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Working Together To Safeguard Children 2026 Update.

The Mental Health Act 2025 Reforms.

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Policies and Procedures

Following its launch on 01 April 2020, Adoption Lancashire & Blackpool (the Regional Adoption Agency) will recruit, assess and approve adopters, find families to meet the needs of children that are waiting to be adopted, provide adoption support services to adoptive families and run adoption panels.

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1.All Children

1.1Introduction

  1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles July 22, 2025
  2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationJuly 22, 2025
  3. 1.1.3Quality Assurance FrameworkJanuary 27, 2025
  4. 1.1.4Capacity and ConsentJanuary 27, 2026
  5. 1.1.5Equality and DiversityJanuary 27, 2025

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

  1. 1.2.1Working Well with Children and Families in LancashireApril 17, 2024
  2. 1.2.2Families Together MeetingsJanuary 27, 2025

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Support

  1. 1.3.1Requests for Support, Contacts and ReferralsJuly 22, 2025
  2. 1.3.2Assessments and SupportJanuary 27, 2026
  3. 1.3.3Section 47 Enquiries - Practice GuidanceJanuary 27, 2025
  4. 1.3.4Assessment and Support Team (AST) Responsibilities and Transfer Policy from AST to the Strengthening and Supporting, Children in Our Care, Children with Complex Needs and Awaken TeamsApril 17, 2024
  5. 1.3.5North West Resource
  6. 1.3.6Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and Lancashire Children's Safeguarding Assurance Partnership (CSAP) Procedures

1.4Child in Need

  1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsJuly 22, 2025

1.5Legal Proceedings

  1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersJanuary 27, 2025
  2. 1.5.2Managing Decision Making in Relation to Legal Proceedings within Social Care - Guidance for StaffApril 26, 2024
  3. 1.5.3Care Planning MeetingsJuly 22, 2024
  4. 1.5.4Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJanuary 27, 2025
  5. 1.5.5The Family Court in Lancashire – Guidance as to Current Practices and ProcedureJanuary 27, 2025
  6. 1.5.6Lancashire Guidance Note: Non-Compliance With Directions Orders and Request for Extensions of Time for ComplianceJanuary 27, 2025
  7. 1.5.7Lancashire Protocol Relating to the Disclosure to and from Family Care ProceedingsJanuary 27, 2025
  8. 1.5.8Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of Information in Cases of Alleged Child Abuse and Linked Criminal and Care Direction Hearings (October 2013)
  9. 1.5.9Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
  10. 1.5.10Family 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.

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

  1. 1.6.1Complaints and RepresentationsJanuary 27, 2026
  2. 1.6.2WhistleblowingJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 1.6.3Concerns Resolution ProtocolJuly 22, 2025

1.7Notifications

  1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Harm to a Child (Looked After, and Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)
    Updated
    January 27, 2026

1.8Supervision of Staff

  1. 1.8.1Supervision GuidanceApril 17, 2024

2.Case Management and Recording

  1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
  2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsJanuary 27, 2025
  4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyJanuary 27, 2025
  5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsJanuary 27, 2025
  6. 2.0.6Photography and Sharing Images Guidance for Photographing and Recording Children During Children's Services Support Activities and EventsJanuary 27, 2025

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities and Complex Health Needs

  1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesJanuary 27, 2025
  2. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 3.1.3Short BreaksApril 26, 2024
  4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsJanuary 27, 2026
  5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkJanuary 27, 2025

3.2Children from Abroad

  1. 3.2.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryJuly 22, 2025
  2. 3.2.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsJanuary 27, 2026

3.3Homelessness

  1. 3.3.1Prevention 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
    January 27, 2026

3.4Family and Friends Care

  1. 3.4.1Kinship Care
    Updated
    January 27, 2026
  2. 3.4.2Private FosteringJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 3.4.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingJanuary 27, 2025
  4. 3.4.4Looking after Someone Else's Child (GOV.UK)

3.5Young Carers

  1. 3.5.1Young Carers
    Updated
    January 27, 2026

3.6Safeguarding Children

  1. 3.6.1Joint Protocol for Children and Young People Who Run Away or Go Missing from Home or CareApril 17, 2024
  2. 3.6.2AWAKEN - Contextual Safeguarding and Missing from Home ServiceJuly 22, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

  1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenJanuary 27, 2026

3.8Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

  1. 3.8.1Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of LibertyJanuary 27, 2025
  2. 3.8.2Mental Capacity Act Resource

3.9Mental Health

  1. 3.9.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983January 27, 2025

4.Children in Our Care

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  1. 4.1.1Blackpool Council Children Looked After and Care Leavers Sufficiency StatementApril 26, 2024
  2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 4.1.3Care PlanningApril 26, 2024
  4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildJanuary 27, 2025
  5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceJanuary 27, 2025
  6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsJanuary 27, 2025
  7. 4.1.7Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children
    Updated
    January 27, 2026
  8. 4.1.8NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

  1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsJanuary 27, 2025
  2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareJanuary 27, 2025
  4. 4.2.4Long Term Fostering for our Children and Young PeopleUnder Review
  5. 4.2.5Placements in Residential CareJanuary 27, 2025
  6. 4.2.6Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsJanuary 27, 2025
  7. 4.2.7Out of Area PlacementsJanuary 27, 2025
  8. 4.2.8Placements Outside England and WalesJanuary 27, 2025
  9. 4.2.9Placements in Other ArrangementsJanuary 27, 2025
  10. 4.2.10Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation
    Updated
    January 27, 2026
  11. 4.2.11Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersJanuary 27, 2025
  12. 4.2.12Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersJanuary 27, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

  1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Our ChildrenJanuary 27, 2025
  2. 4.3.2Disruption Meetings Procedure for Fostering and Residential PlacementsJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 4.3.3Advocacy and Independent VisitorsJanuary 27, 2025
  4. 4.3.4Our Children's ReviewsJuly 22, 2025
  5. 4.3.5Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersJanuary 27, 2025
  6. 4.3.6Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsJanuary 27, 2025
  7. 4.3.7Notifications of Significant EventsJanuary 27, 2026

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

  1. 4.4.1Family Time Policy, Procedures and Practice GuidanceApril 17, 2024
  2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)January 27, 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 ChildrenJanuary 27, 2026
  2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK
    Updated
    January 27, 2026

4.6Health and Wellbeing

  1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansJanuary 27, 2025
  2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 4.6.3Providing Personalised CareJanuary 27, 2025
  4. 4.6.4Positive Relationships and Behaviour Support
    Updated
    January 27, 2026
  5. 4.6.5Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint
    Updated
    January 27, 2026
  6. 4.6.6Risk Assessment and PlanningJanuary 27, 2026
  7. 4.6.7Health and SafetyJuly 22, 2025
  8. 4.6.8Leisure ActivitiesJuly 22, 2025
  9. 4.6.9Promoting Wellbeing and Positive Identity for a Child or Young Person Who is Looked After: A Quick Guide for Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners (NICE)

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

  1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildJanuary 27, 2025
  2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Child who is Looked AfterApril 17, 2024

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

  1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionJuly 22, 2025
  2. 4.8.2Staying PutJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 4.8.3Transition to Adulthood Finance PolicyApril 17, 2024

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services
    Updated
    January 27, 2026
  2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance
    Updated
    January 27, 2026

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

  1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelJanuary 27, 2025
  2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersJuly 22, 2025
  4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalJanuary 27, 2025
  5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersJanuary 27, 2025
  6. 5.1.6Training and Development of Foster CarersJanuary 27, 2025
  7. 5.1.7Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersApril 26, 2024
  8. 5.1.8Guidance for Managing Allegations and Serious Complaints against Foster CarersApril 17, 2024

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

  1. 5.2.1Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersJuly 22, 2025
  2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelJanuary 27, 2025
  3. 5.2.3Placement for AdoptionJuly 22, 2025
  4. 5.2.4Adoption Support
    Updated
    January 27, 2026
  5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsJanuary 27, 2025
  6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsJanuary 27, 2025
  7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsJanuary 27, 2025
  8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedJuly 22, 2025
  9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionJanuary 27, 2025
  10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionJanuary 27, 2025
  11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsJanuary 27, 2025
  12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsJanuary 27, 2025
  13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesJanuary 27, 2025
  14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceJanuary 27, 2025
  15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersJanuary 27, 2025
  16. 5.2.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersJanuary 27, 2025
  17. 5.2.17Adoption Statement of PurposeJanuary 27, 2025
  18. 5.2.18Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

5.3Special Guardianship

  1. 5.3.1Blackpool Council SGO Guidance and ProceduresApril 17, 2024
  2. 5.3.2Applications for Special Guardianship Orders
    Updated
    January 27, 2026
  3. 5.3.3Court Reports in Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceApril 17, 2024

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

  1. 6.0.1Local ContactsJanuary 27, 2025
  2. 6.0.2Scheme of DelegationApril 26, 2024
  3. 6.0.3Ofsted Inspection FrameworkJanuary 27, 2025
  4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
  5. 6.0.5Amendments

Last Updated: July 22, 2025

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