Policies and Procedures

1.All Children

1.1All Children

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles March 19, 2026
2. 1.1.2A Strengths Based ApproachMay 10, 2024
3. 1.1.3Diversity and HeritageMarch 20, 2025
4. 1.1.4Diversity and Heritage PledgesMarch 20, 2025
5. 1.1.5Children's Consultation and ParticipationMay 20, 2024
6. 1.1.6Capacity and ConsentMarch 20, 2025
7. 1.1.7Children at Risk of Exploitation - Workflow and Guidance
   Updated
   March 19, 2026
8. 1.1.8Modern Slavery Act - Duty to Notify (NRM)May 10, 2024
9. 1.1.9Information Governance and Subject Access RequestsMarch 19, 2026
10. 1.1.10Case Records and RetentionMay 10, 2024
11. 1.1.11Derbyshire Probation Trust Information Sharing AgreementMay 10, 2024
12. 1.1.12Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffMay 10, 2024
13. 1.1.13Serious Incident PolicySeptember 2, 2024
14. 1.1.14Social Work AllocationMay 20, 2024
15. 1.1.15Transfer of Cases Protocol - Localities, Reception, IDCS and Children in CareMay 10, 2024
16. 1.1.16Joint Runaway and Missing from Home or Care ProtocolMay 10, 2024
17. 1.1.17Supervision PolicyMay 20, 2024
18. 1.1.18Derby People's Services Department - Children's Workforce StrategyMay 10, 2024
19. 1.1.19Family Group ConferencingMay 20, 2024
20. 1.1.20Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol

1.2Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.2.1Complaints and RepresentationsMay 10, 2024
2. 1.2.2Confidential Reporting Code (Whistleblowing)March 20, 2025
3. 1.2.3Have your Say - Customer Feedback LeafletMay 10, 2024

2.Prevention and Early Intervention

1. 2.0.1Derby City and Derbyshire Thresholds GuidanceMarch 19, 2026
2. 2.0.2Early Help Assessment and ProcessesMarch 19, 2026
3. 2.0.3Guidance for Completing a Family Early Help AssessmentMay 10, 2024
4. 2.0.4Early Help Case Work Guidance - for MAT Teams and Children's Centre StaffMay 20, 2024
5. 2.0.5Staying Together TeamMay 20, 2024
6. 2.0.6Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryMarch 20, 2025
7. 2.0.7Families with No Recourse to Public Funds
   Updated
   March 19, 2026
8. 2.0.8Derby City Council Intentionally Homeless Protocol (including flowchart)May 10, 2024
9. 2.0.9Derby City and Derbyshire Joint Multi Agency Protocol for Pre Birth Assessments and InterventionsMay 10, 2024
10. 2.0.10Children at Risk of Exploitation (CRE)May 10, 2024
11. 2.0.11Supporting FamiliesMay 20, 2024
12. 2.0.12Children’s CentresMay 10, 2024
13. 2.0.13Young Carers
    Updated
    March 19, 2026
14. 2.0.14Relinquished ChildrenMarch 19, 2026
15. 2.0.15Children Missing Education PolicyMay 10, 2024
16. 2.0.16Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

3.Children in Need

3.1Contacts Referrals and Assessments

1. 3.1.1Social Care Single Assessment GuidanceMay 20, 2024
2. 3.1.2Initial Response Team: Children's ServicesMay 10, 2024
3. 3.1.3Derby City Initial Response Team FlowchartMay 10, 2024
4. 3.1.4Derby City Care Line: Out of Hours Social Care Service Protocol with Area TeamsMay 20, 2024
5. 3.1.5Processing Section 7 Requests from Court and CAFCASSMay 10, 2024
6. 3.1.6Child in Need Plans, Work and ReviewsMarch 20, 2025
7. 3.1.7Local Protocol for Assessments (Derby and Derbyshire SCP)September 2, 2025

3.2Homeless 16 and 17 Year Olds

1. 3.2.1Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferSeptember 2, 2025
2. 3.2.2Derby City's Joint Housing Protocol for 16 and 17 Year OldsSeptember 2, 2025
3. 3.2.3Derby City Council CSC Procedure – S.17 Children Living IndependentlyMay 20, 2024
4. 3.2.4Young People at the Risk of HomelessnessSeptember 2, 2025

3.3Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

1. 3.3.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)March 20, 2025
2. 3.3.2Integrated Disabled Children's ServiceMay 20, 2024
3. 3.3.3Integrated Disabled Children's Service Eligibility CriteriaMay 10, 2024
4. 3.3.4Direct PaymentsMarch 20, 2025
5. 3.3.5Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsSeptember 2, 2025
6. 3.3.6Medicines ManagementMay 10, 2024
7. 3.3.7Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint
   Updated
   March 19, 2026
8. 3.3.8A Guide to Parent Carers Needs AssessmentsMay 10, 2024
9. 3.3.9Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkSeptember 2, 2024

3.4Short Breaks

1. 3.4.1Short BreaksMarch 19, 2026

3.5Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

1. 3.5.1Deprivation of Liberty
2. 3.5.2Mental Capacity

3.6Mental Health

1. 3.6.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983March 20, 2025

4.Significant Harm

1. 4.0.1AIM3 Assessment ProcessSeptember 2, 2024
2. 4.0.2Working with Harmful Sexual BehaviourMay 10, 2024
3. 4.0.3Child Protection Cases under the 1996 Hague ConventionMay 20, 2024
4. 4.0.4Section 47 EnquiriesSeptember 2, 2024
5. 4.0.5Participation in Child Protection ConferencesMay 10, 2024
6. 4.0.6Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersMay 13, 2024
7. 4.0.7Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineMarch 19, 2026
8. 4.0.8Legal Gateway MeetingsMay 13, 2024
9. 4.0.9Supervision OrdersMay 10, 2024
10. 4.0.10Guidance RE: Publicity when Children are Subject to Care or Adoption ProceedingsMay 10, 2024
11. 4.0.11Death of or Serious Injury to a Child (Up to and Including the Age of 24)Under Review
12. 4.0.12Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures
13. 4.0.13Working Together to Safeguard Children

5.Children Away from Home with Friends and Family

1. 5.0.1Private FosteringSeptember 2, 2025
2. 5.0.2Relative, Friend or other Person Connected with the Child: Who Should be Considered?May 10, 2024
3. 5.0.3Family and Friends PolicySeptember 2, 2024
4. 5.0.4Kinship CareMarch 19, 2026
5. 5.0.5Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingSeptember 2, 2024
6. 5.0.6Child Arrangements Orders and Derby Support SchemeMarch 19, 2026
7. 5.0.7Placements with Connected PersonsSeptember 2, 2024
8. 5.0.8Placements with ParentsMarch 20, 2025
9. 5.0.9Looked After Children Exit Team: Practice Guidance/ProtocolMay 20, 2024
10. 5.0.10Applications for Special Guardianship Orders
    Updated
    March 19, 2026
11. 5.0.11Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceMay 20, 2024
12. 5.0.12Special Guardianship Orders and Derby Support SchemeMarch 19, 2026

6.Children in Care

1. 6.0.1Our Pledge to Children in CareMay 10, 2024

6.1Care Planning and Family Time

1. 6.1.1The Provision of Accommodation for Children through Voluntary AgreementMay 20, 2024
2. 6.1.2Decision to Look AfterSeptember 2, 2024
3. 6.1.3Care PlanningMay 20, 2024
4. 6.1.4Family Time with Parents, other Adults and Siblings
   Updated
   March 19, 2026
5. 6.1.5Guidance on the Admission of Children to Care, Placement Planning and ReviewMarch 19, 2026
6. 6.1.6Children in Care Placements Commissioning and Sufficiency StrategyUnder Review
7. 6.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children
   Updated
   March 19, 2026
8. 6.1.8NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

6.2Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 6.2.1Youth Offending Service and Children’s Social CareMay 20, 2024
2. 6.2.2Children in Care in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesMay 20, 2024
3. 6.2.3Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation
   Updated
   March 19, 2026
4. 6.2.4Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 2, 2024
5. 6.2.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsMay 10, 2024
6. 6.2.6Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceSeptember 2, 2025
7. 6.2.7HMPPS Child Safeguarding Policy Framework

6.3Placements

1. 6.3.1Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsMay 10, 2024
2. 6.3.2Placements in Foster CareSeptember 2, 2024
3. 6.3.3Placements in Residential CareSeptember 2, 2024
4. 6.3.4Out of Area PlacementsMay 20, 2024
5. 6.3.5Placements Outside England and WalesMay 10, 2024
6. 6.3.6Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
7. 6.3.7Derby City Supported Accommodation for Older Children/Semi-Independent Living ProceduresMay 10, 2024

6.4Monitoring and Reviews

1. 6.4.1Social Worker Visits to Children in CareMay 20, 2024
2. 6.4.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsMay 10, 2024
3. 6.4.3Looked After ReviewsMarch 20, 2025
4. 6.4.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersMay 20, 2024
5. 6.4.5Meeting the Needs of Looked After Children - Aide MemoireMay 10, 2024
6. 6.4.6Notifications of Significant EventsMarch 20, 2025

6.5Education and Trips

1. 6.5.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenSeptember 2, 2024
2. 6.5.2Holidays and School Trips in England/Wales
   Updated
   March 19, 2026
3. 6.5.3Holidays and School Trips Outside England/Wales
   Updated
   March 19, 2026

6.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 6.6.1Health Assessments and PlansSeptember 2, 2024
2. 6.6.2Providing Personalised CareMay 10, 2024
3. 6.6.3Medication RecordMay 10, 2024
4. 6.6.4Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service - For Looked After ChildrenMay 10, 2024
5. 6.6.5Change of Name of a Child in Care (including Naming Relinquished Babies)September 2, 2024
6. 6.6.6Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child in CareMay 10, 2024
7. 6.6.7Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)May 13, 2024
8. 6.6.8Leisure ActivitiesSeptember 2, 2025
9. 6.6.9Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersMay 20, 2024
10. 6.6.10Health and SafetyMarch 20, 2025
11. 6.6.11o: Promoting Wellbeing and Positive Identity for a Child or Young Person Who is Looked After: A Quick Guide for Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners

6.7Leaving Care

1. 6.7.1Charter for Care Leavers (DfE)May 10, 2024
2. 6.7.2Our Pledge to Children in CareMay 10, 2024
3. 6.7.3Leaving Care and TransitionSeptember 2, 2025
4. 6.7.4Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyMay 13, 2024
5. 6.7.5Staying PutMarch 19, 2026
6. 6.7.6Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 2, 2024
7. 6.7.7Leaving Care Financial ProceduresMay 10, 2024
8. 6.7.8Health Offer for Care Experienced Young People Practitioner

7.Fostering Services

1. 7.0.1Fostering PanelSeptember 2, 2025
2. 7.0.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringMay 20, 2024
3. 7.0.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersMarch 20, 2025
4. 7.0.4Exemptions and Changes of ApprovalMay 13, 2024
5. 7.0.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersMay 13, 2024
6. 7.0.6Review of Foster CarersSeptember 2, 2025
7. 7.0.7Managing Allegations Against Foster CarersMarch 20, 2025
8. 7.0.8Personal Care and Relationships (Guidance for Foster Carers)May 20, 2024
9. 7.0.9Positive Relationships and Behaviour Support
   Updated
   March 19, 2026
10. 7.0.10Placement with Dog Owning Families (Foster Carers)May 20, 2024
11. 7.0.11Foster Care AllowanceSeptember 2, 2024
12. 7.0.12Payment for SkillsMay 20, 2024
13. 7.0.13Derby City Foster Carers HandbookMay 10, 2024
14. 7.0.14Fostering Services National Minimum Standards

8.Adoption

1. 8.0.1Adoption PanelMay 10, 2024
2. 8.0.2Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersMay 10, 2024
3. 8.0.3Placement for AdoptionSeptember 2, 2025
4. 8.0.4Adoption Support
   Updated
   March 19, 2026
5. 8.0.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsMay 10, 2024
6. 8.0.6Adoption ReviewsMay 10, 2024
7. 8.0.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsMay 10, 2024
8. 8.0.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedSeptember 2, 2025
9. 8.0.9Inter Country AdoptionSeptember 2, 2024
10. 8.0.10Non Agency AdoptionSeptember 2, 2024
11. 8.0.11Intermediary ServicesMay 20, 2024
12. 8.0.12Adoption Case RecordsMay 10, 2024
13. 8.0.13Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsMay 10, 2024
14. 8.0.14Life Story Books/My Life, My Journey WorkSeptember 2, 2024
15. 8.0.15Later Life LettersSeptember 2, 2024
16. 8.0.16Adoption Tracking MeetingMay 20, 2024
17. 8.0.17The Adoption Decision Process in relation to Child Permanence ReportsMay 10, 2024
18. 8.0.18Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersMay 10, 2024
19. 8.0.19Adoption National Minimum Standards
20. 8.0.20Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

9.Permanence

1. 9.0.1Derby City Council Permanency Policy
   Updated
   March 19, 2026

10.Appendices

1. 10.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersMarch 20, 2025
2. 10.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkMarch 20, 2025
3. 10.0.3National Social Care Framework
4. 10.0.4Amendments