This chapter has been updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, to note that notifications should also be made of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24. 

• Managing Unreasonably Persistent Complainants Guidance Notes;
• Safeguarding Management Alert;
• Practice Recognition and Issue Resolution Process;
• Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After Child;
• The Leaving Care Pledge;
• Joint Protocol for Care Leavers;
• Financial Support for Care Leavers.

• Cherish.

Section 8, Court Hearings has been updated in line with A View From the President’s Chambers: Relaunching the PLO (November 2022), and that section should be re-read.

• Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children;
• Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters;
• Adoption and Permanence Panel;
• Adoption and Permanence Panel Constitution and Terms of Reference;
• Adoption Support Services;
• Assessment and Approval of Inter Country Adopters;
• Intermediary Services;
• Welfare Checklist.

• Guidance and Procedure for the Deregulation of Eligible Children.

• Brighton and Hove Policy on Missing Children;
• Brighton and Hove Missing from Home Practice Guidelines;
• Brighton and Hove Missing from Care Practice Guidelines;
• Brighton and Hove Missing from Care Practice Guidelines;
• Brighton and Hove Missing Education Practice Guidelines;
• Young People's Accommodation and Support Pathway: Missing Children (16/17 year olds) in Supported Accommodation Procedure.

• Short Breaks and Residential Support.

• Guidance for Completion of Section 47 Documents.

This policy applies to all children in care:

• Children subject to S20 accommodation (including abandoned children, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children);
• Children subject to Emergency Protection Orders;
• Children subject to Interim Care Orders, Care Orders or Placement Orders;
• Children made subject to Police Protection.

The chapter has been updated to reflect HHJ Greensmith's comments regarding M and N (Children: Local authority gathering, preserving and disclosing evidence) [2018] EWFC 40 (1 June 2018)) (see Section 9, Good Local Authority Practice During Proceedings). Please re-reference.

Note also the changes to 'Practice Direction 27a - Family Proceedings: Court Bundles (Universal Practice to be Applied in the High Court and Family Court) in relation to the required maximum length of certain court documents (unless otherwise specifically directed by the court) (see 'Principles' in Section 4, Documentation).

This chapter already links to statutory guidance:

• Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of accommodation for 16 and 17 year old young people who may be homeless and/or require accommodation (2018): this guidance is solely concerned with the functions of children's services and housing services when young people seek help from, or are referred to, local authorities because of homelessness or being threatened with homelessness. It incorporates judgements made in the House of Lords over several years around the duties of local authorities under Section 20 (Children Act 1989) and Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996. The guidance also reflects the duties introduced under the Homelessness Reduction Act (2017);

And now includes a link to:

• Homelessness - Duty to Refer: the Homelessness Reduction Act (2017) places a duty on specified public authorities to refer service users who they think may be homeless or threatened with homelessness to local authority homelessness/housing options teams.

The guidance provides helpful information and detail on the referral process which is brought out in additional links.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the designated teacher to provide support to Previously Looked After Children.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance.

These changes relate to the status of 'Previously Looked After Children'. A Previously Looked After Child is one who is no longer Looked After in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the designated teacher to provide support to Previously Looked After Children.

A Previously Looked After Child is one who is no longer Looked After in England and Wales because they are the subject of an Adoption, Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales.

This chapter has been updated to reflect amendments made by the Children and Social Work Act 2017.

These changes relate to the status of 'Previously Looked After Children' i.e. a Previously Looked After Child is one who is no longer Looked After in England and Wales because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship or child arrangements order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person, or has been adopted from 'state care' outside England and Wales.

The chapter includes a new Section 15, Mental Health and a new Section 8, Safeguarding the Looked After Child at School. A link has been added to the National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2.

This chapter has been updated in relation to placing young people in custody, see Section 4.8, How to Request a Transfer or Placement Review.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and revised statutory guidance which require schools, through the Designated Teacher for Looked After Children, to offer support to Previously Looked After Children.

• Placement with Parents.

This chapter has been comprehensively amended to reflect the Children and Social Work Act 2017 on the Leaving Care Services and Care leavers. Particularly:

• The Local Offer - all local authorities must publish up-date information about the services it offers for care leavers and other services which may assist care leavers in, or preparing for, adulthood and independent living;
• Corporate parenting: the Children and Social Work Act 2017 establishes 7 Corporate Parenting Principles, which should include and involve not only the Local Authority providing Children's Social Care services, but also District Councils (where appropriate) and partner agencies;
• Continuing Support Up to the Age of 25: all Care leavers between the ages of 21 and up to 25 will be entitled to support irrespective of whether they are in education or training. Even when they may not initially choose such support, they can return and seek support, which can be provided on specific issues or on a more comprehensive basis where this is needed.

This chapter has been updated to refresh and update a number of 'Related Guidance' links, to now include:

• Children's Commissioner, 'Preventing Child Sexual Abuse' (2017);
• College of Policing, 'Responding to Child Sexual Exploitation' - LGA, Child sexual exploitation: A resource back for councils (2017);
• Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse, Key messages from research on child sexual exploitation - research in practice, Child sexual exploitation: Practice Tool (2017).

• Section 1, Planning for Permanence has been updated and also to reflect the additional consideration (added by s.9 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amends section 1(4)(f) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002) into the list of considerations that whenever a court or adoption agency is coming to a decision relating to the adoption of a child), of the relationship which the child has with relatives, with any person who is a prospective adopter with whom the child is placed and with any other person in relation to whom the court or agency considers the relationship to be relevant;
• To emphasise 'procedural fairness' as a key aspect of the adoption planning process in respect of ensuring parents are provided with information throughout, including the dates of placement/proposed changes of a child's Status, etc. This follows the outcome of a judicial review ([2017] EWHC 1041 (Admin)) (see new Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness).

• Transition and Adult Community Learning Disability Team Protocol.

This chapter has been updated to reflect the outcome of a court judgement on Ordinary Residence that was included in DoH, Care and support statutory guidance (December 2016) (see Section 12, Funding Issues - Ordinary Residence).

Section 5.3, Assessments has been updated to include where the applicants have pets, a risk assessment should be conducted and any associated risks should be taken into account with regard to the pet itself and where the pet is kept. Where necessary, an independent assessment should be undertaken by a vet to establish whether the dog falls within the scope of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

• Brighton and Hove Early Help Partnership Strategy 2014 – 2017;
• Financial Support for 18 and 25 yr old Young People from the Support Through Care Team and Young Persons Asylum Service;
• Education and Training Support for Care Leavers aged 21 – 25 yrs in Education and Training from the Support Through Care Team and Young Person's Asylum Service.

• Combined LAC Review and Review Child Protection Conferences - The Safeguarding of Children in Care.

This chapter has been added to the manual. This chapter reflects the statutory guidance 'Ceasing to look after a child' in 'Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations (2015)' as amended by the 'Care Planning and Fostering (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2015' together with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015.

This chapter has been introduced into the manual. This chapter seeks to deal with placement of a child with carers who are dually approved, i.e. approved both as prospective adopters and as local authority foster carers and the working understanding of concurrent planning for early placement of children within legal proceedings; (please note that where concurrency or foster to adopt is being considered in a Section 20 case, legal advice should be sought).

• Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles.

This chapter has been updated to include a revised Strengthening Families Assessment which includes the age-assessment, together with two new appendices: 'UASC arrival to do list (the first day)' and 'Age Assessment Form'.

This chapter has been fully refreshed and updated to provide a succinct but effective approach to highlighting the range of arrangements and placements that can be made for children who are unable to live with their parents. The chapter also highlights the duties and responsibilities of the local authority in each instance. Links to other chapters providing greater detail on the processes and procedures are provided.

This chapter has been updated by providing new Pan Sussex Assessment Forms (see Forms): Part A: Referral Form Family & Friends Assessment; Part B: The Child's Needs; Part C: Viability Assessment of Family & Friends Carer(s); Part D: Checks & References; Part E: Family & Friends Full Assessment Report; Part F: References.

This chapter has been updated to emphasise the importance of the review focussing on the criteria for secure accommodation and ensuring relevant communication of the outcome is undertaken promptly and includes the child. Social workers should routinely notify the Placements Team of Secure Accommodation Reviews.

This policy reflects the restructuring into the social work Pods and replaces three previous chapters. The chapter covers case transfers from:

• Making a Safeguarding Enquiry and transfer points from MASH to Social Work Pods;
• Transfer from Social Work Pods to Integrated Child Development and Disability Service (ICDDS);
• Transfer from Social Work Pods to Leaving Care Team (LCT);
• Transfer to Adolescent Service.

The chapter contains a useful flow chart and details of the daily held MASH Meeting.

This procedure applies to all placements of children in foster care including placements with independent fostering agencies and children's residential care. It details the key processes required and expected both locally and nationally when seeking a Placement for a child or young person.

The chapter has 3 helpful 'How To' guides which are Appendices.

This chapter has been reviewed to add an updated Flowchart and other key information with respect to Return Interviews. The chapter has an updated definition (see Procedures to be Followed) and contains updated information throughout the chapter with respect to recording and communication.

This chapter has been updated to reflect the 2015 Statutory guidance 'Permanence, long-term foster placements and ceasing to look after a child', now included in 'The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review', a link to which has been added.

This chapter identifies the Brighton and Hove policy in respect of smoking and supplies clear guidance to residential staff, visitors to residential homes, foster carers and children who smoke.

This Policy applies to tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

This chapter has been updated in line with the 'DfE Looked-after Children: Contact with Siblings - Update to Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review'. Additional information has been added in to Section 1.4 'Actions required after a Decision to Look After is made' in relation to sibling placement.

This chapter updated to include a link to 'The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 3: Planning Transition to Adulthood for Care Leavers (January 2015)', 'South East Protocol to reduce offending and criminalisation of Children in Care Nov '13' and 'Pan Sussex Joint Protocol to Reduce the Criminalisation of Children in Care Jan '15'.

This chapter has been updated to include information about the Child Sex Offender Review (CSOR) Disclosure Scheme. This is designed to provide members of the public with a formal mechanism to ask for disclosure about people they are concerned about, who have unsupervised access to children and may therefore pose a risk.

Also, Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (which can be applied to anyone convicted or cautioned of a sexual or violent offence, including where offences are committed overseas) and Sexual Risk Orders (that can be made where a person has done an act of a sexual nature as a result of which there is reasonable cause to believe that it is necessary for such an order to be made) (see Section 10, Legislative Framework).

Additionally, new links have been added to:

• Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation Action Plan, Department for Education, 2011;
• What to do if you think a Child is being Sexually Exploited, Department for Education, 2012;
• Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups (CSEGG), Children's Commissioner, 2013;
• Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) for the 21st Century, Brook,
• PSHE Association and Sex Education Forum, 2014;
• The Foundations of Abuse: A thematic assessment of the risk of child sexual abuse by adults in institutions, CEOP, 2013; and
• CEOP website.

This chapter has been updated by adding links to the relevant Forms to undertake this task:

• Information Sheet for Potential carers;
• Pan Sussex Part A Referral Form Family & Friends assessment;
• Pan Sussex Part B: The Child's Needs;
• Pan Sussex Part C: Viability Assessment of family & Friends Carer(s);
• Pan Sussex Part D: Checks & References;
• Pan Sussex Part E: Family & Friends Full Assessment Report.

This chapter has been comprehensively updated to reflect the changes in the Statementing of Education – now referred to as Education, Health and Care Plans. In addition Section 14, Children and Young People with Medical Conditions, Section 15, Training for Those Involved in the Care and Education of Looked After Children and Section 16, Information Sharing are new.

Additionally, links have been added to updated Guidance:

• Promoting the Education of Looked After Children;
• Keeping Children Safe in Education, DfE, 2014;
• Supporting Pupils at School with Medical Conditions: Statutory Guidance from the DfE (2014);
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years – Statutory Guidance for Organisations Who Work With and Support Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (2014);
• Mental health and Behaviour in Schools: Departmental Advice for School Staff.

This chapter replaced the previous chapter in entirety. The chapter contains two links to documents that detail the importance and purpose of 'Life story work' for a child, viz helping them to understand their past, present and future, as well as acknowledging the legal imperative for this work. This work needs to be carried out several times during the child's life as they mature and need to have different levels of information and understanding about themselves.

This document reflects the formal agreement of working practice between Children's Social Work and the Youth Offending Service (YOS).