Contents

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Sandwell Children's Trust Policies, Values and PrinciplesJanuary 21, 2025
2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationJanuary 21, 2025
3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022

1.2Targeted Services and Thresholds for Sandwell Children's Trust

1. 1.2.1Early HelpJanuary 20, 2025
2. 1.2.2Strengthening Families ServiceJanuary 20, 2025
3. 1.2.3Multi-Agency Thresholds DocumentJanuary 20, 2025
4. 1.2.4Capacity and ConsentNovember 4, 2025

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsNovember 4, 2025
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsNovember 4, 2025
3. 1.3.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)January 21, 2025
4. 1.3.4Guidance for Children Missing from Home or CareJanuary 20, 2025
5. 1.3.5Children Affected by Harm Outside of the Home (including Exploitation, Modern Slavery, Trafficking & Gangs)January 20, 2025
6. 1.3.6Lone WorkingJanuary 20, 2025
7. 1.3.7West Midlands Regional Safeguarding Procedures Manual

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsJanuary 21, 2025
2. 1.4.2Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024
3. 1.4.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024

1.5Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.5.1Complaints and RepresentationsJanuary 20, 2025
2. 1.5.2WhistleblowingJanuary 20, 2025

1.6Notifications

1. 1.6.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child, Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24November 4, 2025

2.Children in Particular Circumstances

2.1Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

1. 2.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesNovember 4, 2025
2. 2.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsMay 21, 2024
3. 2.1.3Short BreaksNovember 4, 2025
4. 2.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsNovember 4, 2025
5. 2.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 2024

2.2Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

1. 2.2.1Deprivation of Liberty
2. 2.2.2Mental Capacity

2.3Children from Abroad

1. 2.3.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryJanuary 20, 2025
2. 2.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsJanuary 20, 2025

2.4Homelessness

1. 2.4.1Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferNovember 4, 2025

2.5Family and Friends Care

1. 2.5.1Kinship CareMay 20, 2025
2. 2.5.2Private FosteringJanuary 20, 2025

2.6Young Carers

1. 2.6.1Young CarersNovember 4, 2025

3.Court Proceedings and Legal Planning

1. 3.0.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersFebruary 7, 2024
2. 3.0.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 23, 2022
3. 3.0.3Public Law Outline DocumentationJanuary 20, 2025
4. 3.0.4Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsJanuary 20, 2025
5. 3.0.5Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersUnder Review
6. 3.0.6Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 23, 2024
7. 3.0.7Family Justice Resource Hub (ADCS) - This hosts a series of practical resources, such as templates, tools and practice guidance, which will be of interest to those working in the family justice system.
8. 3.0.8Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
9. 3.0.9Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenNovember 4, 2025
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterOctober 9, 2024
3. 4.1.3Care PlanningJanuary 20, 2025
4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildNovember 4, 2025
5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceJuly 25, 2023
6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsJuly 25, 2023
7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenNovember 4, 2025
8. 4.1.8Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 23, 2022
9. 4.1.9Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsJanuary 21, 2025
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsJanuary 21, 2025
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareJanuary 21, 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 PlacementsJanuary 21, 2025
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesJanuary 21, 2025
8. 4.2.8Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
9. 4.2.9Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationJanuary 21, 2025
10. 4.2.10Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersSeptember 23, 2024
11. 4.2.11Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersNovember 4, 2025
12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyMay 20, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenJanuary 21, 2025
2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsJanuary 21, 2025
3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsMay 20, 2025
4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersSeptember 23, 2024
5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsJanuary 21, 2025
6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsAugust 19, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Family Time with Parents/Adults and SiblingsJanuary 21, 2025
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)November 4, 2025

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 ChildrenJuly 25, 2023
2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKNovember 4, 2025
3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesMarch 23, 2022

4.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansJanuary 21, 2025
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 RestraintNovember 4, 2025

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 TransitionMay 20, 2025
2. 4.8.2Staying PutJanuary 21, 2025

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesJanuary 21, 2025
2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyNovember 4, 2025
3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceNovember 4, 2025

5.Sandwell Children's Trust - Fostering

1. 5.0.1Fostering PanelJuly 26, 2022
2. 5.0.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringJuly 26, 2022
3. 5.0.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersMay 20, 2025
4. 5.0.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
5. 5.0.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersNovember 4, 2025
6. 5.0.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.0.7Allegations Against Foster CarersNovember 4, 2025
8. 5.0.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022
9. 5.0.9 Sandwell Children's Trust Foster Carer Handbook

6.Sandwell Children's Trust - Adoption

1. 6.0.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersMay 20, 2025
2. 6.0.2Adoption PanelMarch 17, 2023
3. 6.0.3Placement for AdoptionMay 20, 2025
4. 6.0.4Relinquished ChildrenJanuary 21, 2025
5. 6.0.5Adoption SupportMarch 18, 2024
6. 6.0.6Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsOctober 31, 2023
7. 6.0.7Adoption ReviewsJuly 26, 2022
8. 6.0.8Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsNovember 28, 2023
9. 6.0.9Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedMay 20, 2025
10. 6.0.10Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 6.0.11Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
12. 6.0.12Adoption Case RecordsFebruary 8, 2022
13. 6.0.13Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsJuly 26, 2022
14. 6.0.14Intermediary ServicesJuly 26, 2022
15. 6.0.15Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
16. 6.0.16Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
17. 6.0.17Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersAugust 25, 2023
18. 6.0.18Adoption at Heart Website - the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) for Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall.

7.Case Management and Recording

1. 7.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
2. 7.0.2Case Records and RetentionJanuary 21, 2025
3. 7.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsNovember 27, 2024
4. 7.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
5. 7.0.5Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffJanuary 21, 2025
6. 7.0.6Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesNovember 27, 2024
7. 7.0.7Parents Recording Social Workers - Guidance for Social WorkersJanuary 20, 2025

8.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 8.0.1Local ContactsJanuary 20, 2025
2. 8.0.2List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersJanuary 21, 2025
3. 8.0.3Ofsted Inspection FrameworkMay 20, 2025
4. 8.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
5. 8.0.5Amendments