Legal and county policy framework

On this page you will find links to the:
  • Every Child Matters - Change for Children initiatives
  • Legislation and associated Practice Guidance
  • National Regulations and Standards
  • Relevant Suffolk County Council over arching policies
which together provide the current legal framework for social care services for children and families.  There are also links to other websites which give further information. 

Every Child Matters - Change for Children initiatives

This website gives up to date details of the Government's vision, plans and guidance for the development of services to improve the well being and outcomes for children and young people.  The initiatives cover: Integrated working, the Common Assessment Framework, Information Sharing, the Lead professional, the Participation of children and young people, Youth Justice, the Common Core of Skills and Workforce reform.  The outcomes framework (PDF, 56Kb) which underpins these initiatives.

County Policies
Access to Records (PDF, 221Kb)
Domestic Violence Policy (PDF, 127Kb)

Equalities and Diversity Policies

Lone Working Policy (PDF, 45Kb)
Recording Policy (PDF, 154Kb)
Suffolk Children and Young People's Plan 2006-2009
Suffolk Information Sharing Charter (PDF, 190Kb)
Suffolk strategy for involving children and young people in the design (PDF, 1.08Mb)
The delegation of decision making and authorisation to use county resources and budgets is outlined in full in Scheme of Delegations. (PDF, 199Kb)
Incident Reporting - Policy and guidance
Suffolk County Council Safeguarding Children Policy

Supervision Policy


Suffolk's policies and procedures have or are currently being screened for Equality Impact Assessment.

Legislation and Practice Guidance:

family

Adoption and Children Act 2002

Adoption and Children Act 2002  - practice guidance
Care Standards Act 2000
Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 (PDF, 356Kb)
Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 - practice guidance
Carers and Disabled Children Combined Policy Guidance Act 2000 (PDF, 229Kb)
Children Act 1989
Children Act 2004
Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
Children (Leaving Care Act) 2000 - practice guidance (PDF, 234Kb)
Community Care ( Direct Payments ) Act 1996
Data Protection Act 1998
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (amendment) Regulations 2003
Disability Discrimination Act 2005
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Freedom of Information Act 2005 - practice guidance
Human Rights Act 1998
Law and Domestic Violence - Explanation of how the Crown Prosecution Service deals with cases involving domestic violence (PDF, 119Kb)
Mental Capacity Act 2005
Mental Capacity Act 2005 Summary
Mental Health Act 1983 - Summary
Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002
Immigration, Nationality and Asylum Act 2006
National Health and Community Care Act 1990
Private Fostering - practice guidance
Race Relations (amendment) Act 2000
Race Relations Act 1976 (amendment) Regulations 2003
Race Relations Act - Home Office Guidance
Sexual Offences Act 2003                  
Sexual Offences Act 2003 - general guide
Working within the Sexual Offences Act
Special Guardianship - government guidance and regulations (2005)
Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001

 

 Further Practice Guidance:

Private Fostering  
Law and Domestic Violence - Explanation of how the Crown Prosecution Service deals with cases involving domestic violence (PDF, 119Kb)   
Working Together 2006 - A guide to interagency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children 1999 (PDF, 725Kb)


Regulations:

Adoption Support Services (Local Authorities) Regulations 2003
Children (Leaving Care) Regulations 2001
Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005
Children's Homes Regulations 2001
Fostering Services Regulations 2002

Standards:

National minimum standards for childrens homes (PDF, 338.97Kb)
National minimum standards for adoption (PDF, 884.66Kb)
National minimum standards for fostering services (PDF, 296.56Kb)
National minimum standards for private fostering arrangements
National standards for youth justice (PDF, 1.74MB)
You may also find information from these websites useful:
Ofsted is the government body responsible for the inspection of children's services. 
Department for children, schools and families ( DCSF )- this site will give information from the government about education and social services for children. Look under Children's Workforce or Resources for Social Workers for further information about children's social care
OfficeofPublicSectorInformation50150 Office of Public Sector Information - Acts of Parliament, Regulations and Statutory Instruments
Researchinpractice50150 Research in Practice - provides further information about government policies and about practice.