Contents

1.All Children

1.1Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

1. 1.1.1Early Help Framework October 7, 2025
2. 1.1.2Threshold Document - Continuum of Help and Support October 7, 2025
3. 1.1.3Children's Consultation and ParticipationOctober 7, 2025
4. 1.1.4Capacity and ConsentOctober 7, 2025
5. 1.1.5Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022

1.2Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.2.1Contacts and ReferralsOctober 7, 2025
2. 1.2.2AssessmentsOctober 7, 2025
3. 1.2.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)October 7, 2025
4. 1.2.4Failure to Gain AccessOctober 7, 2025
5. 1.2.5Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Procedures

1.3Child in Need

1. 1.3.1Child in Need - Levels of Intervention (LOI)October 7, 2025
2. 1.3.2Child in Need Plans and ReviewsOctober 7, 2025

1.4Legal Proceedings

1. 1.4.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersFebruary 20, 2026
2. 1.4.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineFebruary 20, 2026
3. 1.4.3Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
4. 1.4.4Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
5. 1.4.5Family 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.

1.5Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.5.1Complaints and RepresentationsOctober 7, 2025
2. 1.5.2Whistleblowing

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)October 7, 2025

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesOctober 7, 2025
2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionOctober 7, 2025
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsApril 1, 2026
4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyOctober 7, 2025
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsDecember 18, 2024
6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffOctober 7, 2025
7. 2.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesNovember 27, 2024

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

1. 3.1.1How to access support for Children and Young People with DisabilitiesOctober 7, 2025
2. 3.1.2Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesOctober 7, 2025
3. 3.1.3Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsOctober 7, 2025
4. 3.1.4Short BreaksOctober 7, 2025
5. 3.1.5Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsOctober 7, 2025
6. 3.1.6Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkOctober 7, 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 SlaveryOctober 7, 2025
2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsOctober 7, 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 ReferOctober 7, 2025

3.5Family and Friends / Kinship Care

1. 3.5.1Kinship CareOctober 7, 2025
2. 3.5.2Private FosteringOctober 7, 2025
3. 3.5.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingOctober 7, 2025

3.6Young Carers

1. 3.6.1Young CarersOctober 7, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenOctober 7, 2025

3.8Mental Health

1. 3.8.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenApril 14, 2025
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterOctober 9, 2024
3. 4.1.3Care PlanningOctober 7, 2025
4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 19, 2023
5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceOctober 7, 2025
6. 4.1.6Permanence PolicyOctober 7, 2025
7. 4.1.7Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsJuly 25, 2023
8. 4.1.8Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenApril 1, 2026
9. 4.1.9Risk Assessment and PlanningOctober 7, 2025
10. 4.1.10Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
11. 4.1.11NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People
12. 4.1.12Promoting 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 ParentsOctober 7, 2025
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsApril 1, 2026
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareOctober 7, 2025
4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareOctober 7, 2025
5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsOctober 7, 2025
6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsSeptember 23, 2024
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesMarch 6, 2024
8. 4.2.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationOctober 7, 2025
9. 4.2.9Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersOctober 7, 2025
10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersOctober 7, 2025
11. 4.2.11Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyOctober 7, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

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

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsOctober 7, 2025
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)April 2, 2026

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 ChildrenOctober 7, 2025
2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKApril 2, 2026
3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesMarch 23, 2022

4.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansOctober 7, 2025
2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJuly 26, 2022
3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour SupportOctober 7, 2025
4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintOctober 7, 2025

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After Child in CareOctober 7, 2025
2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child in CareOctober 7, 2025

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionOctober 7, 2025
2. 4.8.2Staying PutOctober 7, 2025
3. 4.8.3Financial Arrangements for Care LeaversOctober 7, 2025

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesOctober 7, 2025
2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyOctober 7, 2025
3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceOctober 7, 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 CarersMay 21, 2024
4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersApril 2, 2026
6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersOctober 7, 2025
8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Adoption WestOctober 7, 2025
2. 5.2.2Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersOctober 7, 2025
3. 5.2.3Adoption PanelMarch 17, 2023
4. 5.2.4Placement for AdoptionOctober 7, 2025
5. 5.2.5Adoption SupportApril 2, 2026
6. 5.2.6Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 31, 2023
7. 5.2.7Adoption ReviewsOctober 7, 2025
8. 5.2.8Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsNovember 28, 2023
9. 5.2.9Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedOctober 7, 2025
10. 5.2.10Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 5.2.11Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
12. 5.2.12Adoption Case RecordsApril 2, 2026
13. 5.2.13Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsApril 2, 2026
14. 5.2.14Intermediary ServicesJuly 26, 2022
15. 5.2.15Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
16. 5.2.16Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
17. 5.2.17Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersOctober 7, 2025
18. 5.2.18Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersOctober 7, 2025
2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 23, 2024

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 6.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersTo Follow
2. 6.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkOctober 7, 2025
3. 6.0.3Local ContactsOctober 7, 2025
4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children