Main Policies

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Our Vision and PurposeSeptember 26, 2024
2. 1.1.2Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
3. 1.1.3Children's Consultation and ParticipationSeptember 27, 2024
4. 1.1.4Equality and DiversitySeptember 27, 2024
5. 1.1.5Birmingham Children's Trust Scheme of Operational Delegated Decision MakingSeptember 26, 2024

1.2Thresholds for Children's Trust Services

1. 1.2.1Threshold Document - Right Help, Right TimeSeptember 26, 2024
2. 1.2.2Working Together to Safeguard Children

1.3Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.3.1Complaints and RepresentationsSeptember 26, 2024
2. 1.3.2Resolution and Escalation ProtocolFebruary 3, 2025
3. 1.3.3WhistleblowingSeptember 26, 2024

2.Family Support

1. 2.0.1Early Help AssessmentSeptember 26, 2024
2. 2.0.2Children Receiving Services as Children in NeedSeptember 26, 2024

3.Assessment and Short Term Intervention

3.1Children's Trust - Assessment and Planning

1. 3.1.1Pre-BirthSeptember 26, 2024
2. 3.1.2Initial Contacts and Referrals to the Children's Advice and Support Service (CASS)February 3, 2025
3. 3.1.3Assessments and the ASTI TeamsFebruary 3, 2025
4. 3.1.4Allocation of Work and Transfer between TeamsSeptember 26, 2024
5. 3.1.5Good Practice - Assessment Planning InterventionSeptember 26, 2024
6. 3.1.6Child Protection Enquiries (West Midlands Regional Safeguarding Procedures)

4.Safeguarding

1. 4.0.1Family-led PracticeSeptember 26, 2024
2. 4.0.2Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024
3. 4.0.3West Midlands Regional Safeguarding Procedures (This includes information about the Initial Child Protection Conference, Review Child Protection Conference, Child Protection Plan, Core Groups, Pre-proceeding and Statutory Visits to Children on a CP Plan).

5.Children in Care

5.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 5.1.1Decision to Look AfterSeptember 30, 2024
2. 5.1.2Care PlanningOctober 18, 2024
3. 5.1.3Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenJuly 26, 2022
4. 5.1.4Permanence GuidanceOctober 9, 2024
5. 5.1.5Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsOctober 1, 2024
6. 5.1.6Placements in Foster CareOctober 18, 2024
7. 5.1.7Placements in Residential CareSeptember 19, 2023
8. 5.1.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationOctober 18, 2024
9. 5.1.9Out of Area PlacementsOctober 1, 2024
10. 5.1.10Placements with Connected PersonsFebruary 3, 2025
11. 5.1.11Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 19, 2023
12. 5.1.12Placements with ParentsOctober 18, 2024
13. 5.1.13Placements Outside England and WalesOctober 1, 2024
14. 5.1.14Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
15. 5.1.15Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersOctober 1, 2024
16. 5.1.16Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersOctober 18, 2024
17. 5.1.17Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Children in CareOctober 18, 2024
18. 5.1.18Risk Assessment and PlanningSeptember 26, 2024
19. 5.1.19Health and SafetyFebruary 3, 2025
20. 5.1.20Providing Personalised CareSeptember 26, 2024
21. 5.1.21NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

5.2Monitoring and Reviews

1. 5.2.1Social Worker Visits to Children in CareOctober 18, 2024
2. 5.2.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsOctober 1, 2024
3. 5.2.3Children in Care ReviewsFebruary 3, 2025
4. 5.2.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersOctober 1, 2024
5. 5.2.5Independent Reviewing officer (IRO) Dispute and Escalation ProcedureSeptember 26, 2024
6. 5.2.6Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsOctober 18, 2024
7. 5.2.7Notifications of Significant EventsSeptember 26, 2024
8. 5.2.8Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 19, 2023

5.3Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 5.3.1Family Time with Parents/Adults and SiblingsOctober 11, 2024
2. 5.3.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)October 9, 2024

5.4Education, School Trips and Holidays

1. 5.4.1Consents for Children in CareSeptember 26, 2024
2. 5.4.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKOctober 9, 2024
3. 5.4.3Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenFebruary 3, 2025
4. 5.4.4Leisure ActivitiesOctober 9, 2024

5.5Health and Wellbeing

1. 5.5.1Health Care Assessments and PlansOctober 14, 2024
2. 5.5.2Personal Care and RelationshipsOctober 9, 2024
3. 5.5.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementSeptember 26, 2024
4. 5.5.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintSeptember 26, 2024

5.6Identity

1. 5.6.1Change of Name of a Child in CareOctober 9, 2024
2. 5.6.2Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
3. 5.6.3Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024

5.7Leaving Care and Transition

1. 5.7.1Leaving Care and TransitionOctober 18, 2024
2. 5.7.2Staying Put ArrangementsOctober 9, 2024

5.8Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 5.8.1Children and Young People in Care in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesOctober 18, 2024
2. 5.8.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyOctober 18, 2024
3. 5.8.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceDecember 5, 2022

5.9Financial

1. 5.9.118+ Care Leavers Service Financial Support PolicySeptember 26, 2024
2. 5.9.2Child Trust Funds (CTFs) and Junior Individual Savings Accounts (JISAs) for Children Who Are in Care Continuously for 12 Months PlusSeptember 26, 2024

6.Fostering and Adoption

6.1Fostering Services

1. 6.1.1Family and Friends PolicyFebruary 3, 2025
2. 6.1.2Private FosteringFebruary 3, 2025
3. 6.1.3Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferSeptember 26, 2024
4. 6.1.4Fostering PanelOctober 18, 2024
5. 6.1.5Persons Disqualified from Fostering and AdoptionOctober 9, 2024
6. 6.1.6The Specified Offences for Which an Individual is Deemed Unsuitable to Foster or Adopt a ChildSeptember 26, 2024
7. 6.1.7Responding to Disclosure of Criminal OffencesSeptember 26, 2024
8. 6.1.8Policy on the Use of Physical Restraint in Foster HomesSeptember 26, 2024
9. 6.1.9Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers
   Updated
   February 3, 2025
10. 6.1.10Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalOctober 18, 2024
11. 6.1.11Supervision and Support of Foster CarersOctober 9, 2024
12. 6.1.12Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersOctober 9, 2024
13. 6.1.13Allegations Against Foster Carers
    Updated
    February 3, 2025
14. 6.1.14Fostering PaymentsSeptember 26, 2024
15. 6.1.15Foster Carer ReviewsSeptember 26, 2024
16. 6.1.16Training and Development of Foster CarersFebruary 3, 2025
17. 6.1.17Birmingham Foster Carers Handbook

6.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 6.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters
   Updated
   February 3, 2025
2. 6.2.2Adoption PanelOctober 18, 2024
3. 6.2.3Placement for Adoption
   Updated
   February 3, 2025
4. 6.2.4Relinquished ChildrenOctober 18, 2024
5. 6.2.5Adoption SupportOctober 18, 2024
6. 6.2.6Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsSeptember 26, 2024
7. 6.2.7Adoption ReviewsOctober 9, 2024
8. 6.2.8Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsSeptember 26, 2024
9. 6.2.9Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted
   Updated
   February 3, 2025
10. 6.2.10Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 6.2.11Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
12. 6.2.12Adoption Case RecordsOctober 1, 2024
13. 6.2.13Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsOctober 16, 2024
14. 6.2.14Intermediary Services for Individuals Who Have Been AdoptedOctober 1, 2024
15. 6.2.15Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersOctober 16, 2024
16. 6.2.16Allowances under a Child Arrangement OrderFebruary 3, 2025
17. 6.2.17Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 26, 2024
18. 6.2.18Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersFebruary 3, 2025
19. 6.2.19Application to Court for an Adoption OrderSeptember 26, 2024
20. 6.2.20Arranging the Adoption of a Relinquished ChildSeptember 26, 2024

7.Children in Particular Circumstances

1. 7.0.1Child Exploitation (CE) - Practice Guidance for Children's ServicesFebruary 3, 2025
2. 7.0.2Non-recent Abuse Policy and Practice GuidanceSeptember 26, 2024
3. 7.0.3Missing from Home or Care (Under 18 years) - Practice Guidance for Children's ServicesFebruary 3, 2025
4. 7.0.4Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child in CareSeptember 26, 2024
5. 7.0.5Female Genital MutilationFebruary 3, 2025
6. 7.0.6Young CarersFebruary 3, 2025
7. 7.0.7Serious Incident Notification Policy & Procedure (Child Safeguarding Practice & Review 'Panel')February 3, 2025
8. 7.0.8Short BreaksOctober 18, 2024

7.1Children with Disabilities

1. 7.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
   Updated
   February 3, 2025
2. 7.1.2Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings
   Updated
   February 3, 2025
3. 7.1.3Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National Framework
   Updated
   February 3, 2025
4. 7.1.4Capacity and ConsentFebruary 3, 2025
5. 7.1.5Overview of Deprivations of Liberty
6. 7.1.6Mental Capacity Resource

7.2Children from Abroad

1. 7.2.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery
   Updated
   February 3, 2025
2. 7.2.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsOctober 18, 2024

7.3Mental Health and Wellbeing

1. 7.3.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983
   Updated
   February 3, 2025
2. 7.3.2Access to Secondary Healthcare (e.g. CYPMHS) Services - for Children in Care Living Out of AreaSeptember 26, 2024

7.4Court Proceedings

1. 7.4.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersSeptember 27, 2024
2. 7.4.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineFebruary 3, 2025
3. 7.4.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsOctober 1, 2024
4. 7.4.4Discharge of a Care OrderSeptember 26, 2024
5. 7.4.5Revocation of a Placement OrderSeptember 26, 2024
6. 7.4.6Section 7 and Section 37 ReportsSeptember 26, 2024
7. 7.4.7Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
8. 7.4.8Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
9. 7.4.9Family 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.

8.Case Management and Recording

1. 8.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
2. 8.0.2Case Records and RetentionOctober 1, 2024
3. 8.0.3Access to RecordsFebruary 3, 2025
4. 8.0.4Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesFebruary 3, 2025

9.Appendices

1. 9.0.1Ofsted Inspection Framework
   Updated
   February 3, 2025
2. 9.0.2Amendments