Contents

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles April 29, 2025
2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationFebruary 13, 2025
3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022
4. 1.1.4Practice StandardsFebruary 12, 2025
5. 1.1.5Practice ModelFebruary 12, 2025
6. 1.1.6Local Resources

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

1. 1.2.1Early Help WorkflowMarch 24, 2026
2. 1.2.2Threshold Document - Continuum of Help and Support February 12, 2025
3. 1.2.3Advice for Professionals: How to Make a Safeguarding ReferralOctober 7, 2025
4. 1.2.4Capacity and ConsentOctober 7, 2025
5. 1.2.5Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)
6. 1.2.6Local Resources

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsFebruary 12, 2025
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsOctober 7, 2025
3. 1.3.3Local Protocol for AssessmentFebruary 12, 2025
4. 1.3.4Lambeth Pre-Birth Assessment Practice GuidanceFebruary 12, 2025
5. 1.3.5Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)February 12, 2025
6. 1.3.6London Safeguarding Children Procedures
7. 1.3.7Local Resources

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsFebruary 12, 2025
2. 1.4.2Local Resources

1.5Legal Proceedings

1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersMarch 24, 2026
2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineUnder Review
3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsFebruary 12, 2025
4. 1.5.4Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol
5. 1.5.5Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
6. 1.5.6Family 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.
7. 1.5.7Local Resources

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.6.1Complaints and RepresentationsMarch 24, 2026
2. 1.6.2Lambeth Whistleblowing PolicyFebruary 12, 2025
3. 1.6.3Local Resources

1.7Notifications

1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Injury to a Child Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24October 7, 2025
2. 1.7.2Local Resources

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesApril 29, 2025
2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionJanuary 16, 2025
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsApril 29, 2025
4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsDecember 18, 2024
6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffMarch 28, 2024
7. 2.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesNovember 27, 2024
8. 2.0.8Local Resources

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 29, 2025
2. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsApril 29, 2025
3. 3.1.3Short BreaksApril 29, 2025
4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsOctober 7, 2025
5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 2024
6. 3.1.6Local Resources

3.2Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

1. 3.2.1Deprivation of Liberty
2. 3.2.2Mental Capacity
3. 3.2.3Local Resources

3.3Child Protection

1. 3.3.1Lambeth Children's Social Care Child Sexual ExploitationFebruary 12, 2025
2. 3.3.2Missing from Home and Care ProtocolApril 29, 2025

3.4Children from Abroad

1. 3.4.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryApril 29, 2025
2. 3.4.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsOctober 7, 2025
3. 3.4.3Supporting Ukrainian Refugees with Sponsor HouseholdsFebruary 12, 2025
4. 3.4.4Local Resources

3.5Homelessness

1. 3.5.1Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to ReferOctober 7, 2025
2. 3.5.2Local Resources

3.6Family and Friends Care

1. 3.6.1Kinship CareUnder Review
2. 3.6.2Private FosteringFebruary 13, 2025
3. 3.6.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024
4. 3.6.4Local Resources

3.7Young Carers

1. 3.7.1Young CarersOctober 7, 2025
2. 3.7.2Local Resources

3.8Relinquished Children

1. 3.8.1Relinquished ChildrenApril 29, 2025
2. 3.8.2Local Resources

3.9Mental Health

1. 3.9.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983April 29, 2025
2. 3.9.2Local Resources

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenOctober 7, 2025
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterFebruary 13, 2025
3. 4.1.3Care PlanningAugust 19, 2024
4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildFebruary 13, 2025
5. 4.1.5Permanence Planning GuidanceApril 29, 2025
6. 4.1.6Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsFebruary 13, 2025
7. 4.1.7Missing from Home and Care ProtocolApril 29, 2025
8. 4.1.8Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenMarch 24, 2026
9. 4.1.9Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 24, 2026
10. 4.1.10Providing Personalised CareFebruary 13, 2025
11. 4.1.11NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People
12. 4.1.12Local Resources

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsMarch 24, 2026
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsMarch 24, 2026
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareFebruary 13, 2025
4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareFebruary 13, 2025
5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsFebruary 13, 2025
6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsFebruary 13, 2025
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesFebruary 13, 2025
8. 4.2.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationMarch 26, 2026
9. 4.2.9Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersSeptember 23, 2024
10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersFebruary 13, 2025
11. 4.2.11Unregulated Placements ProcedureFebruary 12, 2025
12. 4.2.12Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
13. 4.2.13Health and SafetyOctober 7, 2025
14. 4.2.14Local Resources

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenApril 29, 2025
2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsFebruary 13, 2025
3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsApril 29, 2025
4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersFebruary 13, 2025
5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsFebruary 13, 2025
6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsOctober 7, 2025
7. 4.3.7Local Resources

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsMarch 24, 2026
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)March 24, 2026
3. 4.4.3Local Resources

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 ChildrenMarch 24, 2026
2. 4.5.2Promoting the Education of Children with a Social WorkerMarch 24, 2026
3. 4.5.3Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKOctober 7, 2025
4. 4.5.4Leisure ActivitiesOctober 7, 2025
5. 4.5.5Local Resources

4.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansFebruary 13, 2025
2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsFebruary 13, 2025
3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 26, 2026
4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintOctober 7, 2025
5. 4.6.5Local Resources

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
3. 4.7.3Local Resources

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionApril 29, 2025
2. 4.8.2Staying PutMarch 24, 2026
3. 4.8.3Local Resources

4.9Youth Justice Service

1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesMarch 24, 2026
2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyFebruary 13, 2025
3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceOctober 7, 2025
4. 4.9.4Youth Justice Board National Standards
5. 4.9.5Case Management Guidelines
6. 4.9.6YJB and Probation Joint National Protocol for Transitions in England
7. 4.9.7Local Resources

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelJuly 26, 2022
2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringJuly 26, 2022
3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersApril 29, 2025
4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersFebruary 13, 2025
6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersApril 29, 2025
8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022
9. 5.1.9Local Resources

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Adoption PanelApril 29, 2025
2. 5.2.2Placement for AdoptionApril 29, 2025
3. 5.2.3Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsNovember 28, 2023
4. 5.2.4Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedApril 29, 2025
5. 5.2.5Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
6. 5.2.6Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
7. 5.2.7Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersApril 29, 2025
8. 5.2.8Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere
9. 5.2.9Local Resources

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersMarch 24, 2026
2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceSeptember 23, 2024
3. 5.3.3Local Resources

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 6.0.1Local ContactsMarch 24, 2026
2. 6.0.2List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersMarch 24, 2026
3. 6.0.3Ofsted Inspection FrameworkApril 29, 2025
4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
5. 6.0.5Amendments
6. 6.0.6Local Resources