Procedures

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and PrinciplesOctober 2, 2024
2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationNovember 7, 2024

1.2Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

1. 1.2.1Early Help AssessmentsOctober 2, 2024
2. 1.2.2Families First Contact Point (FFCP)August 12, 2025
3. 1.2.3Families First Contact Point (FFCP) Operational FrameworkAugust 12, 2025
4. 1.2.4Lewisham Family Help Continuum of NeedFebruary 17, 2025
5. 1.2.5Children and Family Centre ServicesOctober 2, 2024

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsAugust 12, 2025
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsAugust 12, 2025
3. 1.3.3Pre-Birth AssessmentsAugust 12, 2025
4. 1.3.4Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)February 17, 2025
5. 1.3.5Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)October 2, 2024
6. 1.3.6Missing from Home and CareAugust 12, 2025
7. 1.3.7Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983February 17, 2025
8. 1.3.8Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingFebruary 17, 2025
9. 1.3.9Lewisham Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures
10. 1.3.10London Safeguarding Children Procedures

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need: Assessments, Interventions, Plans and ReviewsOctober 15, 2024

1.5Legal Proceedings

1. 1.5.1Emergency Protection OrdersOctober 15, 2024
2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineFebruary 17, 2025
3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsFebruary 17, 2025
4. 1.5.4Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
5. 1.5.5Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
6. 1.5.6Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS)

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.6.1ComplaintsOctober 31, 2024
2. 1.6.2Complaints Procedure for Our Children and Young People's ServicesOctober 2, 2024
3. 1.6.3Raising Concerns at Work (Whistleblowing)October 2, 2024

1.7Notifications

1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)October 2, 2024

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionOctober 2, 2024
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsFebruary 17, 2025
4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsFebruary 17, 2025
6. 2.0.6Capacity and ConsentAugust 12, 2025

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Complex Health Needs

1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Complex NeedsFebruary 17, 2025
2. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsFebruary 17, 2025
3. 3.1.3Short BreaksNovember 6, 2024
4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsAugust 12, 2025
5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkFebruary 17, 2025

3.2Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

1. 3.2.1Deprivation of Liberty
2. 3.2.2Mental Capacity

3.3Children from Abroad

1. 3.3.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryFebruary 17, 2025
2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsAugust 12, 2025

3.4Homelessness

1. 3.4.1Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer
   Updated
   August 12, 2025

3.5Kinship Care

1. 3.5.1Kinship Care Policy
   Updated
   August 12, 2025
2. 3.5.2Private FosteringAugust 12, 2025

3.6Young Carers

1. 3.6.1Young CarersAugust 12, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenFebruary 17, 2025

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children
   Updated
   August 12, 2025
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterFebruary 17, 2025
3. 4.1.3Care PlanningFebruary 17, 2025
4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildFebruary 17, 2025
5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceNovember 4, 2024
6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsNovember 4, 2024
7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenNovember 4, 2024
8. 4.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 23, 2022
9. 4.1.9Providing Personalised CareNovember 4, 2024
10. 4.1.10NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsNovember 4, 2024
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsFebruary 17, 2025
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareFebruary 17, 2025
4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareSeptember 19, 2023
5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 19, 2023
6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsNovember 5, 2024
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesNovember 5, 2024
8. 4.2.8Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
9. 4.2.9Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationFebruary 17, 2025
10. 4.2.10Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersOctober 18, 2024
11. 4.2.11Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersOctober 2, 2024
12. 4.2.12Health and Safety
    Updated
    August 12, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenOctober 18, 2024
2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsNovember 7, 2024
3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsOctober 2, 2024
4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersOctober 2, 2024
5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) Reviews in EnglandOctober 18, 2024
6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsAugust 19, 2024
7. 4.3.7Children Looked After Savings PolicyOctober 2, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Family Time with Parents/Adults and SiblingsFebruary 17, 2025
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)November 7, 2024

4.5Education, School Trips and Holidays

1. 4.5.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenFebruary 17, 2025
2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK
   Updated
   August 12, 2025
3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesAugust 12, 2025

4.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansNovember 1, 2024
2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJuly 26, 2022
3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintOctober 2, 2024

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildFebruary 7, 2024
2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and Transition
   Updated
   August 12, 2025
2. 4.8.2Staying PutOctober 2, 2024
3. 4.8.3Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers - local procedure

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesOctober 2, 2024
2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyOctober 2, 2024
3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance
   Updated
   August 12, 2025
4. 4.9.4YJB and Probation Joint National Protocol for Transitions in England

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelOctober 18, 2024
2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringNovember 7, 2024
3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersFebruary 17, 2025
4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalOctober 2, 2024
5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersOctober 18, 2024
6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersOctober 18, 2024
7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersFebruary 17, 2025
8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersFebruary 17, 2025

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersFebruary 17, 2025
2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelNovember 5, 2024
3. 5.2.3Placement for AdoptionAugust 12, 2025
4. 5.2.4Adoption SupportNovember 6, 2024
5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 31, 2023
6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsOctober 18, 2024
7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsNovember 28, 2023
8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedAugust 12, 2025
9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsNovember 1, 2024
12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsJuly 26, 2022
13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesNovember 6, 2024
14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
16. 5.2.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersAugust 25, 2023

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Special GuardianshipAugust 12, 2025
2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 23, 2024

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 6.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersOctober 2, 2024
2. 6.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkFebruary 17, 2025
3. 6.0.3Lewisham Safeguarding Adults Board
4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
5. 6.0.5Amendments