Contents

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles May 20, 2025
2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationMay 21, 2025
3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityMay 20, 2025

1.2Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

1. 1.2.1Torbay Early HelpMay 20, 2025
2. 1.2.2Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care ServicesMay 20, 2025
3. 1.2.3Capacity and ConsentNovember 19, 2025
4. 1.2.4Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsNovember 19, 2025
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsNovember 19, 2025
3. 1.3.3Local Protocol for AssessmentTo Follow
4. 1.3.4Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)May 20, 2025
5. 1.3.5Allocation of Work and Transfer between TeamsMay 20, 2025
6. 1.3.6Guidance in Respect of the Use of Written Agreements Within the Child Protection/Child in Need ProcessesMay 20, 2025
7. 1.3.7Torbay Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsMay 21, 2025
2. 1.4.2Family Group ConferenceMay 20, 2025

1.5Legal Proceedings

1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersMay 21, 2025
2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 23, 2022
3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsAugust 19, 2024
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 RepresentationsMay 20, 2025
2. 1.6.2WhistleblowingMay 20, 2025

1.7Notifications

1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child, Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24November 19, 2025

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionJanuary 16, 2025
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsNovember 27, 2024
4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsDecember 18, 2024
6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffMay 20, 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. 3.1.1Torbay Local OfferMay 20, 2025
2. 3.1.2Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesAugust 20, 2024
3. 3.1.3Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsMay 21, 2024
4. 3.1.4Short BreaksNovember 19, 2025
5. 3.1.5Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsNovember 19, 2025
6. 3.1.6Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 2024

3.2Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

1. 3.2.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024
2. 3.2.2Deprivation of Liberty
3. 3.2.3Mental Capacity

3.3Children from Abroad

1. 3.3.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryMay 21, 2025
2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsNovember 19, 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 19, 2025

3.5Family and Friends Care

1. 3.5.1Kinship CareJanuary 17, 2025
2. 3.5.2Private FosteringMay 21, 2025
3. 3.5.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024

3.6Young Carers

1. 3.6.1Young CarersNovember 19, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenMay 21, 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 19, 2025
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterMay 21, 2025
3. 4.1.3Care PlanningMay 21, 2025
4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 19, 2023
5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceMay 21, 2025
6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsMay 21, 2025
7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenNovember 19, 2025
8. 4.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningNovember 19, 2025
9. 4.1.9Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
10. 4.1.10Health and SafetyMay 21, 2025
11. 4.1.11NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsMay 21, 2025
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsMay 21, 2025
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareMay 21, 2025
4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareSeptember 19, 2023
5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 19, 2023
6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsMay 21, 2025
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesMay 21, 2025
8. 4.2.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationNovember 19, 2025
9. 4.2.9Notification by Other Local Authorities of Cared For Children Placed in TorbayMay 21, 2025
10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersNovember 19, 2025
11. 4.2.11Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenJuly 26, 2022
2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsMay 21, 2025
3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsJanuary 17, 2025
4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersSeptember 23, 2024
5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsMay 21, 2025
6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsNovember 19, 2025

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsMay 21, 2025
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)November 19, 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 ChildrenJuly 25, 2023
2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKNovember 19, 2025
3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesMay 16, 2025

4.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansMay 21, 2025
2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJuly 26, 2022
3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour SupportNovember 19, 2025
4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintNovember 19, 2025

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildFebruary 7, 2024
2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionMay 21, 2025
2. 4.8.2Staying PutNovember 19, 2025
3. 4.8.3Care Leavers EntitlementsMay 20, 2025

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesNovember 19, 2025
2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyNovember 19, 2025
3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceNovember 19, 2025
4. 4.9.4YJB and Probation Joint National Protocol for Transitions in England
5. 4.9.5Youth Justice Board National Standards
6. 4.9.6Case Management Guidelines

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 CarersNovember 19, 2025
6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersNovember 19, 2025
8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersMay 21, 2025
2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelMay 21, 2025
3. 5.2.3Placement for AdoptionAugust 20, 2024
4. 5.2.4Adoption SupportNovember 19, 2025
5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 31, 2023
6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsNovember 28, 2023
8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedMay 21, 2025
9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsMay 21, 2025
12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsJuly 26, 2022
13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesJuly 26, 2022
14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
16. 5.2.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersMay 21, 2025
17. 5.2.17Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersNovember 19, 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. 6.0.1Scheme of Delegation and AppendicesMay 20, 2025
2. 6.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkAugust 20, 2024
3. 6.0.3Working Together to Safeguard Children
4. 6.0.4Amendments