Skip to content

Working Together To Safeguard Children 2026 Update.

The Mental Health Act 2025 Reforms.

Company Logo

Contents

These are generic policies and procedures provided by tri.x. For documents and processes that are specific to Kent, please refer to the Kent Guidelines section or email kentproceduresonline@kent.gov.uk for local guidance and advice.

Quick Links:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

  1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles May 1, 2025
  2. 1.1.2Equality and DiversityMay 1, 2025

1.2Thresholds for Children’s Social Care

  1. 1.2.1Thresholds for Children’s Social CareMay 1, 2025
  2. 1.2.2Capacity and ConsentNovember 18, 2025

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsMay 1, 2025
  2. 1.3.2AssessmentsNovember 18, 2025
  3. 1.3.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)May 1, 2025
  4. 1.3.4Multi-Agency Safeguarding Children Procedures

1.4Child in Need

  1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsMay 1, 2025

1.5Legal Proceedings

  1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersMay 1, 2025
  2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineNovember 18, 2025
  3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsMay 1, 2025
  4. 1.5.4Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
  5. 1.5.5Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
  6. 1.5.6Family 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.

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

  1. 1.6.1Complaints and RepresentationsNovember 18, 2025
  2. 1.6.2Whistleblowing

1.7Notifications

  1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Harm to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)November 18, 2025

2.Case Management and Recording

  1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesNovember 18, 2025
  2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionMay 1, 2025
  3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsNovember 18, 2025
  4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 1, 2025
  5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsMay 1, 2025
  6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffMay 1, 2025
  7. 2.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesMay 1, 2025

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

  1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMay 1, 2025
  2. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsNovember 18, 2025
  3. 3.1.3Short BreaksMay 1, 2025
  4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsNovember 18, 2025
  5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 1, 2025

3.2Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  1. 3.2.1Deprivation of Liberty
  2. 3.2.2Mental Capacity

3.3Children from Abroad

  1. 3.3.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryMay 1, 2025
  2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsNovember 18, 2025

3.4Homelessness

  1. 3.4.1Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferNovember 18, 2025

3.5Family and Friends / Kinship Care

  1. 3.5.1Kinship CareNovember 18, 2025
  2. 3.5.2Private FosteringMay 1, 2025
  3. 3.5.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMay 1, 2025

3.6Young Carers

  1. 3.6.1Young CarersNovember 18, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

  1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenNovember 18, 2025

3.8Mental Health

  1. 3.8.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 1, 2025

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenNovember 18, 2025
  2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterMay 1, 2025
  3. 4.1.3Care PlanningMay 1, 2025
  4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildMay 1, 2025
  5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceNovember 18, 2025
  6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsNovember 18, 2025
  7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenNovember 18, 2025
  8. 4.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningMay 1, 2025
  9. 4.1.9Providing Personalised CareMay 1, 2025
  10. 4.1.10NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People
  11. 4.1.11Promoting Wellbeing and Positive Identity for a Child or Young Person Who is Looked After: A Quick Guide for Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners

4.2Placements

  1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsMay 1, 2025
  2. 4.2.2Placements with Kinship Carers November 18, 2025
  3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareMay 1, 2025
  4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareMay 1, 2025
  5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsMay 1, 2025
  6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsMay 1, 2025
  7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesNovember 18, 2025
  8. 4.2.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationNovember 18, 2025
  9. 4.2.9Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersMay 1, 2025
  10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersMay 1, 2025
  11. 4.2.11Placements in Other ArrangementsMay 1, 2025
  12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyMay 1, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

  1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenNovember 18, 2025
  2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsMay 1, 2025
  3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsNovember 18, 2025
  4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersMay 1, 2025
  5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsMay 1, 2025
  6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsNovember 18, 2025

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

  1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsNovember 18, 2025
  2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)May 1, 2025

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 ChildrenMay 1, 2025
  2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKNovember 18, 2025
  3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesNovember 18, 2025

4.6Health and Wellbeing

  1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansMay 1, 2025
  2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsMay 1, 2025
  3. 4.6.3Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintMay 1, 2025

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

  1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildMay 1, 2025
  2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildMay 1, 2025

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

  1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionNovember 18, 2025
  2. 4.8.2Staying PutNovember 18, 2025
  3. 4.8.3Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers (Kent Guidelines)

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesNovember 18, 2025
  2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyMay 1, 2025
  3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceNovember 18, 2025

5.Fostering, Adoption and Special Guardianship

5.1Fostering Services

  1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelMay 1, 2025
  2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringMay 1, 2025
  3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersMay 1, 2025
  4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalMay 1, 2025
  5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersMay 1, 2025
  6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersMay 1, 2025
  7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersMay 1, 2025
  8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMay 1, 2025

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

  1. 5.2.1Adoption Partnership South East Procedures Manual

5.3Special Guardianship

  1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersNovember 18, 2025
  2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceMay 1, 2025

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

  1. 6.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersOctober 17, 2025
  2. 6.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkMay 1, 2025
  3. 6.0.3Local ContactsNovember 18, 2025
  4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children

Last Updated: April 2, 2026

v78