Contents

1.All Children

1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Our Vision for Children, Schools and Families in BexleyMay 30, 2024
2. 1.1.2Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles October 22, 2024
3. 1.1.3Director's Statement on Approving Policy Changes for Bexley Children's Social CareMay 30, 2024
4. 1.1.4Signs of Safety Practice Framework and ExpectationsApril 11, 2025
5. 1.1.5Bexley Quality Assurance FrameworkApril 11, 2025
6. 1.1.6Bexley Children's Social Care Supervision PolicyApril 11, 2025
7. 1.1.7Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022

1.2Participation Policy of Children and Young People

1. 1.2.1Children's Consultation and ParticipationJune 3, 2024
2. 1.2.299 Ways and Bexley Looked After Children CommitmentsMay 30, 2024
3. 1.2.3Super Hero Corporate ParentsMay 30, 2024
4. 1.2.4Capacity and ConsentMay 21, 2024

1.3Early Help and Thresholds for Children's Social Care Services

1. 1.3.1Early Help: Family Wellbeing Procedure and Practice GuidanceApril 11, 2025
2. 1.3.2The Bexley Threshold: Bexley Safeguarding Partnership - Effective Support for Children, Young People and Families in BexleyMay 30, 2024
3. 1.3.3Having a Child Through Surrogacy
4. 1.3.4Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.4Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.4.1Contacts and ReferralsApril 11, 2025
2. 1.4.2AssessmentsOctober 9, 2025
3. 1.4.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)April 11, 2025
4. 1.4.4Case Management Review Panel ProtocolApril 11, 2025
5. 1.4.5NeglectOctober 9, 2025
6. 1.4.6Team Remit and Case Transfer Between TeamsApril 11, 2025
7. 1.4.7Neglect Procedure (London Safeguarding Children Procedures)
8. 1.4.8Child Protection S47 Enquiries (London Safeguarding Children Procedures)
9. 1.4.9Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers (People in Positions of Trust), who Work with Children (London Safeguarding Children Procedures)

1.5Child in Need

1. 1.5.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsApril 11, 2025
2. 1.5.2Signs of Safety Direct Work ResourcesMay 30, 2024

1.6Legal Proceedings

1. 1.6.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersJune 4, 2024
2. 1.6.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineOctober 9, 2025
3. 1.6.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsJune 6, 2024
4. 1.6.4Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance
   Updated
   October 9, 2025
5. 1.6.5Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
6. 1.6.6Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
7. 1.6.7Family 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.

1.7Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.7.1Children’s Social Care Statutory Complaints ProcedureOctober 9, 2025
2. 1.7.2Bexley Corporate Complaints ProcedureMay 30, 2024
3. 1.7.3Internal Children's Services Escalation ProcedureMay 30, 2024
4. 1.7.4Bexley Whistleblowing Policy and ProcedureMay 30, 2024

1.8Notifications

1. 1.8.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)June 6, 2024
2. 1.8.2Bexley Serious Incident Notification PolicyOctober 9, 2025

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesOctober 9, 2025
2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionMay 2, 2024
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsOctober 9, 2025
4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyOctober 22, 2024
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsJune 6, 2024
6. 2.0.6Case Load Guide for Children's Social CareMay 30, 2024
7. 2.0.7Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffMarch 28, 2024
8. 2.0.8Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesApril 11, 2025

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities

1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesApril 11, 2025
2. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsOctober 9, 2025
3. 3.1.3Short BreaksMay 30, 2024
4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsOctober 9, 2025
5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkOctober 22, 2024

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 SlaveryOctober 9, 2025
2. 3.3.2Modern Day SlaveryMay 30, 2024
3. 3.3.3Families with No Recourse to Public FundsOctober 9, 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
   October 9, 2025

3.5Family and Friends Care

1. 3.5.1Kinship Care
   Updated
   October 9, 2025
2. 3.5.2Private FosteringOctober 22, 2024
3. 3.5.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingOctober 9, 2025

3.6Young Carers

1. 3.6.1Young Carers
   Updated
   October 9, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenOctober 9, 2025

3.8Mental Health

1. 3.8.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983October 22, 2024

4.Children in Our Care

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Children in Our Care
   Updated
   October 9, 2025
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterOctober 9, 2025
3. 4.1.3Care PlanningJune 6, 2024
4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildOctober 9, 2025
5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceOctober 9, 2025
6. 4.1.6Permanence Panel Protocol and Terms of ReferenceMay 30, 2024
7. 4.1.7Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsMay 30, 2024
8. 4.1.8Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children
   Updated
   October 9, 2025
9. 4.1.9Children's Social Care Resource and Care PanelOctober 9, 2025
10. 4.1.10Risk Assessment and PlanningMay 30, 2024
11. 4.1.11Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
12. 4.1.12NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People
13. 4.1.13Promoting Wellbeing and Positive Identity for a Child or Young Person Who is Looked After: A Quick Guide for Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsJune 6, 2024
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsOctober 9, 2025
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareOctober 22, 2024
4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareOctober 22, 2024
5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsOctober 9, 2025
6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsOctober 9, 2025
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesOctober 9, 2025
8. 4.2.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationJune 5, 2024
9. 4.2.9Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersJune 6, 2024
10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersJune 6, 2024
11. 4.2.11Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyApril 11, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Children in Our CareOctober 9, 2025
2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsJune 5, 2024
3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsOctober 9, 2025
4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersJune 5, 2024
5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsJune 6, 2024
6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsJune 6, 2024

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Family Time with Parents/Adults and SiblingsApril 11, 2025
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)June 6, 2024

4.5Education, School Trips and Holidays

1. 4.5.1Education of Children in Our Care and Children Previously in Our CareJuly 25, 2023
2. 4.5.2Virtual SchoolMay 30, 2024
3. 4.5.3Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK
   Updated
   October 9, 2025
4. 4.5.4Leisure ActivitiesMarch 23, 2022

4.6Education Matters

1. 4.6.1Children Missing Education and Pupils Missing Out on EducationOctober 9, 2025
2. 4.6.2Elective Home Education PolicyOctober 9, 2025
3. 4.6.3Education Briefing for Social Workers (for Children in Need)May 30, 2024

4.7Children Missing from Home and Care

1. 4.7.1Children Missing from Home, Care or Education (London Safeguarding Children Procedures)

4.8Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.8.1Health Care Assessments and PlansJune 5, 2024
2. 4.8.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJuly 26, 2022
3. 4.8.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
4. 4.8.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintMay 30, 2024

4.9Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

1. 4.9.1Change of Name of a Child in Our CareJune 5, 2024
2. 4.9.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child in Our CareMay 30, 2024

4.10Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.10.1Leaving Care and TransitionApril 11, 2025
2. 4.10.2Staying PutJune 6, 2024
3. 4.10.3Keeping on Caring - Our Offer for Young Adults Leaving the Council's CareMay 30, 2024

4.11Youth Offending

1. 4.11.1Children in Our Care and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesOctober 9, 2025
2. 4.11.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Children in Our Care and Young People in CustodyOctober 9, 2025
3. 4.11.3Protocol for the Exercise of Joint Responsibilities between Bexley Youth Offending (YOS) Service and Bexley Children's Social CareOctober 9, 2025
4. 4.11.4Resettlement PolicyOctober 9, 2025
5. 4.11.5Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance
   Updated
   October 9, 2025
6. 4.11.6Policy Updates - for Bexley protocols and guidance documents.

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelJuly 26, 2022
2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringJune 5, 2024
3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersApril 11, 2025
4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalJune 6, 2024
5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersJune 6, 2024
6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJune 6, 2024
7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersApril 11, 2025
8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Adoption Partnership South East Regional Adoption Agency Procedures
2. 5.2.2Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersOctober 9, 2025
2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceJune 6, 2024

6.Safeguarding Children Procedures

1. 6.0.1SHIELD Bexley Safeguarding Children Partnership should be accessed for guidance for all practitioners on a range of topics including Child Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery, Children who are Missing and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
2. 6.0.2London Safeguarding Children Procedures
3. 6.0.3Child Exploitation

7.Local Contacts and Agency Decision Makers

1. 7.0.1Local ContactsOctober 9, 2025
2. 7.0.2Agency Decision Maker List

8.Additional Procedures

1. 8.0.1Ofsted Inspection FrameworkApril 11, 2025
2. 8.0.2Children's Complaints LeafletJune 4, 2024
3. 8.0.3Group Supervision GuideOctober 22, 2024
4. 8.0.4Lone Working PolicyOctober 22, 2024
5. 8.0.5Working Together to Safeguard Children
6. 8.0.6Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children and young people in education settings
7. 8.0.7CAFCASS Public Law Cases
8. 8.0.8London Safeguarding Children Procedures