Amendments

In March 2025, information on Ofsted checks was added in to Section 5.1, Checks.

In March 2025 this chapter was refreshed throughout.

In March 2025 links to sources of further information were updated.

This chapter was updated in March 2025, to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 4.6, Concluding the Investigation. 

In March 2025 information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

In March 2025, a link was added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

This chapter was refreshed in March 2025, in line with How Local Authorities and Children’s Homes Can Achieve Stability and Permanence for Children with Complex Needs (Ofsted). A link was added to the North Tyneside Sufficiency Strategy (Local Resources).

In March 2025, links were added to additional sources of guidance.

In March 2025, updates were made to reflect the Homelessness Code of Guidance - Chapter 22: Care Leavers (updated 3 May 2024) which sets out the expectation that authorities should have in place joint protocols which clearly outline jointly held corporate parenting responsibilities for care leavers. See Section 9, Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers.

In March 2025 Section 15.1, Registering an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability) was updated in line with case law.

In March 2025, information was added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds.

This chapter was refreshed in August 2024.

In August 2024, this chapter was revised in response to Working Together to Safeguard Children (December 2023), and includes the ongoing development of the strategic leadership roles of Virtual School Heads (VSH) in promoting educational outcomes for children aged 0 to 18 who have, or previously had a social worker, and children in kinship care arrangements.

This chapter was updated in August 2024. Information was added into Section 17, Special Guardian Duty on the Death of the Child, that the relevant local authority should be notified if the child was previously a looked after child.

This chapter was added to the procedures manual in August 2024.

This chapter was updated in August 2024 to reflect Championing Kinship Care: The National Kinship Care strategy.

In August 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.  New Section 3, Death of a Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24 was added.

This chapter was updated in August 2024 to note that if a young person in a Staying Put arrangement dies up to and including the age of 24, notifications should be made in accordance with Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24) Procedure.

In August 2024, Section 15, Resolving Disagreements was updated to include information on Guidance: Carry Out an Order in Special Educational Needs Cases.

This chapter was added to the procedures manual in August 2024.

In August 2024, information was added in relation to family group decision-making in Section 1, Introduction and Time Limits, and Section 5, Pre-Proceedings. A link was also added to Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making Procedure.

This chapter was refreshed in August 2024.

In August 2024, new links were added to this chapter.

This chapter was updated in August 2024. A link was added in to Section 4, Assessment to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. In Further Information, a link was added to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance.

This chapter was refreshed in August 2024.

In August 2024, this chapter was 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.