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1.All Children

1.1Core Documents

  1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles
    Updated
    November 6, 2024
  2. 1.1.2Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022

1.2Case Management and Recording

  1. 1.2.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesMay 31, 2024
  2. 1.2.2Case Records and RetentionMarch 14, 2024
  3. 1.2.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsMay 1, 2025
  4. 1.2.4Confidentiality PolicyNovember 6, 2024
  5. 1.2.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsMay 31, 2024
  6. 1.2.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffNovember 6, 2024
  7. 1.2.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesMay 1, 2025

1.3Complaints and Whistleblowing

  1. 1.3.1Complaints and RepresentationsMarch 14, 2024
  2. 1.3.2Social Care Staff: Confidential Reporting Policy (Whistleblowing)March 14, 2024

1.4Child Voice

  1. 1.4.1Children's Consultation and ParticipationMay 31, 2024
  2. 1.4.2Direct Work Tools/GuidanceMarch 14, 2024
  3. 1.4.3Life Story Books GuidanceNovember 6, 2024

2.Early Help/Contact and Referrals

  1. 2.0.1Contacts and ReferralsNovember 6, 2024
  2. 2.0.2Integrated Prevention and Earliest Help (IPEH) ServicesMarch 14, 2024
  3. 2.0.3West Sussex Threshold Guidance and Continuum of NeedMay 1, 2025

3.Assessment and Planning

  1. 3.0.1AssessmentsNovember 6, 2024
  2. 3.0.2Capacity and ConsentMarch 14, 2024
  3. 3.0.3Family Network MeetingsMarch 14, 2024

4.Child in Need

  1. 4.0.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsMarch 14, 2024
  2. 4.0.2Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983November 6, 2024
  3. 4.0.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingNovember 6, 2024
  4. 4.0.4Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryMay 1, 2025
  5. 4.0.5Families with No Recourse to Public FundsMay 31, 2024
  6. 4.0.6Relinquished ChildrenNovember 6, 2024
  7. 4.0.7Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferMarch 6, 2024
  8. 4.0.8Young CarersMay 1, 2025
  9. 4.0.9Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, and Child In Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)May 31, 2024

5.Child Protection

  1. 5.0.1Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)
    Updated
    November 6, 2024
  2. 5.0.2Children Who Go Missing/At Risk of ExploitationMarch 14, 2024
  3. 5.0.3Pan Sussex Child Protection and Safeguarding ProceduresMarch 14, 2024
  4. 5.0.4West Sussex SCP GuidanceMarch 14, 2024
  5. 5.0.5Sussex Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Procedures

6.Pre Proceedings and Court Work

  1. 6.0.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersMay 31, 2024
  2. 6.0.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline
    Updated
    November 6, 2024
  3. 6.0.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsMay 31, 2024
  4. 6.0.4Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
  5. 6.0.5Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS)
  6. 6.0.6Cross-border Child Protection Cases: The 1996 Hague Convention

7.Children Looked After

7.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  1. 7.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Children Looked AfterMay 1, 2025
  2. 7.1.2Decision to Look AfterNovember 6, 2024
  3. 7.1.3Care Planning
    Updated
    July 18, 2025
  4. 7.1.4Ceasing to Look After a Child
    Updated
    November 6, 2024
  5. 7.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceMarch 14, 2024
  6. 7.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsMarch 14, 2024
  7. 7.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Children Looked AfterMarch 14, 2024
  8. 7.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 6, 2024
  9. 7.1.9Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022

7.2Placements

  1. 7.2.1Placements with ParentsMarch 14, 2024
  2. 7.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsNovember 6, 2024
  3. 7.2.3Placements in Foster CareNovember 6, 2024
  4. 7.2.4Placements in Residential CareNovember 6, 2024
  5. 7.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsMay 31, 2024
  6. 7.2.6Out of Area PlacementsMarch 14, 2024
  7. 7.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesMarch 14, 2024
  8. 7.2.8Placements in Other ArrangementsMay 31, 2024
  9. 7.2.9Health and SafetyMay 1, 2025
  10. 7.2.10Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationMay 31, 2024
  11. 7.2.11Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersMarch 14, 2024
  12. 7.2.12Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersMarch 14, 2024

7.3Monitoring and Reviews

  1. 7.3.1Social Worker Visits to Children Looked AfterMarch 14, 2024
  2. 7.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsMay 31, 2024
  3. 7.3.3Looked After ReviewsMay 1, 2025
  4. 7.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersMarch 14, 2024
  5. 7.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsMarch 14, 2024
  6. 7.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsMay 31, 2024
  7. 7.3.7Quality AssuranceMarch 14, 2024

7.4Contact and Overnight Stays

  1. 7.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsMarch 14, 2024
  2. 7.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)March 14, 2024

7.5Education, School Trips and Holidays

  1. 7.5.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenMay 1, 2025
  2. 7.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside of the UKMarch 14, 2024
  3. 7.5.3Leisure ActivitiesMarch 6, 2024

7.6Health and Wellbeing

  1. 7.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansMarch 14, 2024
  2. 7.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsMarch 14, 2024
  3. 7.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
  4. 7.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintJuly 26, 2022

7.7Change of Name and Marriage

  1. 7.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildMay 31, 2024
  2. 7.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023

8.Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  1. 8.0.1Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceMay 1, 2025
  2. 8.0.2Children Looked After and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesMay 31, 2024
  3. 8.0.3Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Children Looked After and Young People in CustodyMarch 14, 2024

9.Children with Disabilities

  1. 9.0.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMay 1, 2025
  2. 9.0.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsNovember 6, 2024
  3. 9.0.3Short BreaksNovember 6, 2024
  4. 9.0.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsMay 1, 2025
  5. 9.0.5Mental Capacity
  6. 9.0.6Deprivation of Liberty

10.Kinship and Connected Carers

  1. 10.0.1Kinship CareMay 31, 2024
  2. 10.0.2Private FosteringMay 31, 2024
  3. 10.0.3Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersMay 31, 2024
  4. 10.0.4Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceMarch 14, 2024

11.Fostering

  1. 11.0.1WSCC Fostering WebsiteMay 31, 2024
  2. 11.0.2Fostering PanelMarch 6, 2024
  3. 11.0.3Persons Disqualified from FosteringMarch 14, 2024
  4. 11.0.4Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersMay 1, 2025
  5. 11.0.5Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalMarch 14, 2024
  6. 11.0.6Supervision and Support of Foster CarersMarch 14, 2024
  7. 11.0.7Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersMarch 14, 2024
  8. 11.0.8Allegations Against Foster CarersMay 1, 2025
  9. 11.0.9Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022

12.Adoption

  1. 12.0.1South East AdoptionMarch 14, 2024
  2. 12.0.2Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersMay 1, 2025
  3. 12.0.3Adoption PanelMarch 17, 2023
  4. 12.0.4Placement for AdoptionMay 1, 2025
  5. 12.0.5Adoption SupportMarch 6, 2024
  6. 12.0.6Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 31, 2023
  7. 12.0.7Adoption ReviewsMarch 14, 2024
  8. 12.0.8Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsNovember 28, 2023
  9. 12.0.9Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedMay 1, 2025
  10. 12.0.10Inter Country AdoptionNovember 6, 2024
  11. 12.0.11Non Agency AdoptionNovember 6, 2024
  12. 12.0.12Adoption Case RecordsMarch 14, 2024
  13. 12.0.13Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsMarch 14, 2024
  14. 12.0.14Intermediary ServicesMarch 14, 2024
  15. 12.0.15Later Life LettersNovember 6, 2024
  16. 12.0.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersAugust 25, 2023

13.Preparation for Adulthood and Leaving Care

  1. 13.0.1Leaving Care and TransitionMay 1, 2025
  2. 13.0.2Staying PutNovember 6, 2024

14.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

  1. 14.0.1Scheme of Delegated Decision MakingMarch 14, 2024
  2. 14.0.2List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersMarch 6, 2024
  3. 14.0.3Social Work Learning ResourcesMay 1, 2025
  4. 14.0.4West Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board (WSSAB)March 14, 2024
  5. 14.0.5Ofsted Inspection FrameworkMay 1, 2025
  6. 14.0.6Supervision PolicyMarch 14, 2024
  7. 14.0.7Working Together to Safeguard Children
  8. 14.0.8Amendments

Last Updated: May 1, 2025

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