Amendments |
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Allegations Against Staff | This chapter has been significantly updated and should be re-read. |
| Recording and Reporting Accidents | This chapter has been significantly updated and should be re-read. |
| Notification of Serious Events | This chapter has been significantly updated and should be re-read. |
Archive
December 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Information Sharing | This guidance has been reviewed and updated throughout to reflect Working Together to Safeguard Children and the revised DfE Information Sharing: Advice for Practitioners Providing Safeguarding Services to Children, Young People, Parents and Carers. |
| Moving to Another Placement | This guidance has been reviewed throughout and updated as required. Section 2, Arrangements for the Transfer to Another Home has been updated to include a note on the actions placing authorities are required to undertake if a young person is moving from the home into an unregulated placement. |
| Notification of Serious Events | This chapter has been updated throughout and should be re-read. |
June 2019
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Care and Placement Plans Guidance | This chapter has been significantly updated. |
| Recognising Abuse and Neglect | Section 6, Sexual Abuse and Section 8, Bullying (including Online/Cyberbullying) have been reviewed and completely updated. |
| Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation | Links have been added to resources for practitioners working with children who have been, or are at risk of, Child Sexual Exploitation published by Barnardos and Research in Practice. |
| Education | This chapter has been updated to reflect amendments introduced by the Children and Social Work Act 2017. These changes relate to the status of ‘previously looked after children’. 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. A new Section 5, Safeguarding in School was incorporated. |
December 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Statement of Purpose | Updated versions of the Statements of Purpose have been added. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | Section 1, Health Care Assessments has been updated with regard to consent to medical treatment. |
| Preparation for Leaving Care | This chapter has been substantially updated and should be re read. |
| Smoking and Alcohol | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be read throughout. |
| Organisational Structure and Manager Contacts | The Organisational chart has been updated. |
July 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Case Recording Policy and Staff Guidance | This chapter has been updated in regards to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). |
| Access to Records | This chapter has been updated in regards to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Information Sharing and Confidentiality | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
June 2018
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Looked After Reviews | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| Offending and Anti-Social Behaviour – Guidance on when to Involve the Police | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| Contact with Parents / Carers and Siblings | Section 1, Promoting Contact has been updated to take account of the use of mobile communication with regards to contact. |
| Recognising Abuse and Neglect Guidance | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation | Section 1, Introduction has been revised throughout to include additional information on the nature of child sexual exploitation and its impact on young people. The Indicators of Possible Sexual Exploitation described in Section 2 have also been included to reflect the complexity of child sexual exploitation, including situations where young people are both perpetrators and victims of abuse. |
| Safeguarding Children from Radicalisation and Extremism | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| Referring Safeguarding Concerns | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| Provision and Preparation of Meals | Section 2, Preparation of Meals has been updated to reflect that children’s’ views are sought and help to shape the menus and food items available. |
| Smoking and Alcohol | Section 1.1, E-cigarettes/Vapes has been added and links to Electronic cigarettes – NHS and Drinkaware in the Related Information section. |
| Notification of Serious Events | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Moving to Another Placement | This chapter has been added to the manual. |
December 2017
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Statement of Purpose | Updated versions have been added. |
| Case Recording Policy and Staff Guidance | A note has been added into Section 17, Records Must Usually be Retained After Closure to remind all staff no children’s social care records should be destroyed while the National Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is on-going. |
| Allegations Against Staff | This chapter has been extensively update and should be re-read throughout. |
| Sexual Health and Relationships | Section 3, Pornography has been updated to include advice for staff on how to deal with issues relating to young people’s access to pornography online. |
June 2017
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | A link has been added in the Relevant Guidance section to Children’s Attachment: Attachment in Children and Young People who are Adopted from Care, in Care or at High Risk of Going into Care - NICE Guidelines (NG26). This covers the identification, assessment and treatment of attachment difficulties in children and young people up to age 18 who are adopted from care, in special guardianship, looked after by local authorities in foster homes (including kinship foster care), residential settings and other accommodation, or on the edge of care. It aims to address the many emotional and psychological needs of children and young people in these situations, including those resulting from maltreatment. |
| Absent/Missing Children | Section 1, Definitions has been updated with a link to the College of Policing’s definition of missing and absent. |
| Overnight Stays and Social Visits | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation | Section 1, Introduction has been updated to take account of the change of definition in Child Sexual Exploitation: Definition and Guide for Practitioners (DfE February 2017). |
| Self Harming and Suicidal Behaviour | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. |
December 2016
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Statement of Purpose | Updated versions of the Statements of Purpose have been added. |
| Role of Appropriate Adult Guidance | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| Correspondence, Communication and Social Networking | A link has been added to Child Safety Online - A practical guide for parents and carers whose children are using social media. |
| Safeguarding Children Vulnerable to Violent Extremism and Radicalisation | This chapter has been extensively updated and should be re-read throughout. |
| Confidential Reporting | A link has been added to Whistleblowing to Ofsted about Children’s Social Care Services - Policy and Guidance for Whistleblowers. This document outlines what Ofsted will do when it receives certain concerns about Children’s Social Care services from a whistleblower. |
| Drugs and Substance Misuse | This chapter has been updated to reflect New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) (previously called legal highs) and the New Psychoactive Substances Act which came into force on 26 May 2016. |
| Infections and Blood Borne Viruses | A link has been added to Practice Guidance: Supporting Young People with HIV Testing and Prevention in the Relevant Guidance and Information section. |
| Organisational Structure and Manager Contacts | The Organisational chart has been updated. |
June 2016
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Contact with Parents / Carers and Siblings | This guidance has been updated to reflect the revised The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review which was published by the Department for Education in June 2015. |
| Advocacy and Independent Visitors | This guidance has been updated to reflect the revised The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review which was published by the Department for Education in June 2015. |
| First Aid, Home Remedies and Medication | This chapter has been revised and re-written and should be re-read throughout. |
| Infections and Blood Borne Viruses | This chapter has been revised and re-written and should be re-read throughout. |
| Education | A link has been added to the Promoting the Education of Looked After Children (July 2014) and Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years: Statutory Guidance for Organisations who work with and Support Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (2014). |
| Access to Records | A link has been added to the Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 3: Planning Transition to Adulthood for Care Leavers (revised January 2015). Section 1, information has been added with regards to the Data Protection Act applies to both paper and manual records and records held electronically. It is important that electronic recording systems comply with the requirements for children and their families to easily find their story in a logical narrative. |
December 2015
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Statement of Purpose | The Statements of Purpose for Chasetown Lodge, Spindle Hill House and Solihull Lodge have been updated. |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | A link has been added in Related Guidance, to Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked-After Children, Statutory guidance for local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and NHS England, March (2015). |
| Smoking and Alcohol | A link has been added to a related chapter, Transporting Children. |
| Transporting Children | A link has been added to Rules About Tobacco, E-cigarettes and Smoking: 1 October 2015 (GOV.UK) |
May 2015
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Whistleblowing Policy | A link has been added to Raising Concerns at Work: Whistleblowing Guidance for Workers and Employers in Health and Social Care (2014) in Related Guidance |
| Referrals and Placements | Section 2.4, Children placed outside the area where they normally live was updated in line with Out of authority placement of looked-after children - Supplement to The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review guidance. |
| Care and Placement Plans Guidance | Section 2, Placement Plans has been updated to reflect that the homes should seek closer working relationship with those involved in protection of the child/young person and those in the wider system to ensure that each child’s needs are met. |
| Emergency Placements and Emergency Reviews | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards, in particular the home will need to show it is capable to care for children admitted at very short notice while continuing to offer high quality care. |
| Looked After Reviews | Section 2, Frequency and Arranging Looked After Reviews has been updated to reflect the home should also takes notes of the meeting and ensure that action points are recorded to prevent any delay in supporting the child/young person and the Registered Person should evidence what they have done to achieve engagement, including any actions taken to escalate concerns. |
| Preparation for Leaving Care | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards. In particular in Section 3, Key Responsibilities. Staff in the home must help the young person prepare for transition in regard to self help skills and living independently and assist in the pathway planning process. |
| Sanctions | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards. |
| Restrictive Physical Intervention | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards. |
| Searching Children/Bedrooms | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards. In particular Section 1, Searching has been updated to reflect that bedrooms should not be generally entered without the child’s permission. Room searches take place if the child has been informed or permission given. |
| Contact with Parents and Siblings | Section 2, Supervised and Unsupervised Contact has been updated to reflect that the Placing Authority must be notified within 24 hours if staff have assessed that restriction of contact is necessary in the interests of the child to safeguard them. Section 3, Cancellation of Contact has been updated to reflect if the decision is made at the weekend/bank holiday to cancel contact, the EDT social worker to be notified of the decision with a follow up to the social worker on the first working day after the weekend/bank holiday. |
| Correspondence, Communication and Social Networking | A list of local Safeguarding Children Board Procedures has been added for guidance on this issue. |
| Countering Bullying | Section 4, Risk Assessment and Planning has been updated to reflect the registered person should ensure a process is in place in regard to allegations of bullying. |
| Provision and Preparation of Meals | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards. In particular in Section 1, Responsibility and Risk Assessments, the Registered Person should ensure children are provided with nutritious meals suitable for each child’s needs, these include to avoid any food which the child maybe allergic to. Children should also be involved in choosing and preparing meals and there should be opportunities for all staff and children to sit together to eat. |
| Bedrooms | Section 5, Alarms and Monitoring Devices has been updated with regards to Homes must gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority in writing of the placement. |
| Health Notifications and Access to Services | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards. |
| Education | This chapter has been updated to reflect the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards. |
| Monitoring Quality | This chapter has been updated in line with Children’s homes regulations amendments 2014: Advice for children’s homes providers on new duties under amendments to regulations that came into effect in January and April 2014. Additional information has been added in to Sections 1, Suitability of Premises and Section 2, Regulation 33 Visits. |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Safeguarding Children Vulnerable to Violent Extremism and Radicalisation | A list of local Safeguarding Children Board Procedures has been added for guidance on this issue. |
August 2014
| Updated Chapters | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Statement of Purpose | The statements of purpose for Chasetown Lodge, Spindle Hill House and Solihull Lodge have been updated. |
| Referrals and Placements | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children's Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2013. |
| Care and Placement Plans Guidance | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children's Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2013. In Section 2, Placement Plans, where there are child protection concerns relating to a child and/or where the child has gone missing from this or from any previous placement, the Placement Plan must include information about the day-to-day in place arrangements to keep the child safe. |
| Emergency Placements and Emergency Reviews | This chapter has been revised to include information about Emergency Placement. |
| Looked After Reviews | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children's Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2013. |
| Leaving the Home | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children's Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2013. |
| Absent/Missing Children | This chapter has been updated to reflect the revised Statutory Guidance concerning Children Who Run Away or Go Missing from Home or Care issued by the Department for Education effective January 2014. |
| The Police | This chapter has been updated and reference to Absent/Missing children added. |
| Monitoring Quality | This chapter has been updated in line with the Children’s Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2013. |
| Delegated Authority and Notifications | Information in this chapter has been updated. |
| Organisational Structure and Manager Contacts | The Organisational chart has been updated. |
| Holidays and School Trips | Updated to include the removal of head teachers discretion in sanctioning holidays during term time. |
| Gift Giving and Receiving | This chapter has been updated, in particular a link has been added to the Bribery Act 2010 (Ministry of Justice). |
| Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation | Updated links to training and educational resources |
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Staff Qualifications | This chapter includes information regarding the relevant qualifications for Homes Managers and staff. |
End