Contents

1.All Children

1.1Policy Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles August 12, 2024
2. 1.1.2Introduction and ContextAugust 11, 2023
3. 1.1.3Confidentiality PolicyFebruary 5, 2025
4. 1.1.4Children's Consultation and ParticipationFebruary 5, 2026
5. 1.1.5Equality and DiversityFebruary 28, 2023
6. 1.1.6Kinship CareFebruary 5, 2026
7. 1.1.7Capacity and ConsentFebruary 5, 2026
8. 1.1.8Use of Social MediaFebruary 5, 2025
9. 1.1.9Social Work Assessed and Supported Year (ASYE) PolicyAugust 11, 2023
10. 1.1.10Supervision PolicyFebruary 13, 2026

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

1. 1.2.1Early Help Assessment (Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership website)
2. 1.2.2Cumbria Multi-Agency Thresholds Guidance (Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership website)
3. 1.2.3Cumbria Understanding The Level of Need and Practice Response
4. 1.2.4Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsFebruary 5, 2026
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsFebruary 5, 2026
3. 1.3.3Section 47 EnquiriesFebruary 5, 2026
4. 1.3.4Allocation of Work and Transfer between Teams
   Updated
   March 17, 2026
5. 1.3.5Policy/Procedure Relating to the Transport for Children Open to a Children's Social Care TeamFebruary 5, 2026
6. 1.3.6Local Protocol for AssessmentFebruary 5, 2026
7. 1.3.7LCS Guidance for C&F Assessment
8. 1.3.8Child Protection Plans (Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)
9. 1.3.9Multi-Agency Pre-Birth Protocol (Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)

1.4Court Proceedings

1. 1.4.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersAugust 12, 2024
2. 1.4.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineFebruary 5, 2026
3. 1.4.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsAugust 12, 2024
4. 1.4.4Public Law Outline Pre-Proceedings ProtocolAugust 11, 2023
5. 1.4.5Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
6. 1.4.6Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
7. 1.4.7Family 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.

1.5Safeguarding

1. 1.5.1Death or Serious Harm to a Child Cared For, Child in Need or Care Experienced Young Person to and Including the Age of 24
   Updated
   February 5, 2026
2. 1.5.2Notifications of Significant Events (External Notifications)August 12, 2024
3. 1.5.3Children who go Missing from Home or Care (Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)
4. 1.5.4Children and Families that go Missing (Including Unborn Children) (Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)
5. 1.5.5Children Missing from Education (Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)
6. 1.5.6Child Exploitation (including Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation) (Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)
7. 1.5.7EDT Protocol (Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures)

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.6.1Complaints and RepresentationsFebruary 5, 2026
2. 1.6.2Employee Whistleblowing PolicyFebruary 2, 2024

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesFebruary 2, 2024
2. 2.0.2Case RetentionFebruary 2, 2024
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsFebruary 5, 2025
4. 2.0.4Electronic Recording of MeetingsFebruary 5, 2025
5. 2.0.5Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesFebruary 5, 2026

3.Prevention and Family Support

1. 3.0.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsFebruary 5, 2026
2. 3.0.2Private FosteringFebruary 5, 2026
3. 3.0.3Provision of Accommodation to Homeless 16 and 17 year olds
   Updated
   March 17, 2026
4. 3.0.4Young Carers
   Updated
   February 5, 2026
5. 3.0.5Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingAugust 12, 2024

4.Children in Particular Circumstances

4.1Children with Disabilities

1. 4.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and/or DisabilitiesFebruary 5, 2025
2. 4.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsFebruary 5, 2025
3. 4.1.3Short BreaksFebruary 5, 2026
4. 4.1.4Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkFebruary 5, 2025
5. 4.1.5Cumbria Short Breaks Service Statement

4.2Children from Abroad

1. 4.2.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryFebruary 5, 2026
2. 4.2.2Families with No Recourse to Public Funds
   Updated
   February 5, 2026

4.3Relinquished Children

1. 4.3.1Relinquished ChildrenFebruary 5, 2026

4.4Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

1. 4.4.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983August 12, 2025
2. 4.4.2Deprivation of Liberty
3. 4.4.3Mental Capacity

5.Cared For Children

5.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 5.1.1Decision to Care For and Care PlanningFebruary 5, 2025
2. 5.1.2Care PlanningAugust 12, 2024
3. 5.1.3Ceasing to Care for a ChildFebruary 5, 2026
4. 5.1.4Permanence Policy and Practice GuidanceFebruary 5, 2026
5. 5.1.5A Child’s Home Planning and Disruption MeetingsAugust 12, 2024
6. 5.1.6Risk Assessment and PlanningFebruary 5, 2026
7. 5.1.7Providing Personalised CareFebruary 28, 2023
8. 5.1.8Placements in Foster CareFebruary 5, 2026
9. 5.1.9Placements in Residential CareFebruary 5, 2026
10. 5.1.10Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation
    Updated
    February 5, 2026
11. 5.1.11Out of Area PlacementsAugust 12, 2025
12. 5.1.12Placements with Connected PersonsAugust 12, 2024
13. 5.1.13Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsFebruary 5, 2026
14. 5.1.14Placements with ParentsFebruary 5, 2026
15. 5.1.15Homes for cared for children Outside England and WalesAugust 12, 2024
16. 5.1.16Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersFebruary 28, 2023
17. 5.1.17Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersAugust 11, 2023
18. 5.1.18Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Cared For ChildrenFebruary 5, 2026
19. 5.1.19Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsFebruary 5, 2026
20. 5.1.20Placements in Other ArrangementsFebruary 2, 2024
21. 5.1.21Health and SafetyAugust 12, 2025
22. 5.1.22Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Cared For ChildrenFebruary 5, 2026
23. 5.1.23Sufficiency AnalysisAugust 11, 2023
24. 5.1.24Placement of Cumbria Children in Unregulated or Unregistered Supported AccommodationAugust 11, 2023
25. 5.1.25NICE Guideline: Cared For Children and Young People

5.2Monitoring and Reviews

1. 5.2.1Social Worker Visits to Cared for ChildrenFebruary 5, 2026
2. 5.2.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsAugust 12, 2024
3. 5.2.3Children Cared For ReviewsAugust 12, 2025
4. 5.2.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersAugust 12, 2024
5. 5.2.5Outcome Resolution ProcessAugust 12, 2025
6. 5.2.6Need to Know Policy and Procedure (Internal Notifications)February 5, 2026

5.3Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 5.3.1Supervised Family Time GuidanceAugust 12, 2025
2. 5.3.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)August 12, 2024

5.4Education, School Trips and Holidays

1. 5.4.1Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Cared for and Previously Cared for ChildrenFebruary 5, 2026
2. 5.4.2Holidays and School Trips in the UKAugust 12, 2025
3. 5.4.3Holidays and School Trips Outside the UKAugust 12, 2025
4. 5.4.4Leisure ActivitiesAugust 12, 2025

5.5Health and Wellbeing

1. 5.5.1Health Care Assessments and PlansFebruary 2, 2024
2. 5.5.2Personal Care and RelationshipsFebruary 5, 2026
3. 5.5.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour Support
   Updated
   February 5, 2026
4. 5.5.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint
   Updated
   February 5, 2026

5.6Identity

1. 5.6.1Change of Name of a Cared for ChildFebruary 5, 2026
2. 5.6.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Cared for ChildFebruary 5, 2026

5.7Leaving Care and Transition

1. 5.7.1Care Experienced and TransitionAugust 12, 2025
2. 5.7.2Staying Put PolicyFebruary 5, 2026
3. 5.7.3Financial Arrangements for Cared For Children and Care Experienced (Aged 16 To 21/25)August 18, 2025

5.8Children involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 5.8.1Cared for Children and Young People with Youth Justice Services
   Updated
   February 5, 2026
2. 5.8.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Cared for Children and Young People in CustodyFebruary 5, 2026
3. 5.8.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance
   Updated
   February 5, 2026

6.Fostering and Adoption

6.1Fostering Services

1. 6.1.1Fostering PanelAugust 12, 2024
2. 6.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringFebruary 28, 2023
3. 6.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersAugust 12, 2025
4. 6.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalFebruary 28, 2023
5. 6.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersAugust 12, 2024
6. 6.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersAugust 12, 2024
7. 6.1.7Child MindingAugust 12, 2024
8. 6.1.8Procedure for Foster Carers who Wish to Adopt a Child Currently in their Care, including Fostering After AdoptingAugust 12, 2024
9. 6.1.9Foster Carers Possessing Guns and WeaponsAugust 12, 2024
10. 6.1.10Allegations Against Foster CarersFebruary 5, 2026
11. 6.1.11Training and Development of Foster CarersAugust 12, 2024

6.2Adoption and Permanence

1. 6.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersAugust 18, 2025
2. 6.2.2Adoption PanelFebruary 2, 2024
3. 6.2.3Placement for AdoptionFebruary 5, 2025
4. 6.2.4Adoption Support
   Updated
   February 5, 2026
5. 6.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsAugust 12, 2024
6. 6.2.6Adoption Reviews - ChildrenAugust 12, 2024
7. 6.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsFebruary 2, 2024
8. 6.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedFebruary 5, 2026
9. 6.2.9Inter Country AdoptionAugust 12, 2024
10. 6.2.10Non Agency AdoptionAugust 12, 2024
11. 6.2.11Adoption Case RecordsFebruary 2, 2024
12. 6.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsAugust 12, 2024
13. 6.2.13Intermediary ServicesAugust 12, 2024
14. 6.2.14Applications for Special Guardianship Orders
    Updated
    February 5, 2026
15. 6.2.15Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceAugust 12, 2024
16. 6.2.16Life Story Books GuidanceAugust 12, 2024
17. 6.2.17Later Life LettersAugust 12, 2024
18. 6.2.18Early Permanence: Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersFebruary 2, 2024
19. 6.2.19Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

7.Appendices

1. 7.0.1Ofsted Inspection FrameworkFebruary 5, 2025
2. 7.0.2Delegation of Authority (Documents Library, Appendices)
3. 7.0.3Working Together to Safeguard Children
4. 7.0.4Amendments