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See Local Resources for St. Helens Local Documents and Protocols.

Note: All YJS staff are PACE trained as Appropriate Adults and offer a rolling programme of AA training to social workers and Care Home staff in the Borough. To access a place please refer to the Training Hub on Teams.

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1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

  1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles December 2, 2024
  2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationDecember 17, 2024
  3. 1.1.3Equality, Diversity and InclusionDecember 17, 2024
  4. 1.1.4Supervision Policy for Staff in Children's Social CareDecember 2, 2024
  5. 1.1.5Team MeetingsDecember 2, 2024
  6. 1.1.6Progression Panel Process and Guidance

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

  1. 1.2.1Multi-Agency Practice StandardsDecember 2, 2024
  2. 1.2.2Multi-Agency Think Family ProcedureDecember 2, 2024
  3. 1.2.3Multi-Agency Early Help Strategy for Children, Young People and Families in St. HelensDecember 2, 2024
  4. 1.2.4Appendix A: Early Help (EH) Plan on a page, St. Helens Multi-Agency Procedures (SHSCP)December 2, 2024
  5. 1.2.5St. Helens CSC Quality Assurance FrameworkDecember 2, 2024
  6. 1.2.6St. Helens Descriptions of Need DocumentDecember 2, 2024
  7. 1.2.7Capacity and ConsentMay 21, 2024
  8. 1.2.8Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsDecember 2, 2024
  2. 1.3.2AssessmentsApril 24, 2025
  3. 1.3.3Child and Family Assessment Protocol and GuidanceApril 24, 2025
  4. 1.3.4Children and Families Assessment: Practice StandardsDecember 2, 2024
  5. 1.3.5Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)December 2, 2024
  6. 1.3.6Case Transfer & Allocation ProtocolDecember 2, 2024
  7. 1.3.7Case Management Pathway for Team ManagersDecember 2, 2024
  8. 1.3.8St. Helens Multi-Agency Procedures

1.4Child in Need

  1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsDecember 17, 2024

1.5Legal Proceedings

  1. 1.5.1St. Helens Legal GatewayDecember 2, 2024
  2. 1.5.2Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersDecember 3, 2024
  3. 1.5.3Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 23, 2022
  4. 1.5.4Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsDecember 2, 2024
  5. 1.5.5Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
  6. 1.5.6Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
  7. 1.5.7Family 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 RepresentationsDecember 17, 2024
  2. 1.6.2Whistleblowing - Confidential Reporting PolicyDecember 2, 2024
  3. 1.6.3Whistleblowing Helpline - Speak Up
  4. 1.6.4Raising Concerns at Work
  5. 1.6.5Public Concern at Work

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 24)December 3, 2024

2.Case Management and Recording

  1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
  2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionDecember 2, 2024
  3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsDecember 17, 2024
  4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
  5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsDecember 17, 2024
  6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffDecember 3, 2024
  7. 2.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesNovember 27, 2024

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities

  1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
    Updated
    April 24, 2025
  2. 3.1.2What is a Direct Payment / Personal Budget?
    Updated
    April 24, 2025
  3. 3.1.3Short BreaksDecember 3, 2024
  4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsAugust 20, 2024
  5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkApril 24, 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 Slavery
    Updated
    April 24, 2025
  2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsDecember 3, 2024

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 ReferDecember 3, 2024

3.5Family and Friends/Kinship Care

  1. 3.5.1St. Helens Connected Carers PolicyDecember 2, 2024
  2. 3.5.2St. Helens Family Arrangements ProtocolDecember 2, 2024
  3. 3.5.3Kinship CareDecember 3, 2024
  4. 3.5.4St. Helens Private Fostering GuidanceDecember 2, 2024
  5. 3.5.5Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024

3.6Young Carers

  1. 3.6.1Young CarersApril 24, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

  1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenDecember 17, 2024

3.8Safeguarding

  1. 3.8.1Missing Children ProtocolDecember 2, 2024
  2. 3.8.2St. Helens Child Criminal and Sexual Exploitation FlowchartDecember 2, 2024
  3. 3.8.3Pan Merseyside Multi-Agency Child Exploitation ProtocolDecember 2, 2024

3.9Mental Health

  1. 3.9.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983April 24, 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 ChildrenDecember 3, 2024
  2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterDecember 3, 2024
  3. 4.1.3Care PlanningDecember 3, 2024
  4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildApril 24, 2025
  5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceDecember 3, 2024
  6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsDecember 3, 2024
  7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenDecember 17, 2024
  8. 4.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 23, 2022
  9. 4.1.9Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
  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 ParentsDecember 17, 2024
  2. 4.2.2Placements in Foster CareDecember 17, 2024
  3. 4.2.3Placements in Children's HomesSeptember 19, 2023
  4. 4.2.4Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 19, 2023
  5. 4.2.5Out of Area PlacementsDecember 17, 2024
  6. 4.2.6Placements Outside England and WalesDecember 17, 2024
  7. 4.2.7Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationDecember 3, 2024
  8. 4.2.8Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersSeptember 23, 2024
  9. 4.2.9Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersDecember 3, 2024
  10. 4.2.10Placements in Other ArrangementsApril 24, 2025
  11. 4.2.11Health and Safety
    Updated
    April 24, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

  1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenDecember 17, 2024
  2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsDecember 3, 2024
  3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsApril 24, 2025
  4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersSeptember 23, 2024
  5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsDecember 17, 2024
  6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsAugust 19, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

  1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsDecember 17, 2024
  2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)December 17, 2024

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 UKApril 17, 2024
  3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesDecember 3, 2024

4.6Health and Wellbeing

  1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansMay 1, 2024
  2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJuly 26, 2022
  3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementDecember 3, 2024
  4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintDecember 3, 2024

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 TransitionDecember 3, 2024
  2. 4.8.2Staying PutDecember 3, 2024
  3. 4.8.3Financial Arrangements for Care LeaversDecember 2, 2024

4.9Youth Offending

  1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesDecember 3, 2024
  2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyDecember 3, 2024
  3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance
    Updated
    April 24, 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 Carers
    Updated
    April 24, 2025
  4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
  5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersDecember 3, 2024
  6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersDecember 3, 2024
  7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster Carers
    Updated
    April 24, 2025
  8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services (Together for Adoption Procedures Manual)

  1. 5.2.1Together for Adoption
    Updated
    April 24, 2025
  2. 5.2.2Assessment and Approvals of Prospective AdoptersDecember 17, 2024
  3. 5.2.3Adoption by Existing Foster CarersDecember 2, 2024
  4. 5.2.4Adoption PanelDecember 17, 2024
  5. 5.2.5Placement for AdoptionAugust 20, 2024
  6. 5.2.6Family Finding Role and ProcedureDecember 2, 2024
  7. 5.2.7Court Reports in AdoptionDecember 2, 2024
  8. 5.2.8Adoption SupportDecember 17, 2024
  9. 5.2.9Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsDecember 17, 2024
  10. 5.2.10Adoption ReviewsDecember 17, 2024
  11. 5.2.11Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsDecember 17, 2024
  12. 5.2.12Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedDecember 17, 2024
  13. 5.2.13Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
  14. 5.2.14Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
  15. 5.2.15Adoption Case RecordsDecember 17, 2024
  16. 5.2.16Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsDecember 17, 2024
  17. 5.2.17Intermediary ServicesDecember 17, 2024
  18. 5.2.18Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
  19. 5.2.19Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
  20. 5.2.20Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersDecember 17, 2024
  21. 5.2.21Lone Working ProcedureDecember 2, 2024
  22. 5.2.22Disaster Recovery PlanDecember 2, 2024

5.3Special Guardianship

  1. 5.3.1Special Guardianship PolicyDecember 2, 2024

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

  1. 6.0.1Local ContactsDecember 2, 2024
  2. 6.0.2Scheme of Delegated Decision-Making FrameworkDecember 2, 2024
  3. 6.0.3Ofsted Inspection FrameworkAugust 20, 2024
  4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
  5. 6.0.5North West Regional Protocols Resource
  6. 6.0.6Amendments

Last Updated: April 24, 2025

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