Contents

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles March 28, 2025
2. 1.1.2Confidentiality PolicyMarch 28, 2025
3. 1.1.3Quality Assurance & Performance Management FrameworkSeptember 18, 2025
4. 1.1.4Kinship Care (Family and Friends Care)September 18, 2025
5. 1.1.5Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022

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

1. 1.2.1Early Help and SupportSeptember 18, 2025
2. 1.2.2Children in Need Threshold CriteriaMarch 28, 2025
3. 1.2.3Capacity and ConsentMarch 6, 2026

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Enquires, Contacts and ReferralsSeptember 18, 2025
2. 1.3.2Local Protocol for Assessment and Support
   Updated
   April 2, 2026
3. 1.3.3Management of Case Transfers in Children's Social CareMarch 28, 2025
4. 1.3.4Access to Resources PanelMarch 28, 2025
5. 1.3.5MARAC – Multi-Agency Risk Assessment ConferenceMarch 28, 2025
6. 1.3.6Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingSeptember 18, 2025

1.4Court Proceedings

1. 1.4.1Local Guidance in Respect of Initiating Legal ProceedingsMarch 28, 2025
2. 1.4.2Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersMarch 28, 2025
3. 1.4.3Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline
   Updated
   March 6, 2026
4. 1.4.4Legal Planning MeetingsMarch 28, 2025

1.5Miscellaneous

1. 1.5.1Death or Serious Harm to a Child Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24March 6, 2026
2. 1.5.2Safeguarding Children and Young People from Criminal and Sexual ExploitationMarch 6, 2026

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.6.1Compliments, Comments and ComplaintsMarch 28, 2025
2. 1.6.2Confidential Reporting Policy "Whistleblowing"March 28, 2025

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesMarch 31, 2025
2. 2.0.2Case Records for Looked After ChildrenMarch 28, 2025
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsNovember 27, 2024
4. 2.0.4Supervision Policy for Children's ServicesMarch 28, 2025
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and Conversations by Service UsersMarch 28, 2025
6. 2.0.6Guidance with respect of Written AgreementsMarch 28, 2025
7. 2.0.7Monitoring Visits to Children Subject to a Child Protection PlanMarch 28, 2025

3.Prevention and Family Support

1. 3.0.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsDecember 10, 2025
2. 3.0.2Private FosteringMarch 28, 2025
3. 3.0.3Prevention 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, 2026
4. 3.0.4Joint Protocol Between Central Bedfordshire Council's Children's Service and Housing Services Young People Presenting as HomelessMarch 28, 2025
5. 3.0.5Young CarersSeptember 18, 2025

4.Children in Particular Circumstances

4.1Children with Disabilities

1. 4.1.1Children with Disabilities ServiceMarch 6, 2026
2. 4.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsMarch 6, 2026
3. 4.1.3Short BreaksMarch 6, 2026
4. 4.1.4CBC Short Breaks StatementMarch 28, 2025
5. 4.1.5Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesAugust 20, 2024
6. 4.1.6Procedure for Parent Carer Needs AssessmentMarch 6, 2026
7. 4.1.7Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsMarch 6, 2026
8. 4.1.8Children and Young People's Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 2024

4.2Children from Abroad

1. 4.2.1Children Seeking Sanctuary and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryMarch 6, 2026
2. 4.2.2Families with No Recourse to Public Funds
   Updated
   March 6, 2026

4.3Relinquished Children

1. 4.3.1Relinquished ChildrenMarch 6, 2026

4.4Deprivation of Liberty

1. 4.4.1Deprivation of Liberty

4.5Mental Health

1. 4.5.1Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Practice GuidanceMarch 28, 2025
2. 4.5.2Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024

5.Looked After Children

5.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 5.1.1Decision to Look AfterMarch 31, 2025
2. 5.1.2Care PlanningMarch 31, 2025
3. 5.1.3Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenSeptember 18, 2025
4. 5.1.4Risk Assessment and PlanningSeptember 18, 2025
5. 5.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceMarch 31, 2025
6. 5.1.6Permanency Tracking MeetingsMarch 28, 2025
7. 5.1.7Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsMarch 31, 2025
8. 5.1.8Placements in Foster CareMarch 28, 2025
9. 5.1.9Placement Stability MeetingMarch 28, 2025
10. 5.1.10Placements in Residential CareSeptember 19, 2023
11. 5.1.11Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation
    Updated
    March 6, 2026
12. 5.1.12Out of Area PlacementsMarch 28, 2025
13. 5.1.13Placements with Connected PersonsMarch 28, 2025
14. 5.1.14Placements in Secure AccommodationSeptember 19, 2023
15. 5.1.15Placements with ParentsMarch 28, 2025
16. 5.1.16Placements Outside England and WalesMarch 28, 2025
17. 5.1.17Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 18, 2025
18. 5.1.18Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersSeptember 23, 2024
19. 5.1.19Notifications of Significant EventsMarch 6, 2026
20. 5.1.20Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersMarch 6, 2026
21. 5.1.21Transracial PlacementsMarch 6, 2026
22. 5.1.22NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

5.2Monitoring and Reviews

1. 5.2.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenMarch 28, 2025
2. 5.2.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsMarch 28, 2025
3. 5.2.3Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services
   Updated
   March 6, 2026
4. 5.2.4Looked After ReviewsMarch 31, 2025
5. 5.2.5Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersMarch 28, 2025
6. 5.2.6Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsMarch 28, 2025

5.3Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 5.3.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsMarch 31, 2025
2. 5.3.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)March 6, 2026

5.4Education, School Trips and Holidays

1. 5.4.1Holidays and School Trips in the UKSeptember 18, 2025
2. 5.4.2Holidays and School Trips Outside the UKSeptember 18, 2025
3. 5.4.3Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After ChildrenSeptember 18, 2025
4. 5.4.4Guidance for maintained schools and academies in England on provision for transgender pupils

5.5Health and Wellbeing

1. 5.5.1Health Care Assessments and PlansMarch 6, 2026
2. 5.5.2Personal Care and RelationshipsMarch 31, 2025
3. 5.5.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour SupportSeptember 18, 2025
4. 5.5.4Restrictive Physical Intervention
   Updated
   March 6, 2026
5. 5.5.5Countering Bullying within Foster Care PlacementsMarch 31, 2025
6. 5.5.6Health and SafetyMarch 31, 2025
7. 5.5.7Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
8. 5.5.8Leisure ActivitiesMarch 23, 2022

5.6Identity

1. 5.6.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildFebruary 7, 2024
2. 5.6.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023

5.7Leaving Care and Transition

1. 5.7.1Leaving Care and TransitionMarch 31, 2025
2. 5.7.2Staying PutMarch 6, 2026
3. 5.7.3Staying Put PolicyMarch 31, 2025
4. 5.7.4Leaving Care Financial PolicyMarch 28, 2025
5. 5.7.5Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyMarch 6, 2026

6.Fostering and Adoption

6.1Fostering Services

1. 6.1.1Foster Carers ManualMarch 28, 2025
2. 6.1.2Fostering PanelJuly 26, 2022
3. 6.1.3Persons Disqualified from FosteringMarch 31, 2025
4. 6.1.4Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersMay 21, 2024
5. 6.1.5Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalMarch 31, 2025
6. 6.1.6Supervision and Support of Foster CarersMarch 6, 2026
7. 6.1.7Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022
8. 6.1.8Guidance for Supervising Social Workers when Foster Carers SeparateMarch 31, 2025
9. 6.1.9Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersMarch 31, 2025
10. 6.1.10Allegations Against Foster CarersMarch 6, 2026
11. 6.1.11Foster East - a regional partnership of 11 local councils in the East of England – including Central Bedfordshire - working together to transform the lives of children and young people in care.

6.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 6.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersMarch 31, 2025
2. 6.2.2Adoption PanelMarch 31, 2025
3. 6.2.3Placement for AdoptionAugust 20, 2024
4. 6.2.4Adoption SupportSeptember 18, 2025
5. 6.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 31, 2023
6. 6.2.6Adoption ReviewsMarch 31, 2025
7. 6.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsMarch 31, 2025
8. 6.2.8Disruption Meetings/DiscussionsMarch 31, 2025
9. 6.2.9Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedMarch 31, 2025
10. 6.2.10Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 6.2.11Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
12. 6.2.12Adoption Case Records
    Updated
    March 6, 2026
13. 6.2.13Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsMarch 31, 2025
14. 6.2.14Intermediary ServicesJuly 26, 2022
15. 6.2.15Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersSeptember 18, 2025
16. 6.2.16Court Reports in Adoption / Special Guardianship GuidanceMarch 31, 2025
17. 6.2.17Life Story Books GuidanceMarch 6, 2026
18. 6.2.18Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
19. 6.2.19Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersAugust 25, 2023
20. 6.2.20Smoking Policy for the Adoption Service and Fostering ServiceMarch 31, 2025
21. 6.2.21Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

7.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 7.0.1Local ContactsMarch 28, 2025
2. 7.0.2Designated Managers with Specified Area of ResponsibilityMarch 6, 2026
3. 7.0.3Ofsted Inspection FrameworkAugust 20, 2024
4. 7.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
5. 7.0.5Amendments