Contents

1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

1. 1.1.1Cheshire East - Together: Our Vision for Children and Young PeopleJanuary 14, 2026
2. 1.1.2Children and Young People's Plan 2022 - 2026January 10, 2024
3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022

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

1. 1.2.1Early Help Framework June 27, 2023
2. 1.2.2Early Help Forms and Support for ProfessionalsJune 27, 2023
3. 1.2.3Capacity and ConsentJuly 9, 2024
4. 1.2.4Multi Agency Threshold of Need Guidance – Right Help Right TimeAugust 30, 2023
5. 1.2.5Start for Life, Family Help and the Youth Support Service
   Updated
   January 14, 2026

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsJuly 9, 2024
2. 1.3.2AssessmentsJuly 9, 2025
3. 1.3.3Child Protection Enquiries (Section 47)December 18, 2024
4. 1.3.4Transfer Points between the Children in Need and Child Protection, Children with Disabilities and the Cared for Children and Care Leavers TeamsJuly 9, 2025
5. 1.3.5Multi-Agency Safeguarding Children Procedures (Cheshire East Safeguarding Children's Partnership Online Procedures)
6. 1.3.6North West Association of Directors of Children's Services (NWADCS) Procedures and Resources

1.4Child in Need

1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsJune 27, 2023

1.5Legal Proceedings

1. 1.5.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersJune 27, 2023
2. 1.5.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law OutlineJanuary 9, 2026
3. 1.5.3Pre-proceedings and Public Law Outline: Practice and PrinciplesJune 27, 2023
4. 1.5.4Cross-border child protection cases: the 1996 Hague Convention (DfE)
5. 1.5.5Family 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. 1.6.1Children's Social Care Complaints Policy
2. 1.6.2Whistleblowing

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 24)
   Updated
   January 9, 2026

2.Case Management and Recording

1. 2.0.1Recording Policy and GuidelinesJuly 19, 2024
2. 2.0.2Case Records and RetentionJune 27, 2023
3. 2.0.3Access to Records/Subject Access RequestsJune 27, 2023
4. 2.0.4Confidentiality PolicyJuly 9, 2024
5. 2.0.5Electronic Recording of Meetings and ConversationsFebruary 2, 2022
6. 2.0.6Use of Social Media Sites by Social Care and Safeguarding StaffDecember 18, 2024
7. 2.0.7Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesDecember 18, 2024

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 DisabilitiesDecember 18, 2024
2. 3.1.2Personal budgets and Direct PaymentsDecember 18, 2024
3. 3.1.3Short BreaksJanuary 9, 2026
4. 3.1.4Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsJanuary 9, 2026
5. 3.1.5Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkDecember 18, 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 SlaveryDecember 18, 2024
2. 3.3.2Families with No Recourse to Public FundsJuly 9, 2025

3.4Homelessness

1. 3.4.116/17-Year-Old Homeless/Emergency Accommodation Joint Working Protocol (January 2025)

3.5Family and Friends Care

1. 3.5.1Kinship Care
   Updated
   January 9, 2026
2. 3.5.2Private FosteringDecember 18, 2024
3. 3.5.3Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingJuly 9, 2024

3.6Young Carers

1. 3.6.1Young CarersJuly 9, 2025

3.7Relinquished Children

1. 3.7.1Relinquished ChildrenJanuary 9, 2026

3.8Mental Health

1. 3.8.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983December 18, 2024

4.Looked After Children

1. 4.0.1For local practice guidance and forms for Cared for Children and Care Leavers, please click here

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

1. 4.1.1Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After ChildrenJune 27, 2023
2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterDecember 18, 2024
3. 4.1.3Care PlanningJanuary 10, 2024
4. 4.1.4Ceasing to Look After a ChildDecember 18, 2024
5. 4.1.5Placement Planning and Disruption MeetingsJanuary 10, 2024
6. 4.1.6Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After Children
   Updated
   January 9, 2026
7. 4.1.7Risk Assessment and PlanningJanuary 9, 2026
8. 4.1.8Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
9. 4.1.9Permanency Planning Policy and Procedures
10. 4.1.10NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

1. 4.2.1Placements with ParentsJanuary 10, 2024
2. 4.2.2Placements with Connected PersonsJuly 9, 2024
3. 4.2.3Placements in Foster CareDecember 18, 2024
4. 4.2.4Placements in Residential CareDecember 18, 2024
5. 4.2.5Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsJuly 9, 2024
6. 4.2.6Out of Area PlacementsJanuary 9, 2026
7. 4.2.7Placements Outside England and WalesJuly 26, 2022
8. 4.2.8Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation
   Updated
   January 9, 2026
9. 4.2.9Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersFebruary 7, 2022
10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential WorkersJune 27, 2023
11. 4.2.11Placements in Other ArrangementsJanuary 10, 2024
12. 4.2.12Health and SafetyDecember 18, 2024

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenJuly 26, 2022
2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsJune 27, 2023
3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsJune 27, 2023
4. 4.3.4Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersJanuary 9, 2026
5. 4.3.5Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsFebruary 7, 2022
6. 4.3.6Notifications of Significant EventsJanuary 9, 2026

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

1. 4.4.1Family Time Policy (Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings)January 10, 2024
2. 4.4.2Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays)July 9, 2024

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 9, 2024
2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKJuly 9, 2025
3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesJuly 9, 2025

4.6Health and Wellbeing

1. 4.6.1Health Care Assessments and PlansJuly 9, 2024
2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJuly 26, 2022
3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour Support
   Updated
   January 9, 2026
4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint
   Updated
   January 9, 2026

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildJuly 26, 2022
2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildJanuary 10, 2024

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

1. 4.8.1Leaving Care and TransitionDecember 18, 2024
2. 4.8.2Staying PutJanuary 9, 2026
3. 4.8.3Financial Arrangements for Care Leavers

4.9Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

1. 4.9.1Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceJuly 9, 2025

5.Fostering and Adoption

1. 5.0.1Cheshire East Council Fostering Service ProceduresOctober 13, 2025
2. 5.0.2Fostering in Cheshire with Cheshire East Council

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 CarersDecember 18, 2024
4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalJuly 26, 2022
5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersJuly 9, 2024
6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersJanuary 9, 2026
8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

1. 5.2.1Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective AdoptersJuly 19, 2024
2. 5.2.2Adoption PanelJuly 26, 2022
3. 5.2.3Placement for AdoptionDecember 18, 2024
4. 5.2.4Adoption Support
   Updated
   January 9, 2026
5. 5.2.5Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive PlacementsJuly 26, 2022
6. 5.2.6Adoption ReviewsJuly 26, 2022
7. 5.2.7Disruption of Adoptive PlacementsJuly 26, 2022
8. 5.2.8Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already AdoptedDecember 18, 2024
9. 5.2.9Inter Country AdoptionJuly 26, 2022
10. 5.2.10Non Agency AdoptionJuly 26, 2022
11. 5.2.11Adoption Case RecordsFebruary 8, 2022
12. 5.2.12Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case RecordsJuly 26, 2022
13. 5.2.13Intermediary ServicesJuly 26, 2022
14. 5.2.14Life Story Books GuidanceNovember 15, 2021
15. 5.2.15Later Life LettersNovember 15, 2021
16. 5.2.16Early Permanence: Fostering for Adoption, Concurrent Planning and Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective AdoptersJanuary 10, 2024
17. 5.2.17Regional Adoption Agency - Adoption Counts
18. 5.2.18Adoption Strategy: Achieving Excellence Everywhere

5.3Special Guardianship

1. 5.3.1Applications for Special Guardianship Orders
   Updated
   January 9, 2026
2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Placement Order Applications and Adoption/Special Guardianship GuidanceJuly 9, 2024

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

1. 6.0.1List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers
   Updated
   January 14, 2026
2. 6.0.2Services from Children's Social CareJanuary 10, 2024
3. 6.0.3Ofsted Inspection FrameworkDecember 18, 2024
4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children