Procedures

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles January 14, 2025
2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationAugust 4, 2025
3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022

1.2Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

1. 1.2.1Early Help AssessmentJanuary 14, 2025
2. 1.2.2Herefordshire Right Help Right Time to Levels of Needs Threshold GuidanceJanuary 14, 2025
3. 1.2.3Capacity and ConsentAugust 4, 2025
4. 1.2.4Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsJanuary 14, 2025
2. 1.3.2Multi-Agency Referral: Reporting Concerns (MARF)January 14, 2025
3. 1.3.3AssessmentsAugust 4, 2025
4. 1.3.4Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)January 14, 2025
5. 1.3.5West Midlands Regional Safeguarding Procedures

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsAugust 4, 2025
2. 1.4.2Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024
3. 1.4.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024

1.5Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.5.1Complaints and RepresentationsJanuary 14, 2025
2. 1.5.2Whistleblowing Policy/Confidential Reporting CodeJanuary 14, 2025

1.6Notifications

1. 1.6.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)January 14, 2025

2.Children in Particular Circumstances

2.1Children with Disabilities

1. 2.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
   Updated
   August 4, 2025
2. 2.1.2Direct PaymentsMay 21, 2024
3. 2.1.3Short BreaksJanuary 14, 2025
4. 2.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings
   Updated
   August 4, 2025
5. 2.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 2024

2.2Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

1. 2.2.1Deprivation of Liberty
2. 2.2.2Mental Capacity
3. 2.2.3Herefordshire Safeguarding Adults Board (HSAB) Policies, Procedures and Guidance

2.3Children from Abroad

1. 2.3.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryAugust 4, 2025
2. 2.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsJanuary 14, 2025

2.4Homelessness

1. 2.4.1Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferJanuary 14, 2025

2.5Kinship Care

1. 2.5.1Kinship Care
   Updated
   August 4, 2025
2. 2.5.2Private FosteringJanuary 14, 2025

2.6Young Carers

1. 2.6.1Young CarersJanuary 14, 2025

2.7Relinquished Children

1. 2.7.1Relinquished ChildrenJanuary 14, 2025

3.Court Proceedings and Legal Planning

1. 3.0.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersFebruary 7, 2024
2. 3.0.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 23, 2022
3. 3.0.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsAugust 19, 2024
4. 3.0.4Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
5. 3.0.5Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
6. 3.0.6Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS)

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children
   Updated
   August 4, 2025
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterOctober 9, 2024
3. 4.1.3Care PlanningAugust 19, 2024
4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 19, 2023
5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceJuly 25, 2023
6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsJuly 25, 2023
7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenFebruary 7, 2022
8. 4.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 23, 2022
9. 4.1.9Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
10. 4.1.10NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsJanuary 14, 2025
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsAugust 4, 2025
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareJanuary 14, 2025
4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareSeptember 19, 2023
5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 19, 2023
6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsSeptember 23, 2024
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesJanuary 14, 2025
8. 4.2.8Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
9. 4.2.9Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationJanuary 14, 2025
10. 4.2.10Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersSeptember 23, 2024
11. 4.2.11Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersJanuary 14, 2025
12. 4.2.12Health and Safety
    Updated
    August 4, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenJuly 26, 2022
2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsJanuary 14, 2025
3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsAugust 4, 2025
4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersSeptember 23, 2024
5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsFebruary 7, 2022
6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsAugust 19, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsJanuary 14, 2025
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)September 23, 2024

4.5Education, School Trips and Holidays

1. 4.5.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenAugust 4, 2025
2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKApril 17, 2024
3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesMarch 23, 2022

4.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansMay 1, 2024
2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJuly 26, 2022
3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintMay 22, 2024

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildFebruary 7, 2024
2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and Transition
   Updated
   August 4, 2025
2. 4.8.2Staying PutJanuary 14, 2025

4.9Youth Justice Service

1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesJanuary 14, 2025
2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyJanuary 14, 2025
3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance
   Updated
   August 4, 2025

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelJuly 26, 2022
2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringJuly 26, 2022
3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers
   Updated
   August 4, 2025
4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersJanuary 14, 2025
6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster Carers
   Updated
   August 4, 2025
8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersAugust 4, 2025
9. 5.1.9Foster Carers HandbookJanuary 14, 2025
10. 5.1.10Foster Carer ResourceJanuary 14, 2025

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters
   Updated
   August 4, 2025
2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelMarch 17, 2023
3. 5.2.3Placement for Adoption
   Updated
   August 4, 2025
4. 5.2.4Adoption SupportMarch 18, 2024
5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 31, 2023
6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsNovember 28, 2023
8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted
   Updated
   August 4, 2025
9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsFebruary 8, 2022
12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsJuly 26, 2022
13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesJuly 26, 2022
14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
16. 5.2.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersAugust 25, 2023
17. 5.2.17Adoption Central England (ACE)

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersAugust 4, 2025
2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 23, 2024

6.Case Management and Recording

1. 6.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
2. 6.0.2Case Records and RetentionJanuary 14, 2025
3. 6.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsJanuary 14, 2025
4. 6.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
5. 6.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsDecember 18, 2024
6. 6.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffMarch 28, 2024
7. 6.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesNovember 27, 2024

7.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 7.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersJanuary 14, 2025
2. 7.0.2Delegated Authority Document for Appropriate Decision Making in the Children's Safeguarding and Family Support DivisionJanuary 14, 2025
3. 7.0.3Ofsted Inspection Framework
   Updated
   August 4, 2025
4. 7.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
5. 7.0.5Amendments