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Working Together To Safeguard Children 2026 Update.

The Mental Health Act 2025 Reforms.

Swindon Borough Council Children’s Services Procedure Manual

Amendments

2026

April 2026

Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint	In April 2026, this chapter was added to the manual.
Swindon Safeguarding Partnership Neglect Strategy	In April 2026, the latest version of this procedure was added to the manual.
Performance Management and Quality Assurance Framework	In April 2026, the latest version of these procedures were added to the manual.
Financial Procedure	In April 2026, the latest version of these procedures were added to the manual.
Early Intervention Step Up/Step Down Processes	In April 2026, the latest version of this procedure was added to the manual.
Local Contacts	These details were updated in April 2026.
Children and Young People in Unregulated Placements	This chapter was added in April 2026.
Placements in Secure Accommodation on Welfare Grounds	In April 2026, this chapter was revised to update the decision-making process and the guidance on the legal framework.
Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation	This chapter was added in April 2026.
Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance	In April 2026, the links in this chapter have been revised and updated.
Scheme of Delegation	In April 2026, the latest version of this procedure was added to the manual.
Disabled Children Team	In April 2026, this chapter was revised throughout to update the language used and the processes that are followed in an assessment.
Children We Care For at Risk of Offending	In April 2026, this chapter was revised and the language updated to more accurately describe the children we care for.
Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Children We Care For in Custody	In April 2026, the language in this chapter was revised and updated to more accurately describe the children we care for.
Swindon Youth Justice Strategic Plan	This chapter was updated in April 2026.
Restricting a Child's Liberty	This procedure has been updated in April 2026 and applies to children who are under the age of 18 years old, and are placed or will be placed in Local Authority accommodation, where there is a deprivation of that child's liberty. It has been reviewed and approved.
Families with No Recourse to Public Funds	In April 2026, this procedure was revised throughout and legal guidance updated on the basis of case law.

2025

October 2025

Young Carers	In October 2025, information was added from How Local Authorities Can Help Young Carers (Ofsted Blog), and additional resources were added to Further Information.
Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17-Year-Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer	In October 2025, information was added to section 1 from Good decisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless - GOV.UK. A section was added focusing on Domestic Abuse and Homelessness.
Practice Standards For Social Workers and Practitioners	The Practice Standards were updated in October 2025.
Harm outside the Home Multi-Agency Practice Guidance	This chapter was added to the manual in October 2025.
Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children	In October 2025, in Section 3.3, Complex Needs, information was added about how to access pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted). If you are thinking about opening a children’s social care service for children with complex needs.
Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child In Need)	This chapter was revised in October 2025. The Government guidance ‘Report the death or serious harm of a child or care leaver’ has been updated to provide what information is needed when reporting incidents involving children who have died or been seriously harmed, and abuse or neglect is known or suspected, looked after children and care leavers. The Serious Incident Notification Guide for local authorities has been added to this chapter.
Missing Children	This chapter was updated in October 2025.
AIM Assessment and Referral Information	This chapter wasupdated in October 2025.
Assessments	This chapter was revised in August 2025 and added to the manual in October 2025.
Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance	In October 2025 links have been added to Youth Remand Concordat - Guidance and principles to follow a joint approach throughout the youth remand process for local and national partners and Delivering the best for girls in custody - an independent review into placements and care for girls in the Children and Young People Secure Estate.
Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK	This chapter was added to the manual in October 2025.
Placements in Foster Care	This chapter was revised in August 2025 and added to the manual in October 2025.
Contacts and Referrals	This procedure was rewritten in August 2025 and added to the manual in October 2025.
Birth Certificate Application Process	This process was updated in October 2025.
Positive Relationships and Behaviour Support	This chapter was revised in October 2025.
Personal Care and Relationships	This procedure was revised in August 2025 and added to the manual in October 2025.
Young Carers	In October 2025, information was added from How Local Authorities Can Help Young Carers (Ofsted Blog), and additional resources were added to Further Information.
Local Contacts	These details were updated in October 2025.