• Managers Practice Standards;
• Social Worker Practice Standards;
• IRO Dispute Resolution Guidance Notes for Practitioners.

This chapter has been updated to include consideration of:

• Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014;
• Data Protection Act 2018;
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012);
• Serious Crime Act 2015.

And further considers the legislation:

• The Children Act 1989;
• The Crime and Disorder Act 1998;
• Freedom of Information Act 2000;
• Local Government Act 2000;
• Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000;
• Education Act 2002;
• Homelessness Act 2002;
• The Children Act 2004;
• Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004;
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012);
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012;
• Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

• Complex Case Discussion Terms of Reference;
• Foster Carers Holiday Policy;
• Behaviour Management Plans;
• Consequences;
• Physical Intervention: Practice Guidance for Social Workers;
• Incidents and Reporting.

• Deprivations of Liberty;
• Child Looked After Reviews;
• Duty to Promote the Educational Attainment of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children;
• Virtual School Procedure;
• Avoidance of Disruption in Education;
• When a Child is Absent from School and School Exclusions;
• Alternative and Independent Education Provision;
• Training for those Involved in the Care and Education of Looked After Children;
• Celebrating a Child's Achievements;
• Information Sharing;
• The Role of Designated Teachers and Schools;
• Responsibilities of Social Workers Concerning the Promotion of Education;
• Responsibilities of Carers Concerning the Promotion of Education.

• Process for Social Workers Signing Off Reports in line with UK GDPR;
• Case Records and Retention;
• Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations;
• Access to Records / Subject Access Requests;
• Placements in Children's Homes;
• Concerns about Behaviour and School Exclusions;
• Contact with Family and Friends.

This chapter has been updated to reflect current working roles and responsibilities between relevant partners working with young people leaving custody. It is firstly important to identify whether an individual is a Relevant or Former Relevant or Qualifies under the care leaving legislation and regulations. The chapter focuses on 'Planning for Release' and 'Support in the Community' and has links to appropriate local support networks. It also links to the Ministry of Justice and YJB, 'Standards for children in the youth justice system, 2019'.

When working with unaccompanied asylum seekers, please use this guidance to assist you in meeting their needs. The chapter contains a number of links to relevant resources and tools and should be read in conjunction with statutory guidance and other relevant chapters.

This chapter describes the principles and purpose of quality assurance activity, and replaces a similar previous chapter.

The framework sets out the principles that underpin quality assurance and learning which are informed by the "Signs of Safety" strengths based approach to practice that has been adopted across children's safeguarding services. The overall aim of the framework is to support colleagues across Children's Social Care to achieve better outcomes for children and to understand what constitutes 'Good' social work practice.

It will be reviewed in March 2021.

This chapter deals with recording of meetings/conversations by individual service-users, in their capacity as private individuals. Note that the employees of the local authority, acting in their professional capacity, are subject to different legislative requirements, e.g. under the Data Protection Act 2018.

• Family Group Conference Policy;
• Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities;
• Guidelines for Transporting Young People on Remand.

This new chapter replaces two previous chapters and reflects 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. There is a link to Knowsley's Local Offer;
• 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 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.

• Guidance in Respect of the Use of Written Agreements within the Child Protection / Chin in Need Process;
• Pathway Planning and Reviews;
• Protocol Between Knowsley Youth Offending Service and Knowsley Children's Social Care;
• YJB National Standards and Case Management Guidelines.

This chapter has been updated to reflect the DfE, Care of Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Modern Slavery: Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities (November 2017), (which has replaced the previous guidance on Care of Unaccompanied and trafficked children (2014). Section 3, Assessment has been updated with regards to in advance of undertaking an age assessment for an unaccompanied asylum seeking child, local authorities must seek Home Office assistance with verifying the authenticity of identity documents e.g. travel documents or a birth certificate. A link to the relevant contact details for local authorities has been added. The statutory guidance has been updated to link to the DfE 2017 Care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery – statutory guidance for local authorities. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 is referenced in relation to age assessments.

• Adult Well being Scale;
• Alcohol Use Questionnaire;
• Home Conditions Assessment;
• International Resilience Project: 15-Point Checklist for Resilience;
• Resilience / Vulnerability Matrix;
• Rosenburg Self Esteem Scale;
• Tool for Drug Abuse.

This chapter has been reviewed to update time frames, viz. Consultation on venue, invitations and dates to take place with child/ren and IRO within 5 days and the second review should be held within 3 months. A Care planning meeting to be held at least 10 working days before the review and should include parents, health professionals, education as well as the child and safeguarding staff and other relevant professionals.

This chapter has been reviewed and amended to reference both foster carers and prospective adopters and to emphasise that managers dealing with such issues should seek advise and guidance from the LADO at the initial stages, (see Initial Action).

This chapter has been reviewed and updated and re-titled as a result. All young people should understand the rules of the home and consequences to behaviours. Consequences should be given in order to improve the outcomes for our children.

Consequences should be in accordance with the Behaviour Management Plan for a child. If a restraint or consequences are imposed, this should be on the basis of danger/risk for a child and the manager should be informed immediately with a chronology of events completed before the staff member's shift is completed (see Section 2, Permissible Consequences).

This chapter has been fully updated and re-titled.

The term 'relinquished child' is used to describe a child, usually a baby or at pre-birth stage, whose parents are making the choice of adoption for the child.

This has been added to the manual and contains links to the 34 residential procedures.

• Notifications and Transfer of Children Subject to a Child Protection Plans Moving from/to Other Local Authority Areas;
• Care and Permanence Planning Meetings;
• Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations.

This chapter has been amended by adding a new Appendix containing 4 audit tools: CIN/CP/CLA Audit Tool; MASH Audit Tool; STRATEGY MEETINGS/DISCUSSIONS and S47 ENQUIRIES Audit Tool and Foster Carer Review Audit Tool.

In addition, Appendix 2 has been updated to provide details of the forthcoming year's audit activity. The Quality Assurance and Learning Framework chapter will be further updated in 2017.

This chapter links to the Knowsley Safeguarding Children Board Manual which has been updated by adding an Appendix to the Children's Safeguarding Services – Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub Operational Procedures.

This substantial guide provides comprehensive information on the roles of staff; the interface with Early Help and Children's Social Care; the processes within MASH, including prioritising work and actions; Initiating section 47 Enquiries; Dispute Resolution procedures and a range of appendices highlighting key 'pathways' etc. Please reference to ensure full familiarity with this key procedural area and process.

This chapter deals with recording of meetings/conversations by individual service-users, in their capacity as private individuals. Note that the employees of the local authority, acting in their professional capacity, are subject to different legislative requirements, e.g. under the Data Protection Act 2018.

This Knowsley Council and LSCB guidance provides information about sexual exploitation, the roles and responsibilities of relevant agencies and the procedures practitioners should follow to ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people who it is suspected have been sexually exploited.

The chapter emphasises the importance multi-agency working and provides relevant additional reading and tools to assist decision-making.

This policy should be read in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Care circular LAC (94) 4 - Guidelines on smoking and alcohol consumption in residential childcare establishments. It identifies Knowsley MBC's clear policy with respect to all staff, including foster carers, regarding smoking and includes recruitment of Foster Carers and placement of children.

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Families Act 2014, with the overall aim of speeding up the adoption process. The chapter has been updated throughout and should be fully re-read.

The main changes are in relation to:

• The duty to consider fostering for Adoption placement;
• The removal of the requirement to give due consideration to a child's religious persuasions, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background when matching a child and prospective adopter;
• Post adoption contact;
• Placing of siblings.

• Private Fostering Guidance.

This chapter fully details the Single Assessment Process and Procedure, initially conceived in 'Working Together To Safeguard Children 2013'.

The chapter provides key information in respect of the timeliness and deadlines for undertaking the Assessment and the management oversight required.

This chapter replaced a similar and previous chapter. The protocol aims to ensure that there is closer liaison between IROs (Independent Reviewing Officers) and CAFCASS following the implementation of the IRO Handbook which highlighted specific areas where the two parties will work in conjunction.

This chapter identifies the procedure for making and reviewing plans for children who have been assessed as being a Child in Need. The chapter explores children who are on the edge of becoming looked After or subject to Child Protection Plans and identifies a 'step up step down' process.

Knowsley SCB Multi-Agency Child Protection Standards

Please note this new SCB chapter which details the standards for Child Protection investigations, assessments and conferences and includes a 'resolution' and 'escalation' process for professionals.

• Policy, Values and Principles;
• ICS Detailed Guidance;
• Working with the Munro Review: 'Flexibility' within the Child Protection System - A Knowsley Approach;
• A Brief Guide to Assessments;
• Assessment;
• Framework for Assessment;
• Common Assessment Framework;
• KAT Protocol (Knowsley Assessment Team);
• Children's Social Care Consent Policy and Procedure;
• MASH Information Governance Flowchart - Child Protection;
• Risk Assessment Procedure;
• Risk Assessment Guidance;
• Contacts and Referrals;
• Co-Located Front Line Duty Arrangements and CAF;
• Standby Service;
• Escalation Process;
• Case Allocation Protocol: Schedule of Priorities;
• Access to Social Care Records Guidance;
• Data Protection Policy;
• Request for Disclosure Guidance;
• FAQs for Officers who Compile Responses to Freedom of Information Requests;
• Information Management Strategy and Procedures;
• Information Security Guidance;
• Information Security Acceptable Use Policy;
• Key Employee Responsibilities arising from the Council's Data Protection Policy, Information Security Acceptable Use Policy, IT Acceptable Use Protocol and Information Security Guidance;
• Secure Transfer of Personal Information;
• Redaction of Social Care Records Procedures;
• Retention and Destruction of Files;
• Data Protection Act - Guidance for Staff;
• Report a Change of Circumstances re Child Benefit or Guardian's Allowance (CH193 Document);
• Workload Management;
• Workload Management Records;
• Escalation Process for Children Social Care, Strategic Housing, Youth Offending Service and Knowsley Housing Options Service;
• Housing Dispute Resolution Process Flowchart;
• Housing Eviction and Notification Protocol;
• Accommodation Panel;
• Monitoring out of Borough Placements;
• Minutes of IRO Meeting with Merseyside Designated Judge;
• Holidays and School Trips Outside UK;
• Leisure and Recreation;
• Activities;
• Personal Education Allowances (PEA's) for Looked After Children;
• File Audit Documents;
• File Audit Framework.

This chapter has been updated to include new sections on:

• The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, which provides members of the public with a mechanism to ask for disclosure about people they are concerned about who may have unsupervised access to a child(ren);
• Domestic Violence Protection Orders and the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme whereby a perpetrator can be banned with immediate effect from returning to a residence and from having contact with the victim for up to 28 days in respect of the Protection Order. The Disclosure Scheme gives members of the public a formal mechanism to make enquires about an individual who they are in a relationship with, or who is in a relationship with someone they know, where there is a concern;
• Also, the Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014: 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).

This chapter has been significantly updated by adding a link to updated 'Statutory Guidance - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (Supplement) - Looked After Children and Youth Justice - Application of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 to Looked After Children in Contact with Youth Justice Services (April 2014)'. The amendments also take account of the fact that the PACE Code of Practice has been amended to extend the right to an Appropriate Adult at the police station to 17-year-olds (this was awaited following a judicial review decision, and has now been implemented).

This chapter has been updated in line with the Children and Families Act 2014. Additional information has been added in new Section 1 on the requirement for local authorities to appoint an officer to promote the educational achievement of Looked After children – sometimes referred to as a 'Virtual School Head'. There is also recognition that the 'Statement of Education Need' has become the Education, Health and Care Plan.

Three new sections have been added:

• 'Children and Young People with Medical Conditions';
• 'Training for those Involved in the Care and Education of Looked After Children'; and
• 'Information Sharing'.

There are also updated links to 'Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 - 25 years Statutory Guidance for Organisations who work with Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (2014)'; 'Promoting the Educational Achievement of Looked After Children (2014)' and Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions (2014).