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Working Together To Safeguard Children 2026 Update.

The Mental Health Act 2025 Reforms.

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For Procedures relating to Child Protection (e.g. Referrals, S47, Child Protection Conferences, Safeguarding Guidance) and East of England Joint Protocol on Children Subject to Child Protection Plan Moving Between Local Authority Boundaries, please see the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures.

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1.Policy, Strategy and Principles

  1. 1.0.1Children’s Services Policies, Strategy and PrinciplesNovember 5, 2025
  2. 1.0.2The Hertfordshire Policy Statement on the Education of Children Looked AfterNovember 5, 2025
  3. 1.0.3Equality and DiversityNovember 5, 2025
  4. 1.0.4Ofsted and Need to Know NotificationsFebruary 18, 2025
  5. 1.0.5Scheme of Delegation to OfficersFebruary 18, 2025
  6. 1.0.6Complaints and RepresentationsFebruary 18, 2025
  7. 1.0.7WhistleblowingMay 20, 2025
  8. 1.0.8Social Media PolicyFebruary 18, 2025
  9. 1.0.9Hertfordshire Outcome Framework for Children, Young People and FamiliesFebruary 18, 2025
  10. 1.0.10Capacity and ConsentNovember 5, 2025
  11. 1.0.11Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesTo Follow
  12. 1.0.12Mental Capacity ActUnder Review

2.Case Management and Recording

  1. 2.0.1Children/Young People and Families Record-KeepingMay 20, 2025
  2. 2.0.2Access to RecordsNovember 5, 2025
  3. 2.0.3Case Retention and Destruction of RecordsNovember 5, 2025
  4. 2.0.4Liquidlogic Children's System Livelink GuidanceFebruary 18, 2025
  5. 2.0.5Professional SupervisionFebruary 18, 2025
  6. 2.0.6Personal Safety and Lone Working GuidanceNovember 5, 2025
  7. 2.0.7Management Reviews: Single Agency, Multi-Agency and ExternalUnder Review
  8. 2.0.8Children's Practitioners Case AllocationUnder Review
  9. 2.0.9Student Social Workers Case AllocationFebruary 18, 2025
  10. 2.0.10Managing Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Information and MinutesUnder Review
  11. 2.0.11Managing Incoming Correspondence for Client Files (Open and Closed)May 20, 2025
  12. 2.0.12Guidance for Parents and Carers - Recording MeetingsFebruary 18, 2025
  13. 2.0.13Case Escalation ProcessNovember 5, 2025
  14. 2.0.14Case Allocation Escalation Resolution Process Between TeamsUnder Review
  15. 2.0.15Step Up/Step Down Process and Transfer Protocol - Practitioner GuidanceFebruary 18, 2025
  16. 2.0.16Children’s Services Safeguarding Out of Hours Service (CS SOOHS) InvolvementMay 20, 2025
  17. 2.0.17The Voice of the Child and FamilyUnder Review
  18. 2.0.18Audit Escalation PolicyFebruary 18, 2025
  19. 2.0.19Children’s Services PanelsMay 20, 2025

3.Children in Need and Safeguarding

3.1Referrals and Assessments

  1. 3.1.1Continuum of NeedMay 20, 2025
  2. 3.1.2Families First and Early HelpFebruary 18, 2025
  3. 3.1.3Contacts and ReferralsFebruary 18, 2025
  4. 3.1.4Child and Family AssessmentsUnder Review
  5. 3.1.5Chronologies and Historical InformationFebruary 18, 2025
  6. 3.1.6Consent to Information SharingFebruary 18, 2025
  7. 3.1.7Hertfordshire Family Safeguarding Service: Guide to Information SharingFebruary 18, 2025
  8. 3.1.8Family Safeguarding LCS WorkbookFebruary 18, 2025
  9. 3.1.9Safeguarding Referrals for Children- New and Open to the Adoption ServiceJune 2, 2025
  10. 3.1.10Processing Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) TasksFebruary 18, 2025
  11. 3.1.11Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

3.2Child in Need Planning and Review

  1. 3.2.1Hertfordshire Multi-Agency Children in Need Protocol and ProceduresFebruary 18, 2025
  2. 3.2.2Written Communication with Children and Young PeopleFebruary 18, 2025
  3. 3.2.3Direct Work with Children & Young PeopleFebruary 18, 2025
  4. 3.2.4Independent Chair – Child In Need (IC-CIN)February 18, 2025

3.3Support to Families

  1. 3.3.1Section 17 and Financial Support for Children and FamiliesUnder Review
  2. 3.3.2Family Network and Family Group Decision Making Procedure (including Family Group Conferences)November 5, 2025

3.4Court Proceedings

  1. 3.4.1Court ProceedingsNovember 5, 2025
  2. 3.4.2Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersFebruary 19, 2025
  3. 3.4.3Public Law OutlineUnder Review
  4. 3.4.4Legal Planning MeetingsMay 20, 2025
  5. 3.4.5Private Law Applications (including Section 7 and Section 37 Reports)November 5, 2025
  6. 3.4.6Summary of Court OrdersNovember 5, 2025
  7. 3.4.7AppealsFebruary 18, 2025
  8. 3.4.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationFebruary 21, 2025
  9. 3.4.9Parents Travel Costs Relating to Court ProceedingsNovember 5, 2025
  10. 3.4.10East of England Joint Protocol on Supervision OrdersUnder Review
  11. 3.4.11Child Arrangements OrdersNovember 5, 2025
  12. 3.4.12Family Assistance OrderNovember 5, 2025

3.5Safeguarding

  1. 3.5.1Death or Serious Injury to a ChildNovember 5, 2025
  2. 3.5.2CS0541PGN Need to Know Notifications and Death or Serious Injury to a ChildFebruary 18, 2025
  3. 3.5.3Transporting ChildrenNovember 5, 2025
  4. 3.5.4International Cross Border Child Protection CasesFebruary 18, 2025

4.Children in Particular Circumstances

  1. 4.0.1Young CarersNovember 5, 2025
  2. 4.0.2Separated Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryNovember 5, 2025
  3. 4.0.3Age AssessmentNovember 5, 2025
  4. 4.0.4Young People with Mental Health DifficultiesUnder Review
  5. 4.0.5Homeless 16 and 17 Year OldsFebruary 18, 2025
  6. 4.0.6Families with No Recourse to Public FundsFebruary 19, 2025
  7. 4.0.7Withdrawal of UK Visas and Immigration Support for Asylum Seekers with FamiliesUnder Review
  8. 4.0.8Children and Young People Who Go Missing from Home or Care, or Who are Vulnerable to Sexual ExploitationFebruary 18, 2025
  9. 4.0.9Appropriate Language: Child Sexual and/or Criminal Exploitation Guidance for ProfessionalsFebruary 18, 2025
  10. 4.0.10Children Missing from EducationUnder Review
  11. 4.0.11Hertfordshire's Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual ExploitationFebruary 18, 2025
  12. 4.0.12Suicidal Thoughts and BehavioursFebruary 18, 2025
  13. 4.0.13The Prevent GuidanceFebruary 18, 2025
  14. 4.0.14Gender IdentityMay 20, 2025
  15. 4.0.15Deprivations of LibertyNovember 5, 2025

4.1Homeless Families with Children

  1. 4.1.1Hertfordshire Joint Housing Needs Protocol

4.2Shared Care for Disabled Children

  1. 4.2.1Shared Care Process Pack: Statement of Purpose and Supporting DocumentsFebruary 18, 2025

5.0-25 Together Service & Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

  1. 5.0.10-25 Together ServiceNovember 5, 2025
  2. 5.0.2Carer's AssessmentFebruary 18, 2025
  3. 5.0.3Direct Payments for Disabled ChildrenNovember 21, 2025
  4. 5.0.4Short BreaksNovember 5, 2025
  5. 5.0.5Handling an Incident in 0-25 Together Service - Joint Policy with ACSFebruary 18, 2025
  6. 5.0.6Need to Know Notifications for 0-25 Together ServiceFebruary 18, 2025
  7. 5.0.7Family Safeguarding and 0-25 Together Services Guidance on Support HoursFebruary 18, 2025
  8. 5.0.8Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkNovember 5, 2025
  9. 5.0.9Hertfordshire Special Educational Needs Guidance for Social Care PractitionersNovember 5, 2025

6.Specialist Adolescent Services Hertfordshire (SASH)

  1. 6.0.1Specialist Adolescent Service Hertfordshire (SASH)Under Review

7.Children Looked After and Care Leavers

7.1Planning

  1. 7.1.1Authorisation for a Child to be Looked After and Funding Agreements Outside East and West Practice and Resources PanelFebruary 18, 2025
  2. 7.1.2Decision to Look After and Initial Care PlanningUnder Review
  3. 7.1.3Care Planning GuidanceFebruary 21, 2025
  4. 7.1.4Planning PlacementsMay 20, 2025
  5. 7.1.5Permanence Planning, Placement Strategy and GuidanceNovember 5, 2025
  6. 7.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsFebruary 19, 2025
  7. 7.1.7Placement EndingsFebruary 18, 2025
  8. 7.1.8Requests to Remove a Child/Young Person from CareNovember 5, 2025
  9. 7.1.9The Sufficiency Duty in Relation to Accommodation for Children/Young PeopleNovember 5, 2025
  10. 7.1.10Ceasing to Look After a Child/Young Person under Section 20September 19, 2023

7.2Placements

  1. 7.2.1Placement of Children Looked AfterSeptember 19, 2023
  2. 7.2.2Placement of Children Looked After in Supported LodgingsUnder Review
  3. 7.2.3Placements in Secure AccommodationSeptember 19, 2023
  4. 7.2.4Placement with Parents or Person who has, or has held Parental Responsibility Immediately Prior to Making of a Care Order or Interim Care OrderFebruary 18, 2025
  5. 7.2.5Children Placed with Parents for AssessmentUnder Review
  6. 7.2.6Placement Outside HertfordshireFebruary 19, 2025
  7. 7.2.7Placement of Children Looked After and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17 in Semi-Independent PlacementsNovember 5, 2025
  8. 7.2.8Children Placed in Hertfordshire - Notifications by Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersNovember 5, 2025
  9. 7.2.9Placements Outside England and WalesFebruary 19, 2025
  10. 7.2.10Police Information Checks When Making Care Arrangements for Children with Friends/Family in an EmergencyNovember 5, 2025
  11. 7.2.11Police Protection GuidanceNovember 5, 2025
  12. 7.2.12Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
  13. 7.2.13Placements in Residential CareFebruary 18, 2025
  14. 7.2.14Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsNovember 5, 2025

7.3Monitoring Placements

  1. 7.3.1Statutory Visits to Children/Young People Looked AfterFebruary 21, 2025
  2. 7.3.2Independent VisitorsNovember 5, 2025
  3. 7.3.3Advocacy for Children and Young People Making a ComplaintNovember 5, 2025
  4. 7.3.4Reward Policy for Children in Care Council (CHICC) and Children Looked After Undertaking Consultation WorkNovember 5, 2025

7.4Reviews

  1. 7.4.1Looked After ReviewsNovember 5, 2025
  2. 7.4.2Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsNovember 5, 2025
  3. 7.4.3Local Authority Responsibilities in the Appointment of IROs and Establishment of an Effective IRO ServiceFebruary 18, 2025

7.5Contact with Family and Friends (Including Overnight Stays)

  1. 7.5.1Contact with Parents, Family and FriendsNovember 5, 2025
  2. 7.5.2Supervised Family Time and the Hertfordshire Family Time ServiceNovember 5, 2025
  3. 7.5.3Overnight Stays Away from the Placement or Other Staying Contact or Care ArrangementsFebruary 21, 2025
  4. 7.5.4Weekend Family Time VisitsNovember 5, 2025

7.6Education, Leisure, Holidays and School Trips

  1. 7.6.1Education of Children Looked AfterNovember 5, 2025
  2. 7.6.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKNovember 5, 2025
  3. 7.6.3Financial Allowances Policy for Children Looked After Placed in Residential (Special) SchoolsNovember 5, 2025
  4. 7.6.4Holidays with Parents, Other Family and Friends (Including 16 Plus Travel)February 18, 2025
  5. 7.6.5Leisure ActivitiesFebruary 19, 2025
  6. 7.6.6Mobile Phones for Children in CareTo Follow

7.7Health and Wellbeing

  1. 7.7.1Health Care Assessments, Health Checks and Health Care PlansFebruary 21, 2025
  2. 7.7.2Consent to Medical Examination and TreatmentNovember 5, 2025
  3. 7.7.3GPs, Dentists and OpticiansNovember 5, 2025
  4. 7.7.4Blood Borne Viruses - Guidance for the Protection of Looked After ChildrenNovember 5, 2025

7.8Leaving Care

  1. 7.8.1Care Leavers and Transition to AdulthoodMay 20, 2025
  2. 7.8.2Post 21 years Care Leaver Stepping Back PolicyNovember 5, 2025
  3. 7.8.3Staying Put PolicyMay 20, 2025
  4. 7.8.4Staying Put - Living Together AgreementFebruary 18, 2025
  5. 7.8.5Staying CloseFebruary 18, 2025
  6. 7.8.6Transition to Adulthood (Leaving Care) Finance Policy and GuidanceNovember 5, 2025
  7. 7.8.7Housing for Children Looked After and Care LeaversFebruary 18, 2025
  8. 7.8.8'Capacity' and Financial Arrangements for Children Looked After and Care Leavers Aged 16 & 17November 5, 2025

7.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  1. 7.9.1Children Looked After in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesFebruary 20, 2025
  2. 7.9.2Former Children Looked After in DetentionNovember 5, 2025
  3. 7.9.3Child Looked After - Remands and Custodial Sentences up to age of 16November 5, 2025
  4. 7.9.4Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceNovember 5, 2025

7.10Miscellaneous

  1. 7.10.1Criminal Injuries CompensationNovember 5, 2025
  2. 7.10.2Birth CertificatesNovember 5, 2025
  3. 7.10.3Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023
  4. 7.10.4Social Media and Mobile Phones with Children Looked AfterNovember 5, 2025
  5. 7.10.5Memory Boxes and Personal History Document Boxes for Children Looked AfterUnder Review
  6. 7.10.6EU Settlement Scheme: Looked-after Children and Care Leavers GuidanceFebruary 18, 2025

7.11Children Looked After Personal Finances

  1. 7.11.1Children Looked After Finances FrameworkFebruary 18, 2025

8.Fostering

8.1Introduction, Purpose, Overview and Panel

  1. 8.1.1Fostering - Introduction, Purpose and OverviewNovember 5, 2025
  2. 8.1.2Fostering PanelFebruary 20, 2025
  3. 8.1.3Link to all Fostering Forms and LettersFebruary 19, 2025

8.2Private Fostering

  1. 8.2.1Private FosteringNovember 5, 2025

8.3Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers

  1. 8.3.1Criteria for Foster CarersNovember 5, 2025
  2. 8.3.2Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersNovember 5, 2025
  3. 8.3.3Employees of Hertfordshire County Council Acting as Foster CarersFebruary 19, 2025
  4. 8.3.4Change in Composition of Foster Carer Households (including New Partners)February 19, 2025
  5. 8.3.5Disclosure and Barring Checks and Persons Disqualified from FosteringFebruary 19, 2025

8.4Support and Supervision of Foster Carers

  1. 8.4.1Support and Supervision of Foster CarersNovember 5, 2025
  2. 8.4.2Allowances and Payments in Fostering – Monitoring and AuditingMay 20, 2025
  3. 8.4.3Support for Foster Carers Placed 'On Hold'February 19, 2025
  4. 8.4.4Delegated Authority to Foster CarersFebruary 19, 2025
  5. 8.4.5Fostering Support and Fostering Support MeetingsMay 20, 2025
  6. 8.4.6Hertfordshire mockingbird procedureMay 20, 2025
  7. 8.4.7Training and Development of Foster CarersMay 20, 2025
  8. 8.4.8Health and SafetyNovember 5, 2025

8.5Reviews, Allegations and De-registration of Foster Carers

  1. 8.5.1Foster Carer ReviewsNovember 5, 2025
  2. 8.5.2Termination of Approval of Foster Carers and Supported Lodgings CarersFebruary 19, 2025
  3. 8.5.3Managing Allegations and Quality of Care Concerns in FosteringMay 20, 2025
  4. 8.5.4Independent Reviews of Hertfordshire County Council Foster CarersFebruary 19, 2025

8.6Variations and Changes

  1. 8.6.1Exemptions and Variations of ApprovalNovember 5, 2025

8.7Long Term Fostering

  1. 8.7.1Long Term FosteringUnder Review
  2. 8.7.2Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsFebruary 19, 2025

8.8Kinship Care - Connected Person Carers

  1. 8.8.1Kinship Foster CareNovember 5, 2025
  2. 8.8.2Placements with Kinship Foster CarersMay 20, 2025
  3. 8.8.3Support, Training and Payment to Kinship Foster CarersMay 20, 2025

8.9Parent and Child Foster Placement

  1. 8.9.1Parent and Child Foster HomeNovember 5, 2025

8.10Case Recording

  1. 8.10.1Foster Carer RecordingMay 20, 2025

8.11Foster Care Practice Issues

  1. 8.11.1Safer Caring in Foster CareFebruary 19, 2025
  2. 8.11.2Promoting Positive BehaviourFebruary 20, 2025

9.Special Guardianship

  1. 9.0.1Special Guardianship Orders Policy and ProcedureUnder Review
  2. 9.0.2Court Reports in Special Guardianship GuidanceUnder Review

10.Adoption and Permanence

  1. 10.0.1Adoption Statement of PurposeFebruary 19, 2025
  2. 10.0.2Legal Framework and Adoption CharterFebruary 18, 2025
  3. 10.0.3Link to all Adoption Forms and LettersFebruary 19, 2025
  4. 10.0.4Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

10.1Assessment, Approval and Deregistration of Adopters and Prospective Adopters

  1. 10.1.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersNovember 5, 2025
  2. 10.1.2SmokingFebruary 19, 2025
  3. 10.1.3Review of Suitability to AdoptFebruary 19, 2025
  4. 10.1.4Fostering for AdoptionFebruary 19, 2025
  5. 10.1.5Adopt EastFebruary 18, 2025
  6. 10.1.6Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedNovember 5, 2025

10.2Adoption Panel

  1. 10.2.1Adoption Panel and Agency Decision Maker's DecisionNovember 5, 2025
  2. 10.2.2Panel PapersFebruary 19, 2025

10.3Placement for Adoption - please note this section is under review

  1. 10.3.1Placement for AdoptionNovember 5, 2025
  2. 10.3.2Relinquished ChildrenNovember 5, 2025
  3. 10.3.3Children's Guide to AdoptionFebruary 19, 2025

10.4Adoption Support Services - please note this section is under review

  1. 10.4.1Adoption SupportNovember 5, 2025
  2. 10.4.2Introduction and Legal ExpensesUnder Review
  3. 10.4.3Adoption Support Team - Guidance on Support HoursUnder Review
  4. 10.4.4Disruption of Adoptive and Long Term Foster PlacementsUnder Review
  5. 10.4.5Managing Allegations Against Adults Who Work With Children and Young PeopleFebruary 19, 2025

10.5Adoption by Non Agency Adopters - please note this section is under review

  1. 10.5.1Adoption RecordsUnder Review
  2. 10.5.2Birth RecordsUnder Review

10.6Birth Families - Consent and Involvement - please note this section is under review

  1. 10.6.1Parental Responsibility and ConsentFebruary 18, 2025

10.7Planning for Permanence in Adoption - please note this section is under review

  1. 10.7.1Permanence Planning, Placement Strategy and GuidanceNovember 5, 2025

10.8Adoption Practice Guidance - please note this section is under review

  1. 10.8.1Life Story Work with Children and Young PeopleUnder Review

11.Finances

11.1Children in Need

  1. 11.1.1Section 17 and Financial Support for Children and FamiliesUnder Review
  2. 11.1.2Family Safeguarding and 0-25 Together Service Guidance on Support Hours Brokerage FormsFebruary 18, 2025

12.Hertfordshire Joint Housing Needs Protocol

  1. 12.0.1Hertfordshire Joint Housing Needs ProtocolUnder Review
  2. 12.0.2Universal Credit Exemptions Leaflet and Universal Credit Exemption LetterFebruary 18, 2025
  3. 12.0.3Leaflet - Information Regarding Housing Authorities duties for Families with Children at Risk of HomelessnessFebruary 18, 2025
  4. 12.0.4Information Regarding Children's Services for Families with Children at Risk of HomelessnessFebruary 18, 2025

13.Hertfordshire Children's Homes

  1. 13.0.1Financial Allowances for Children Looked After and Young People Living in Hertfordshire Children's Homes

14.Appendices

  1. 14.0.1Polices, Procedures, Forms and LeafletsUnder Review
  2. 14.0.2Local KeywordsFebruary 19, 2025
  3. 14.0.3Working Together to Safeguard Children
  4. 14.0.4NICE - When to suspect child maltreatment
  5. 14.0.5National Minimum Standards
  6. 14.0.6Amendments

Last Updated: November 21, 2025

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