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Supreme Court Ruling on Cheshire West.

Working Together To Safeguard Children 2026 Update.

The Mental Health Act 2025 Reforms.

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1.All Children

1.1Policy, Values and Principles

  1. 1.1.1Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles January 23, 2025
  2. 1.1.2Consultation PolicyJanuary 22, 2025
  3. 1.1.3Equality and DiversityJuly 25, 2022

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

  1. 1.2.1Effective Support for Families in MertonJanuary 21, 2025
  2. 1.2.2Merton Children and Families HubJanuary 21, 2025
  3. 1.2.3Children's Emergency and Out of Hours ProcedureJanuary 21, 2025
  4. 1.2.4Family Networks and Family Group Decision MakingMarch 18, 2024
  5. 1.2.5Capacity and ConsentMay 21, 2024
  6. 1.2.6Early Intervention: Policy and Provision (House of Commons Library)

1.3Children's Social Care - Assessment and Planning

  1. 1.3.1Contacts and ReferralsJune 12, 2025
  2. 1.3.2AssessmentsJune 12, 2025
  3. 1.3.3Child Protection EnquiriesJanuary 22, 2025
  4. 1.3.4Merton Effective Support GuidanceJanuary 21, 2025

1.4Child in Need

  1. 1.4.1Child in Need Plans and ReviewsJanuary 23, 2025

1.5Child Protection

  1. 1.5.1Dispute Resolution for Conference ChairsJanuary 21, 2025
  2. 1.5.2London Safeguarding Children Procedures

1.6Legal Proceedings

  1. 1.6.1Applications for Emergency Protection OrdersFebruary 7, 2024
  2. 1.6.2Care and Supervision Proceedings and the Public Law Outline
    Updated
    June 11, 2026
  3. 1.6.3Legal Gateway/Planning MeetingsAugust 19, 2024
  4. 1.6.4Family 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.

1.7Notifications

  1. 1.7.1Death or Serious Harm to a Child Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24December 17, 2025
  2. 1.7.2Notifications from Other Local Authorities/Placement ProvidersJanuary 23, 2025
  3. 1.7.3Notifications of Significant EventsDecember 17, 2025

1.8Complaints and Whistleblowing

  1. 1.8.1Complaints and RepresentationsJanuary 22, 2025
  2. 1.8.2WhistleblowingJanuary 21, 2025
  3. 1.8.3Confidentiality PolicyJune 11, 2026
  4. 1.8.4Merton's WhistleblowingJanuary 21, 2025

2.Case Management and Recording

  1. 2.0.1Quality Assurance FrameworkJanuary 21, 2025
  2. 2.0.2Supervision Policy and Procedure for Registered Social Workers Employed by London Borough of MertonDecember 17, 2025
  3. 2.0.3Case File Transfer ProtocolJanuary 21, 2025
  4. 2.0.4Caseload Allocation PolicyJanuary 21, 2025
  5. 2.0.5Case Recording Practitioner Guidance
    Updated
    June 11, 2026
  6. 2.0.6Chronology GuidanceJune 11, 2026
  7. 2.0.7Joint Working Protocol for Youth Justice and Other Teams in Children's Social CareDecember 17, 2025
  8. 2.0.8Access to Records
    Updated
    June 11, 2026
  9. 2.0.9Children's Services - Retention of RecordsJanuary 22, 2025
  10. 2.0.10Storage of Data on Mobile DevicesJune 11, 2026

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. 3.1.2Personal Budgets and Direct PaymentsMay 21, 2024
  3. 3.1.3Social Care Children with Disabilities TeamJanuary 21, 2025
  4. 3.1.4Procedure for Transition of Young People with Disabilities from Children's to Adults Services in MertonJanuary 21, 2025
  5. 3.1.5Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential SettingsDecember 17, 2025
  6. 3.1.6Children and Young People’s Continuing Care National FrameworkMay 21, 2024

3.2Children from Abroad

  1. 3.2.1Supporting Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and Care LeaversDecember 17, 2025
  2. 3.2.2Families with No Recourse to Public Funds
    Updated
    June 11, 2026

3.3Homelessness

  1. 3.3.1Joint Protocol for the Assessment of Housing and Support Needs of Homeless 16 and 17 Year OldsJanuary 23, 2025

3.4Friends and Family Care

  1. 3.4.1Kinship CareJune 11, 2026
  2. 3.4.2Private FosteringJanuary 23, 2025

3.5Young Carers

  1. 3.5.1Young CarersDecember 17, 2025

3.6Relinquished Children

  1. 3.6.1Relinquished ChildrenJune 11, 2026

3.7Children Involved in the Youth Justice System

  1. 3.7.1Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice ServicesDecember 17, 2025
  2. 3.7.2Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in CustodyJanuary 23, 2025
  3. 3.7.3Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National GuidanceDecember 17, 2025

3.8Safeguarding and Child Protection

  1. 3.8.1Children Missing from Home and Care PolicyJanuary 21, 2025
  2. 3.8.2Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) - Advice for Multi Agency PractitionersJanuary 21, 2025

3.9Mental Health

  1. 3.9.1Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983May 21, 2024

4.Looked After Children

  1. 4.0.1Merton LAC PledgeJanuary 21, 2025

4.1Decision to Look After and Care Planning

  1. 4.1.1LAC Placement Sufficiency StrategyJune 12, 2025
  2. 4.1.2Decision to Look AfterJanuary 22, 2025
  3. 4.1.3Care PlanningJanuary 22, 2025
  4. 4.1.4Permanence Planning GuidanceJune 12, 2025
  5. 4.1.5Placement Planning MeetingsJanuary 22, 2025
  6. 4.1.6Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Claims for Looked After ChildrenDecember 17, 2025
  7. 4.1.7Disruption MeetingsJanuary 21, 2025
  8. 4.1.8Placement Moves and EndingsJanuary 21, 2025
  9. 4.1.9Risk Assessment and PlanningDecember 17, 2025
  10. 4.1.10Providing Personalised CareMarch 23, 2022
  11. 4.1.11NICE Guideline: Looked After Children and Young People

4.2Placements

  1. 4.2.1Placement Requests: Making LAC Placements with ARTJanuary 21, 2025
  2. 4.2.2Placements with ParentsJanuary 22, 2025
  3. 4.2.3Placement with Connected Persons Foster CarersJune 11, 2026
  4. 4.2.4Placements in Foster CareJune 12, 2025
  5. 4.2.5Placements in Residential CareSeptember 19, 2023
  6. 4.2.6Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare GroundsSeptember 19, 2023
  7. 4.2.7Out of Area PlacementsJanuary 22, 2025
  8. 4.2.8Placements Outside England and WalesJune 12, 2025
  9. 4.2.9Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention AccommodationJanuary 22, 2025
  10. 4.2.10Delegation of Authority to Foster CarersJanuary 22, 2025
  11. 4.2.11Placements in Other ArrangementsSeptember 19, 2023
  12. 4.2.12Health and Safety
    Updated
    June 11, 2026

4.3Monitoring and Reviews

  1. 4.3.1Social Worker Visits to Looked After ChildrenJune 12, 2025
  2. 4.3.2Advocacy and Independent VisitorsJanuary 22, 2025
  3. 4.3.3Looked After ReviewsJune 12, 2025
  4. 4.3.4Procedure Regarding Reviews for Children Looked After (CLA) and Schedule of Social Work VisitsJanuary 21, 2025
  5. 4.3.5Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing OfficersJanuary 23, 2025
  6. 4.3.6Dispute Resolution for Independent Reviewing OfficersJanuary 21, 2025
  7. 4.3.7Secure Accommodation (Criteria) ReviewsJanuary 23, 2025

4.4Contact and Overnight Stays

  1. 4.4.1Guidance on Contact for Children in CareJanuary 21, 2025
  2. 4.4.2Contact with Parents and SiblingsJanuary 22, 2025
  3. 4.4.3Overnight Stays and Social VisitsJanuary 23, 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 ChildrenJuly 25, 2023
  2. 4.5.2Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UKDecember 17, 2025
  3. 4.5.3Leisure ActivitiesDecember 17, 2025

4.6Health and Wellbeing

  1. 4.6.1LAC Health Care Assessments and Plans
    Updated
    June 11, 2026
  2. 4.6.2Personal Care and RelationshipsJune 11, 2026
  3. 4.6.3Positive Relationships and Behaviour SupportDecember 17, 2025
  4. 4.6.4Restrictive Physical Intervention and RestraintDecember 17, 2025

4.7Change of Name and Marriage/Civil Partnership

  1. 4.7.1Change of Name of a Looked After ChildJanuary 23, 2025
  2. 4.7.2Marriage/Civil Partnership of a Looked After ChildNovember 28, 2023

4.8Leaving Care and Transition

  1. 4.8.1Leaving Care
    Updated
    June 11, 2026
  2. 4.8.2Staying PutJune 11, 2026
  3. 4.8.3Reunification for Children Accommodated Under Section 20 (1989 Act)January 21, 2025
  4. 4.8.4Young People Aged 16 and 17 Years Ceasing to be Looked AfterSeptember 19, 2023

5.Fostering and Adoption

5.1Fostering Services

  1. 5.1.1Merton Standards of Care ProceduresJanuary 21, 2025
  2. 5.1.2Persons Disqualified from FosteringJune 12, 2025
  3. 5.1.3Assessment and Approvals of Foster CarersJune 12, 2025
  4. 5.1.4Exemptions and Extensions/Variations to Foster Carer ApprovalJanuary 23, 2025
  5. 5.1.5Supervision and Support of Foster CarersJanuary 22, 2025
  6. 5.1.6Review and Termination of Approval of Foster CarersJune 12, 2025
  7. 5.1.7Allegations Against Foster CarersJune 11, 2026
  8. 5.1.8Training and Development of Foster CarersMarch 23, 2022

5.2Adoption and Permanence Services

  1. 5.2.1‘Adopt London’ Regional Adoption Agency procedures

5.3Special Guardianship and Other Permanence Arrangements

  1. 5.3.1Special Guardianship OrdersJune 11, 2026
  2. 5.3.2Court Reports in Adoption, Placement and Special Guardianship Order Applications: GuidanceJanuary 22, 2025

6.Contacts, List of Agency Decision Makers and Appendices

  1. 6.0.1Scheme of DelegationJanuary 21, 2025
  2. 6.0.2Ofsted Inspection FrameworkJune 12, 2025
  3. 6.0.3Merton Safeguarding Children Partnership
  4. 6.0.4Working Together to Safeguard Children
  5. 6.0.5Amendments

Last Updated: June 11, 2026

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