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Oxfordshire Children Young People and Families Manual Contents

October 2011

  1. All Children
  2. Preventative and Supportive Services
  3. Services to Children Looked After
  4. Adoption and Permanency
  5. Children in Specific Circumstances
  6. Protocols
  7. Guidance
  8. Staffing
  9. Appendices


1. All Children

1.1

Policy Values and Principles

  
1.1.1 Children's Policy Values and Principles  
1.1.2 Oxfordshire's Corporate Parenting Strategy  
1.1.3 Family and Friends Care Policy New
1.1.4 Confidentiality Policy  
1.1.5 Customer Care Code of Practice  
1.1.6 Delivering Social Care Across Service Boundaries (Whole Family Working) - Policy Summary  


 

1.2

Locality Support Services and Early Intervention

 
1.2.1 Practitioner's Toolkit for Information Sharing, Common Assessment Framework, Team Around the Child/Young Person, Lead Professional and Service Directory  
1.2.2 Information about FACEIT (Family and Children Early Intervention Team)  


 

1.3

Access to Services and Teams

  
1.3.1 Contacts and Referrals  
1.3.2

Initial and Core Assessments

  
1.3.3 Whole Family Working Checklists for Adult Services and Children and Families  
1.3.4 Oxford Threshold of Needs Matrix  
1.3.5 Allocation of Children with Child Protection Plans and Looked After Children  
1.3.6 Carers' Assessments - Practitioner's Guide  
1.3.7 Emergency Duty Team  
1.3.8 Notifications of Concern Arising Outside Family Home - Pressing Need (Safeguarding) Protocol  


 

1.4

Complaints and Whistle-Blowing

  
1.4.1 Complaints Procedure  
1.4.2 Raising Concerns at Work, Grievances and Whistle-blowing  


 

1.5

Miscellaneous

  
1.5.1 Activities and Transporting Children  
1.5.2 Death of or Serious Injury to a Child  
1.5.3 Behaviour Management and Physical Intervention Updated
1.5.4 Easy Access Guide to Restrictive Physical Intervention for Children and Young People  
1.5.5 Critical Incident Reporting  
1.5.6 Major Incident and Emergency Plan  
1.5.7 Ofsted Letter re Regulation and Inspection of Children's Social Care  
1.5.8 Protocol between CAFCASS and Oxfordshire Children's Service for Allocating Responsibilities for Court Reporting in Private Law Children Act 1989 Proceedings  


 

1.6

Access to Records and File Management

  
1.6.1 Access to Social Care Personal Records  
1.6.2 Client Paper Record Management  
1.6.3 Social Care File Retention Policy  
1.6.4 File Retention Periods  
1.6.5 Quality Assurance Framework for Children's Social Care in Oxfordshire  
1.6.6 Quality Assurance Framework - Audit Form 1  
1.6.7 Policy on Use of 'Risk to Staff' Markers  
1.6.8 Procedure on Use of 'Risk to Staff' Markers  
1.6.9 Case Records for Looked After Child New


2. Preventative and Supportive Services

2.1

Planning and Review

  
2.1.1 Child in Need Plans and Reviews  
2.1.2 Family Support Conferences  
2.1.3 Family Group Conferences  
2.1.4 Referrals for Family Group Conferences - Process and Practice Guidance for Referring Professionals  
2.1.5 Tripartite Panel  


 

2.2

Services

  
2.2.1 Outreach and Mentoring  
2.2.2 Family and Placement Support Service  
2.2.3 The ATTACH Team (Attaining Therapeutic Attachments for Children)  
2.2.4 Family Intervention Project - Eligibility Criteria, Referral Pathway and Flowchart  
2.2.5 Private Fostering  
2.2.6 Children Cared for by Relatives and Friends Outside the Looked After System  
2.2.7 Accessing Provision from Meadowbrook College (including for Looked After Children (New)  
2.2.8 Housing Options for Young People  


3. Services to Children Looked After

3.1

Decision - Making for Looked After Children

  
3.1.1 Route Map for Looked After Children Updated
3.1.2 Decision to Look After and Care Planning Updated
3.1.3 Assessing Family and Friends Options for Looked After Children Updated
3.1.4 Care Proceedings  
3.1.5 Applications for Emergency Protection Orders  
3.1.6 Public Law Outline - Frequently Asked Questions  
3.1.7 Criminal Records Bureau - Certificates of Disclosure  
3.1.8 Sufficiency Duty in Relation to Accommodation for Looked After Children New


 

3.2

Placements

  
3.2.1 Placements Policy Updated
3.2.2 Emergency Placements Updated
3.2.3 Placements in Foster Care Updated
3.2.4 Placements in Residential Care Updated
3.2.5

Placements in Secure Accommodation

See also YJB Protocol - Court Ordered Secure Remands.

 Updated
3.2.6 Placements with Connected Persons Updated
3.2.7 Placements with Parents Updated
3.2.8 Placements Outside England and Wales  
3.2.9 Disruption Meetings (Foster/Residential Placements) Updated
3.2.10 Placements out of Area New


 

3.3

Reviews

  
3.3.1 Looked After Reviews Updated
3.3.2 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers New
3.3.3 Independent Reviewing Officer - Dispute Resolution Process and Route for Referring Cases to CAFCASS Updated
3.3.4 Placement Plans and Placement Plan Reviews Updated
3.3.5 Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews  
3.3.6 Review Processes - Involvement of the Young Person  


 

3.4

Behaviour Management

  
3.4.1 Behaviour Management Plans  
3.4.2 Sanctions  


 

3.5

Education

  
3.5.1 Personal Education Plans Updated
3.5.2 The Reach Up Team  
3.5.3 PRUIS (Pupil Referral Unit and Integration Service) - Support for Excluded Pupils  
3.5.4 Children in Care Education Panel  
3.5.5

Virtual School for Looked After Children - A Guide for Social Workers about Securing quick and appropriate School Admission for a Looked After Child

See also Accessing Provision from Meadowbrook College (including for Looked After Children

  
3.5.6 Protocol for Decisions about the Education Placement for Looked After Children Returning to Oxfordshire  
3.5.7

Protocol for Oxfordshire Communications with other Local Authorities giving Instructions on the Admission of Looked After Children to Educational Settings

  
3.5.8 Protocol to Secure the School Admission of Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers (UASC) 16 year within 20 Days of coming into Care  
3.5.9 Education of a Looked After Child when they are brought back into Oxfordshire or have been out of Provision for a Period of Time  


 

3.6

Recreation and Activities

 
3.6.1 Holidays and School/Organisational Trips Outside the UK  
3.6.2 Holidays and School/Organisational Trips Inside the UK  
3.6.3 Leisure and Activities  
3.6.4 Guarding against the Misuse of Computers, the Internet and Technology to Abuse Children and Young People  


 

3.7

Health and Wellbeing

  
3.7.1 Drugs and Substance Misuse (including smoking)  
3.7.2 First Aid, Home Remedies and Prescribed Medicines  
3.7.3 General Practitioners, Dentists and Opticians  
3.7.4 Health Assessments and Health Action Plans Updated
3.7.5 Infestations  
3.7.6 Self Harming  
3.7.7 BAAF Practice Note No 53 - Guidelines for the Testing of Looked After Children who are at Risk of Blood Borne Infections  


 

3.8

Contacts with Family and Friends

  
3.8.1 Contact with Parents and Other Relatives/Friends Updated
3.8.2 Social Visits for Looked After Children and Overnight Stays with Relatives and Friends  
3.8.3 Contact Planning and Information Pack  


 

3.9

Foster Carers

  
  Please see National Minimum Standards for Fostering 2011  
3.9.1 Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers Updated
3.9.2 Fostering Recruitment Policy  
3.9.3 Smoking and Health Policy for Foster Carers, including Connected Persons  
3.9.4 Fostering Panel Updated
3.9.5 Altering the Approval of a Foster Carer and Exemptions New
3.9.6 Persons Disqualified from Fostering Updated
3.9.7 Support and Supervision of Foster Carers Updated
3.9.8 Training of Foster Carers Updated
3.9.9 Review of Foster Carers Updated
3.9.10 Fostering Plus  
3.9.11 Multi-dimensional Treatment Foster Care (including Foster Carer's Job Description)  
3.9.12

Complaints, Allegations or Serious Concerns about Standards of Care in Relation to Foster Carers or Members of their Household

See also Fostering Handbook

and Criminal Records Bureau - Certificates of Disclosure

 Updated
3.9.13 Relief for Foster Carers New


 

3.10

Incidents

  
3.10.1 Barricading and Forced Entry  
3.10.2 Contacting the Police Updated
3.10.3 Countering Bullying  
3.10.4 Searching of Children and their Belongings  


 

3.11

Monitoring Quality and Providing Support

  
3.11.1 Social Worker Visits Updated
3.11.2 Independent Visitors Updated
3.11.3 Regulation 33 and 34 Visits  


 

3.12

Privacy and Personal Care

  
3.12.1 Children's Bedrooms Updated
3.12.2 Hair and Skin Care  
3.12.3 Physical Contact and Intimate Care Updated
3.12.4 Pocket Money and Allowances  
3.12.5 Spiritual Development  
3.12.6 Telephones, Mobile Phones and Letters  


 

3.13

Improving the Life Chances of Young People Leaving Care

  
3.13.1 Leaving Care Updated
3.13.2 Pathway Plans Updated
3.13.3 Minimum Standards for Support Packages for Young People  
3.13.4 Leaving Care Budget, Allowances and Benefits  
3.13.5 Joint Working between Fostering and Adult Placement Services  
3.13.6 Protocol for Extending Foster Placements for Young People Aged 18+  
3.13.7 Planning the Housing Transition at 18 years  
3.13.8

Financial Policy for Leaving Care Service

Please also see Housing Options for Young People

  
3.13.9 Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody New


 

3.14

Miscellaneous

  
3.14.1 Change of Name  
3.14.2 Marriage  
3.14.3 Children's Trust Funds and Looked After Children Updated
3.14.4 Criminal Injuries Compensation  
3.14.5 Registration for National Insurance  
3.14.6 Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services New


4. Adoption and Permanency

4.1

Permanency for Looked After Children

  
4.1.1 Permanency Policy for Looked After Children  
4.1.2 Permanency Planning and Family Finding for Children under 12 who are the subject of Care Proceedings or whose parents requested the child be Permanently cared for  
4.1.3 Long Term Plans for Children Looked After and Referrals to Oxfordshire Adoption and Permanency Panel and the Fostering Panel  
4.1.4 Guidance for Parents and Carers on Circumstances where the Local Authority will help with Legal Costs  
4.1.5 Differences between Residence Order, Special Guardianship Order, Adoption Order and Fostering  
4.1.6 What Factors might be relevant in a decision to Apply for an Order?  


 

4.2

Adoption

  
  National Minimum Standards for Adoption 2011  
4.2.1 Adoption and Permanency Panel  
4.2.2 Oxfordshire's Adoption Recruitment Policy  
4.2.3 Assessment and Approval of Agency Adoptive Parents  
4.2.4 Placement for Adoption  
4.2.5 Adoption Support  
4.2.6 Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements  
4.2.7 Adoption Reviews  
4.2.8 Disruption of Adoptive Placements  
4.2.9 Inter-Country Adoption  
4.2.10 Non-Agency Adoptions  
4.2.11 Complaints, Allegations or Serious Concerns about Standards of Care in Relation to Prospective Adopters or Members of their Household or Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted  
4.2.12 Adoption Case Files  
4.2.13 Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records  
4.2.14

Intermediary Services

See also Criminal Records Bureau - Certificates of Disclosure

  
4.2.15 Guidelines for Adopters re face-to-face meetings with birth relatives  
4.2.16 Guidelines for Social Workers re face-to-face meetings between adopters and birth relatives  
4.2.17 Protocol between CAFCASS and Adoption Agencies for Children Relinquished for Adoption  
     


 

4.3

Special Guardianship and Residence Orders

  
4.3.1 Applications for Special Guardianship  
4.3.2 Special Guardianship Process and Tracking  
4.3.3 Residence Order Policy and Procedures  


 

4.4

Court Reports

  
4.4.1 Court Reports Guidance  


5. Children in Specific Circumstances

5.1 Children's Disability Service and the Multi Agency Priority Panel Process - Eligibility Criteria and Service Allocation Guidelines for Community Support/Short Break Care  
5.2 Short Breaks New
5.3 Direct Payments in Oxfordshire  
5.4 Transition Panel - Membership and Terms of Reference  
5.5 Unaccompanied Minors Seeking Asylum Updated
5.6 Domestic Abuse Policy  
5.7 Matrix for Domestic Abuse Risk Assessments  
5.8 Oxford Children's Hospital - Guidelines on Management and Assessment of Young People under the age of 16 who Self Harm  


6. Protocols

6.1 Information Sharing Protocol  
6.2 Delivering Social Care Across Service Boundaries in Oxfordshire  
6.3 Inter Agency Policy for Parents with Disabilities, Sensory Impairment, Illness, Addiction or Mental Health Difficulties  
6.4 Shared Care Protocols for Children  
6.5 Protocol for Transition Planning with Young People from Children Young People and Families to Adult Services in Oxfordshire  
6.6 National Protocol - Inter Authority Arrangements for Care Leavers  
6.7 Housing Joint Protocol  
6.8 Protocol with Thames Valley Police and Children, Young People and Families, Oxfordshire County Council regarding Domestic Abuse  
6.9 Thames Valley Police and Children, Young People and Families – Joint Protocol and Guidance: Young People who run away or go missing from home or care  
6.10 Protocol between Youth Offending Service and Children and Family Support  
6.11 YJB Protocol - Court Ordered Secure Remands  
6.12 Protocol for the Management of Child Protection Assessments on Open Cases where Children are Admitted to John Radcliffe Hospital  


7. Guidance

7.1 Assessment Framework Guidance  
7.2 Using Genograms in Assessment  
7.3 Assessment of Risk in the Antenatal and Perinatal Period  
7.4 Care Plans Updated
7.5 Consents  
7.6 Countering Bullying  
7.7 Disruption Meetings - Guidance for Staff and Carers  
7.8 Drugs and Alcohol - Guidance for Working with Looked After Children  
7.9 Education of Looked After Children Updated
7.10 Health Promotion Policy for Looked After Children in Oxfordshire  
7.11 Incidents  
7.12 Initial Interview/Home Visit for Prospective Foster Carers Updated
7.13 Intimate Care Good Practice Guidelines  
7.14 Life Story Books  
7.15 Home Office's Identity and Passport Service - Guide to Passport Applications for Looked After Children  
7.16 Prescribed and Non-Prescribed Medicines  
7.17 Private Fostering Guidance  
7.18 Working with Sexually Active Young People under the age of 18 in Oxfordshire  
7.19 Touch Guidance  
7.20 Trans-racial Placements - Race, Culture and Identity Issues  
7.21 Practice Guidance for Working with Substance Misusing Parents and their Families  


8. Staffing

8.1 Supervision Policy  
  8.1A Supervision Policy - Summary  
8.2 A Guide to Appraisal  
8.3 Workload Management Scheme  
8.4 Statement of Conduct and Behaviour with Guidance for Staff Working in Oxfordshire's Residential Children's Homes  
8.5 Hepatitis B Vaccination - Information and Procedure  
8.6 Violence Policy and Procedure  
8.7 Management of Risk from Potentially Dangerous Service Users  


9. Appendices

9.1 Children's Services Glossary  
9.2 Local Contacts  
9.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010  
9.4 Local Keywords  
9.5 Quick Reference Guide  

End