In an attempt to keep procedures succinct, procedures and more detailed guidance are separated - with links provided as appropriate. 'Procedures' summarise how Managers and Staff must act in given circumstances. 'Guidance' provides direction or advice to a decision or course of action.

Procedures and Guidance are located in individual 'Chapters' which are available from a 'traditional' Contents List - on the left hand side of the screen.

2.2 Using the Contents List

Chapters are categorised or grouped together as follows:

PARTS: The manual contains procedures categorised under a number of Service Sectors, like 'Looked After Children',

SECTIONS: Within each Service Sector e.g. 'Looked After Services', you will find a Section (group of procedures) like 'Adoption'.

CHAPTERS: Under each Section, you'll find individual Chapters/Procedures e.g. 'Adoption Case Records'

2.3 The London Child Protection Procedures

A web based version of the London Child Protection Procedures has been incorporated into this Manual.

To access the London Child Protection Procedures, click on 'London Child Protection Procedures' on the left hand side of the screen.

3. Amendments

This version of the manual has been updated in terms of the Care Planning, Placement and Review Regulations 2010, the Fostering Services Minimum Standards 2011 and the Adoption Minimum Standards 2011. A full list appears below:

New Chapters
Keyword: Connected Person	A relative, friend or other person connected with a child.  The latter is someone who would not fit the term 'relative or friend', but who has a  pre-existing relationship with the child.  It could be someone who knows the child in a more professional capacity such as (for example) a childminder, a teacher or a youth worker."
Keyword: Nominated Officer	A senior officer of the Local Authority that looks after the child, nominated in writing by the Director of Children's Services for the purposes of these Regulations. (Out of Borough Placements, Disruption to a placement in key stage 4 or 5, or approval of placement with parents).
Placement with Connected Persons	This chapter replaces the former relative and friend's procedure and includes the new arrangements under Regulation 24. There is guidance that has been retained from the former chapter. Formerly known as Regulation 38 placements.
Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody	This chapter outlines the duty of the LA to this group of children including duties to assess and review their cases.
Exemptions and Extensions	This suggested new chapter explains the procedure for applying for exemptions and extensions to the terms of approval for foster carers.
Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers	This chapter was introduced to the manual in October 2011 as part of the revision as a consequence of the Care Planning, Placement and Review Regulation 2010.
Stability Guidance Notes Stability Screening Check List	These guidance notes are designed to be used in combination with the STABILITY Tool Checklist. They are intended to provide a framework for social workers to think about placement stability in context of care planning and supervision.
Joint Protocol in relation to homeless 16-17 year olds	This was introduced to the manual in October 2011.
Residence Orders Allowances	This chapter outlines the circumstances in which Lambeth Children Social Care grant allowances to people who have Residence Orders.
Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody	This chapter describes the way in which care leavers are supportive when they are in custody
Guidance for Transracial Family Placement	Transracial placement is the placement of looked after children and young people with foster carers or adopters of a different racial background.
Disability Living Allowance for Looked After Children	Disability Living Allowance is a benefit for children and young people who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they have a physical or mental disability. It’s claimed from the government
Life Story Work Guidance	This guidance sets out the minimum standard of practice for all children who are not placed at home with their birth families and who require life story work.
Risk Assessment Checklist for Lambeth Social Workers (Officers) Undertaking Work Outside the Jurisdiction of the UK	This chapter first appeared in the manual in October 2011.
Friends and Family Policy	This chapter is new to the manual and is for consultation purposes.
Participation of Children and Young People Looked After and Leaving Care of Lambeth	This chapter explains how children and young people who are looked after and carer leavers contribute to the management and development of services in Lambeth.
Child Centred Social Work in Lambeth: Practice Standards for Listening to Children and Young People	This chapter clarifies the expectations when listening to children and young people in Lambeth.
Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Change
Independent Visitors	This chapter was amended to include the new duty to appoint an Independent Visitor for a Looked After Child whenever it is in the child's best interest as opposed to specific circumstances.
Contact with Parents and Siblings	Contact should now be considered in relation to grandparents and half-siblings and Connected Persons Short-term break carers should maintain contact with parents as set out in Short Term Break Plans Significant reactions that the child has to contact that are observed should be passed on to the child's Social Worker. Suspension and/or termination of contact can only be made to protect a child from significant risk and this should be reported to the child's social worker.
Looked After Children Procedure	The main changes are: This chapter has been made consistent with the new arrangements for Placements with Family Friends and Connected Persons There are links and references to the new National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services including the need for carers and placed children to receive information before placements are made. Personal Education Plans (PEPs) must now be prepared before placements are made or within 10 days of the placement being made. The Nominated Officer must now be consulted if the placement of ca child in key stage 4 or 5 disrupts The arrangements for the frequency of social work visits have been changed
Placement with Parents	The main changes are: The Placement of Children with Parents Regulations 1991 are repealed and superseded by the 2010 regulations. The assessment of parent's suitability to care for the child is more specific. The arrangements for the approval of an emergency placement for up to 10 days, pending the assessment are more specific.
Pathway Planning	The main changes are: The arrangements when Relevant or Former Relevant young people move to unregulated accommodation or custody are identified in the section Review of the Pathway Plan. The arrangements for young people to remain in a foster or residential placement beyond their 18th birthday are included in section Staying Put.
Personal Advisors	Please note that this chapter has only been changed to mirror the definitions in the Pathway Planning chapter.
Financial Support (To Care Leavers)	This chapter was amended in August 2011 to clarify the responsibilities towards Former Relevant Young People who wish to take up a programme of full time further or higher education after the age of 21 and under the age of 25
Fostering Placements	The main changes are: Placements made with Family Friends and Connected Persons should follow the procedure below. The Placement Planning and Matching requirements are included Where a child moves placement in Key Stage 4, the Nominated Officer should be informed. Each child over 3 should have their own bedroom.
Fostering Panel	This chapter was further amended in relation to the regulations and standards above. The main changes are: Changes from a fixed membership of the fostering panel to the establishment of a Central List Clarification of the expectations of members of the Central List. Changes to the time that people can serve on the Central List. Applicant's ability to attend panel meetings with a supporter.
Recruitment of Foster Carers. Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers	Applications have to be dealt with within 8 months of the formal application The applicants must demonstrate the prospective carer's eligibility to work in the UK Applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to understand children's behaviour and to resolve conflict. Each child over 3 must have their own bedroom.
Support, Supervision and Review of Foster Carers	The main changes are: Each carer should have a Personal Development Plan The nature of the support provided by the Supervising Social Worker is clarified.
Allegations and Complaints Against Foster Carers	This chapter was amended to include the duty for the fostering agency to identify a senior manager (Designated Person) to liaise with the LADO, and to include reference to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)
Personal Education Plan Policy	The main changes are: Clarification of the content of the Personal Education Plan Avoidance of Disruption in the Education of children in Key Stage 4.
Health and Looked After Children	The main changes are: The intervals and the person who can conduct Health Care Assessments. Consideration of the Health Plan at the child’s Looked After Review The intervals and the person who can conduct Health Care Assessments Consideration of the Health Plan at the child’s Looked After Review.
Access to Birth Records/Adoption Case Records	Section 6 of this chapter was revised  to include the circumstances in which an Independent Review Panel to access these records.
Adoption Case Records	A minor amendment was made to section 1 of this chapter in August 2011 to clarify the point at which the case record should be opened.
Adoption Panel	This chapter was amended to reflect the changes from the Adoption Minimum Standards and guidance 2011 the main changes are: Timescales and the functions of Panel Adoption Panel membership and the establishment of the Central List and the consequent changes.
Adoption Reviews	Minor amendments were made to this chapter in August 2011. The changes relate to the relationship between the Adoption Review and the LAC Review and the child’s right to appoint an Advocate.
Adoption Support Services	A minor amendment to this chapter was made to identify that adopters should be supported with advice on cross border issues and that they should e informed about employees rights to leave and pay.
Allegations against Prospective Adopters in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted	This chapter has been revised to: Clarify the children to whom the chapter applies (including the title of the chapter Clarify the arrangements for dealing with allegations of historic abuse Clarify the retention of records Include the duty to refer Independent Safeguarding Authority vetting and barred list.
Assessment and Approval of Agency Adoptive Parents	This chapter was amended in August 2011 to include: Clarification about who can apply to adopt Identify the point when the Adoption Case Record should be opened The need to promote awareness of the child's need to maintain contact with their birth family. Assessment of home and transport safety When the prospective adopters details can be passed to the Adoption Register if it appears unlikely that they will be a placement of a child in their area.
Placement for Adoption	The primary changes to this chapter are: Clarification of when the Adoption Case Record should be opened. The birth family's right to receive and comment on the report to panel. Information to be provided to the child about the proposed placement That ethnicity must not be placed above everything else when identifying potential adopters for the child. Details about the support plan Where contact with birth families is agreed, the way in which unmediated contact through social networking is to be managed When the child's details should be passed to the Adoption Register.
Looked After Reviews	October 2011. This chapter replaces the previous chapter on Looked After Reviews. It has been changed to elaborate on the new role and responsibilities of the Independent Reviewing Officer as highlighted in the Care Planning, Placement and Review Regulations 2010
Information Sharing	There is a minor change to section A5 and the contacts have been updated.
Family Group Conferences	There is a new expectation that parents of children age 12-15 who are to be accommodated under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 must agree to participate in a Family Group Conference.
Serious Incident Notifications	Appendix 3 was added to this chapter.
Assessment and Approval of Agency Adoptive Parents	This chapter was amended to include: Clarification about who can apply to adopt Identify the point when the Adoption Case Record should be opened The need to promote awareness of the child's need to maintain contact with their birth family. Assessment of home and transport safety When the prospective adopters details can be passed to the Adoption Register if it appears unlikely that they will be a placement of a child in their area.
Inter Country Adoption	This chapter was amended in regard to how information will also include expectations of prospective adopters and how the adoption agency prioritises applications to adopt children from outside the UK and looked after children, including how they are referred to other adoption agencies.
Special Guardianship and Residence Orders	This chapter appeared in the manual for the first time in October 2011. It replaces former version and it includes three new appendices.
Protocol for Joint Work between the Youth Offending Service and Children's Social Care	This revised protocol gives guidance towards the interface arrangements between Specialist Services and the Youth Offending Service (YOS) where young people are known to both services, or when a child or young person's legal child care status changes within youth justice proceedings.

3.2 Planned Updates

The next planned update is currently under review.

4. How to Find a Chapter

Procedures and guidance are located in individual 'Chapters' which are available from a 'traditional' Contents List - on the left hand side of the screen.

Chapters are categorised or grouped together as follows:

PARTS: The manual contains procedures categorised under a number of Service Sectors, like 'Looked After and Adoption Services',

SECTIONS: Within each Service Sector e.g. 'Looked After and Adoption Services', you will find a Section (group of procedures) like 'Education, Recreation and Activities'.

CHAPTERS: Under each Section, you'll find individual Chapters/Procedures e.g. 'School Trips within the UK'

5. Search Feature

If you aren't sure where to find a Chapter/Procedure, you can use the 'Search' feature located on the left hand side of any screen.

This feature may help you locate the right Chapter, or sub section of a Chapter, that you require.

Tips when using Search: The Search function is designed to help you find Chapters (Procedures) or sub sections of Chapters in this manual. It will provide the best results if you know the title of the chapter or sub section, or you have a good idea what the title is. You may have to try different or alternative spellings/terms before you get the result you are looking for. For example: If a search for 'Section 47' doesn't return the right result, try 'Child Protection Enquiry' or just 'Protection'; If 'Initial Assessment' doesn't return the right result, try 'Initial Assessments' or just 'Initial'; If searching for 'Regulation 38' doesn't return the result you want, try 'Family and Friends' If you can't find the procedure you require or you are frustrated, ask your manager/supervisor or contact us (see 'Contact Us' on the left hand side of the screen) and we'll advice/direct you to the relevant procedure if we can.  NB: We'll reply within 2 working days.

6.Terminology

We believe it is crucial to use consistent terminology, which we agree with individual customers, for example:

'Home' and 'Resource'	this is a generic term which means Children’s Home, Foster Home
'Child' or 'Young Person'	both these terms are used to mean any child under the age of 18
'Staff' or 'Carer'	means all Staff and Carers (including) whether employed or not
'Manager'	means Team Manager, it also means YOT Team Manager
'Line Manager'	means the first Line Manager of a team/service
'Parent'	means person with Parental Responsibility
'Regulatory Authority'	Regulatory Authority is the generic term used in this manual to describe the independent regulatory body responsible for inspecting and regulating services e.g. Ofsted.
'Social Worker'	This means the worker allocated to the child/family. If there is no allocated worker, the Duty Social Worker or Team Manager is responsible.

7. Keywords

The manual is accessed by practitioners from varying agencies, who may find terms that they are not familiar with. Therefore, a large glossary (Keywords) of terms such as Significant Harm (Try it: click on the highlighted text). We call them 'Keywords'.

Many Keywords are highlighted in the body of procedures, but you can search for the Keyword you need: Go to the Keywords Index, on the left hand side of the screen or use 'Search'.

8. Contact Us and Alerts

If you have any technical comments or suggestions to make about this manual please contact us by using the button on the left hand side of the screen, from anywhere within the manual.

If you have any 'professional' comments or suggestions e.g. if you wish to recommend an amendment to a procedure, your comments should be forwarded to Sophie Woods, Policy and Planning Officer (see Section 3.2, Planned Updates)

ALERTS: You can also register to be alerted when the Manual is updated or amended, to do this, go to 'Contact Us'.

9. Compliance

9.1 Regulatory Compliance

Every effort has been taken to ensure regulatory compliance. If you discover any errors or mistakes, please alert your manager or contact us.

9.2 W3C Compliance

This manual meets the double A Standards of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), for example, it can be accessed by people with high levels of visual impairment. To find out more, click on 'Display Options' on the left hand side of the screen.

10. Copyright

The content of this website can be accessed, printed and downloaded in an unaltered form, on a temporary basis, for personal study or reference purposes. However any content printed or downloaded may not be sold, licensed, transferred, copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner or in or on any media to any person without the prior written consent of Tri-X-Childcare Ltd. and The London Borough of Lambeth.

11. Printing and Retaining Copies

The Manual should normally be viewed on line.

However, users may print chapters, using the "print" icon in the top right of the manual;

Please note, the Manual will be updated regularly, so staff should avoid retaining printed versions - hard copies are only valid for 72 hours.

End