Contents

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles March 27, 2026
2. 1.1.2Children's Consultation and ParticipationMay 16, 2025
3. 1.1.3Safer Working Practice and Electronic CommunicationMay 16, 2025
4. 1.1.4Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022

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

1. 1.2.1Early Help, Family Support and Young People's StrategyMay 16, 2025
2. 1.2.2Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024
3. 1.2.3Pan Dorset Continuum of NeedMay 19, 2025
4. 1.2.4Capacity and ConsentMay 21, 2024
5. 1.2.5Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsMarch 27, 2026
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsOctober 9, 2025
3. 1.3.3Local Protocol for AssessmentMay 16, 2025
4. 1.3.4Local Offer for AssessmentMay 16, 2025
5. 1.3.5Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)May 19, 2025
6. 1.3.6Allocation of Work and Transfer between TeamsMay 16, 2025
7. 1.3.7Pan Dorset Safeguarding Procedures

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsMay 19, 2025

1.5Legal Proceedings

1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersMay 16, 2025
2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJune 23, 2022
3. 1.5.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsAugust 19, 2024
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.

1.6Complaints and Whistleblowing

1. 1.6.1Complaints and RepresentationsMarch 27, 2026
2. 1.6.2Whistleblowing PolicyMay 16, 2025

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 9, 2025

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesSeptember 19, 2023
2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionMay 19, 2025
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsMay 19, 2025
4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyMay 21, 2024
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsMay 19, 2025
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

3.Children in Particular Circumstances

3.1Children with Disabilities

1. 3.1.1Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesAugust 20, 2024
2. 3.1.2Local Offer Preparing for AdulthoodOctober 9, 2025
3. 3.1.3Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsMay 21, 2024
4. 3.1.4Short BreaksMarch 27, 2026
5. 3.1.5Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsOctober 9, 2025
6. 3.1.6Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 2024

3.2Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Capacity

1. 3.2.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024
2. 3.2.2Deprivation of Liberty
3. 3.2.3Mental Capacity

3.3Children from Abroad

1. 3.3.1Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern SlaveryMay 19, 2025
2. 3.3.2Families 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 ReferOctober 9, 2025

3.5Family and Friends Care

1. 3.5.1Kinship CareOctober 9, 2025
2. 3.5.2Private FosteringMay 19, 2025

3.6Young Carers

1. 3.6.1Young CarersOctober 9, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenMay 19, 2025

4.Looked After Children

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Sufficiency StrategyMay 19, 2025
2. 4.1.2Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenOctober 9, 2025
3. 4.1.3Decision to Look AfterOctober 9, 2024
4. 4.1.4Care PlanningAugust 19, 2024
5. 4.1.5Ceasing to Look After a ChildSeptember 19, 2023
6. 4.1.6Permanence Planning GuidanceMay 19, 2025
7. 4.1.7Risk Assessment and PlanningMarch 26, 2026
8. 4.1.8Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
9. 4.1.9Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsMay 19, 2025
10. 4.1.10Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenOctober 9, 2025
11. 4.1.11NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsMay 19, 2025
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsMay 19, 2025
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareMay 19, 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 PlacementsMay 19, 2025
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesMay 19, 2025
8. 4.2.8Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
9. 4.2.9Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationMay 19, 2025
10. 4.2.10Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersMay 19, 2025
11. 4.2.11Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersMarch 27, 2026
12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyMay 19, 2025

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenMay 19, 2025
2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsMay 19, 2025
3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsJanuary 17, 2025
4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersMay 19, 2025
5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsMay 19, 2025
6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsOctober 9, 2025

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Contact with Parents/Adults and SiblingsMay 19, 2025
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)March 27, 2026

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 UKOctober 9, 2025
3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesOctober 9, 2025

4.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansMay 19, 2025
2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsMay 19, 2025
3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour ManagementMarch 17, 2023
4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintMay 19, 2025

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildMay 19, 2025
2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildMay 16, 2025

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionOctober 9, 2025
2. 4.8.2Staying PutOctober 9, 2025
3. 4.8.3Financial Arrangements for Care LeaversMay 19, 2025

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 4.9.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesMay 19, 2025
2. 4.9.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyMarch 27, 2026
3. 4.9.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceOctober 9, 2025

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

1. 5.1.1Fostering PanelMay 19, 2025
2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringMay 19, 2025
3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersMay 21, 2024
4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalSeptember 23, 2024
5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersMarch 27, 2026
6. 5.1.6Training and Development of Foster CarersMay 19, 2025
7. 5.1.7Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersMay 19, 2025
8. 5.1.8Allegations Against Foster CarersMarch 27, 2026
9. 5.1.9BCP Fostering Statement of PurposeMay 19, 2025

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersMay 19, 2025
2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelMay 19, 2025
3. 5.2.3Placement for AdoptionAugust 20, 2024
4. 5.2.4Adoption SupportMay 19, 2025
5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsMay 19, 2025
6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsMay 19, 2025
7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsNovember 28, 2023
8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedMay 19, 2025
9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionMay 21, 2024
10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionMay 21, 2024
11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsMay 19, 2025
12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsMay 19, 2025
13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesMay 19, 2025
14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceMay 21, 2024
15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersMay 21, 2024
16. 5.2.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersMay 19, 2025
17. 5.2.17Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship OrdersMay 19, 2025
2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceMay 19, 2025

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 6.0.1Ofsted Inspection FrameworkAugust 20, 2024
2. 6.0.2Local ContactsMay 16, 2025
3. 6.0.3List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated OfficersMay 16, 2025
4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
5. 6.0.5Amendments