Department for Children, Families and Schools
Children and Families

Children and Families circulars

Below is a list of published circulars relating to children and families.

LOCAL AUTHORITY SOCIAL SERVICES LETTERS

Parenting Early Intervention Grant

This circular sets out the requirements for the PEI grant for 2006-07 and 2007-08. In particular:

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LASSL (2005)4 Local Authority Children's Services Funding: 2006-07 & 2007-08.

This letter sets out the main aspects of the local government finance settlement for 2006-07 and 2007-08 which are relevant to the funding provided for children's services. Figures for 2007-08 are provisional.

LASSL(2005)2 - Children's Personal Social Services Capital

LASSL(2005)1 - Multi-dimensional Treatment Foster Care (England) Programme

LASSL(2004)25 - Children's Social Services Funding: 2005-06

LASSL (2004)24 - Local Authority Social Services Letter

LASSL (2004)21 - Local Authority Social Services Letter

LASSL(2004)7 - Research into the Effectiveness of Different Child Protection Referral and Reception Systems

This Local Authority Social Services Letter (LASSL) explains the implications of this research, which was commissioned in response to Recommendation 33 of the Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report, for councils with social services responsibilities.

LASSL (2004)6 - Children's Social Services Local Authority Social Services Letter and Circulars

LASSL(2004)4 - Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.

The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 will be brought into force on 3rd March 2004. It replaces the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 - which makes female genital mutilation (FGM) an offence, except on specific physical and mental health grounds. This letter outlines the provisions of the new Act and provides further information in support of the guidelines on female genital mutilation (FGM) in paragraphs 6.52-6.53 of Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999) to enable you to improve safeguards for children in your area, in light of the new Act.

LASSL(2004)2734 - Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) and the duty to co-operate.

LASSL (2003)7 - Children's Social Services Funding: 2004-05

LOCAL AUTHORITY CIRCULARS

UNACCOMPANIED ASYLUM SEEKING CHILDREN (UASC) - LEAVING CARE COSTS: 2007/2008 GUIDANCE

This circular sets out the arrangements for the payment of the UASC Leaving Care Costs Grant, in respect of the year to 31 March 2008. It should be read in conjunction with the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Leaving Care Costs Grant Determination for 2007-08.

The UASC Leaving Care Costs Grant, is intended to assist local authorities towards meeting the costs of supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are care leavers. The following documents contain the payment arrangements and the legal framework within which the grant sits.

Local authorities who are claiming from the grant are required to complete:

(a) the claim form titled 2007-08 Forecasted UASC Claim Form (1A and 1B) and return to the Department by 25 January 2008.
(b) a second claim form titled Actual UASC 2007-08 Claim Form (2A and 2B) providing details of the actual numbers of UASC supported in 2007-08 and return to the Department by Friday 28 March 2008. 

The claim forms come in three sizes – up to 150 claims, up to 500 claims and up to 1000 claims.

Downloads:

LA forecast claim forms for January 2008

LA actual claim forms for March 2008

Connexions Grant: 2008-09, 2009-10 & 2010-11 (LAC ref: 2609070002 and 2803080003)

This circular advises authorities of the purpose of the Connexions Grant and grant allocations for 2008-09, 2009-10 & 2010-11. A note explaining how the grant allocations were calculated is also included.

 

Teenage Pregnancy Grant: 2008-09, 2009-10 & 2010-11 (LAC ref: 0510070002)

This circular advises authorities of the purpose of the Teenage Pregnancy grant and grant allocations for 2008-09, 2009-10 & 2010-11.

Children's Fund: 2008-09, 2009-10 & 2010-11 (LAC ref: 0208070001)

This circular advises authorities that the Children's Fund will continue for a further 3 years, setting out the purpose of grant and grant allocations for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Transitional Information Sessions for Parents: 2007-08 Grant to Build Capacity to Deliver (LAC Ref: 140607002)

This circular advises authorities of the conditions of grant and payment arrangements for the Transitional Information Sessions for Parents: 2007-08 Grant to Build Capacity to Deliver. The guidance note gives information on providing a satisfactory Action Plan.

LAC(SD07_25): Future arrangements for the statutory notifications previously sent to the Commission for Social Care Inspection

This circular updates on the arrangements for local authorities when providing statutory notifications on serious childcare incidents and serious case reviews. These new arrangements arise due to Ofsted taking over functions relating to the regulation and inspection of children's social care from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) since 1 April 2007.

Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund:  2006-07 certification of expenditure arrangements: LAC(SCYPG07_21)

This circular provides details of the certification of expenditure arrangements for the Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund Grants 2006-07.

LAC(SCYPG07_18): Teenage Pregnancy Grant 2007-08 - Grant Conditions

This circular and accompanying legal determination sets out the funding allocations, conditions of grant and guidance for the Teenage Pregnancy grant in 2007-08.

LAC(SCYPG07_19): Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund - 2007-08 Grant Conditions

This circular and accompanying legal determination sets out the funding allocations, conditions of grant and guidance for the Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund grants in 2007-08.

£13m available to Local Authorities for ICT Capital Grant for mobile technology to support children's social workers: 2007-08

This updated circular sets out the requirements for the ICT capital grant for 2007 - 08. In particular: specific conditions of grant, grant allocations and payment arrangement. The main change to this guidance is in the 'Acceptance of Grant' form Annex E.

Health led parenting support demonstration sites - Conditions of grant and guidance LAC (SCYPG07_15)

This circular sets out the requirements for the HLPP programme grant for 2006-07 and 2007-2008

Every Child Matters: ContactPoint Implementation Grant 2007-08. LAC(SG07_7)

This circular sets out details in respect of the ContactPoint (formerly the Information Sharing Index) Grant 2007-08, in particular the purpose and payment arrangements. It also includes the legal determination for the grant.

Integrated Children's System: Revised conditions of grant for 2006-07: LAC(SCYPG07_10)

Circular LAC(SCYPG07_10) sets out the revised grant conditions for the Integrated Children's System in 2006-07.

The revised grant conditions supersede those set out in LAC(SC_06)2.

Parenting Support Strategy Grant 2006-2007 and 2007-2008

Teenage Pregnancy Grant 2006-07: certification of expenditure arrangements: LAC(SCYPG07_8)

This circular provides details of the certification of expenditure arrangements for the Teenage Pregnancy Grant 2006-07. It was originally published on 19 February 2007, but was updated on 8 March 2007 to help clarify the carry forward entitlements.

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) - Leaving Care Costs: 2006-2007 Guidance

This circular sets out the arrangements for the payment of the UASC Leaving Care Costs Grant, in respect of the year to 31 March 2007.

Transition information sessions for parents: First phase demonstration projects grant 2006-07

This circular provides further details for July 2006 to January 2007 and relates only to those nine local authorities selected to participate in this programme.

Multidimensional treatment foster care-prevention (MTFC-P) programme pump-prime grant 2006-07

This circular sets out the grant conditions and other requirements and relates only to those six local authorities selected to participate in this programme.

LAC(SG06_46) Local Authority Children's Services Funding: 2007-08
Children’s Services Grant 2007-08: Breakdown of Funding Stream Allocations

This circular sets out the main aspects of the local government finance settlement for 2007-08 that are relevant to the funding provided for children's services, including the purpose, national provision, and where available, allocation per local authority for all children's services grants.

LAC(SC06_3) Children's Services: Private Finance Initiative - Formal Bids

This circular, which should be read in conjunction with LAC(2005)16, provides the outcome of the Expressions of Interest stage of the Children’s Services Private Finance Initiative bidding process and sets out the criteria for formal bids.

CHILDREN’S SERVICES GRANT 2006-07: LAC(SC06_1)

This circular sets out further details in respect of the Children’s Services grant in 2006-07, in particular the purpose and payment arrangements. It also includes the legal determination for the grant.

TEENAGE PREGNANCY, INTEGRATED CHILDREN’S SYSTEM, YOUTH OPPORTUNITY FUND & YOUTH CAPITAL FUND GRANT CONDITIONS AND GUIDANCE FOR 2006-07: LAC(SC06_2)

Circular LAC(SC06_2) sets out the conditions of grant and payment arrangements for the Teenage Pregnancy, Integrated Children’s System, Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund grants in 2006-07.

Since the publication of circular LAC(SC06_2), the grant conditions for the Integrated Children's System have been revised. Please refer to LAC(SCYPG07_10) for current conditions.

UNACCOMPANIED ASYLUM SEEKING CHILDREN - LEAVING CARE COSTS: 2006/2007 GUIDANCE

This circular sets out the arrangements for the payment of the UASC Leaving Care Costs Grant, in respect of the year to 31 March 2007. It should be read in conjunction with the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Leaving Care Costs Grant Determination for 2006-07.

The UASC Leaving Care Costs Grant, is intended to assist local authorities towards meeting the costs of supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are care leavers. The guidance includes details about which UASC leaving care will be eligible to receive payments. Local authority colleagues will want to download all of the documents: the guidance, the grant determination and the claim form 1(A & B) to record details of the UASC they are supporting. These documents contain the payment arrangements and the legal framework within which the grant sits.

LAC (2005)16 Children's Services: Private Finance Initiative.

This circular invites Expressions of Interest from local authorities that may be interested in bidding for Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits for Children's Services.

LAC (2005)15 - Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children - Leaving Care
Costs: 2004-2005 - Contingency Fund Guidance

This circular sets out the arrangements for the payment of the Contingency Fund element of the UASC Leaving Care Grant, in respect of the year ending 31 March 2005.

UASC (Leaving Care) Contingency Fund Grant Determination for 2004/05

Information Sharing and Assessment Local Authority Trailblazer Project Grant Determination 2005/06: No. 31/152

LAC (2005)14 - Quality Protects Audit
This circular provides details of the 2004-05 certification arrangements for local authorities that carried forward funding relating to the Children’s Services (Quality Protects) grant from 2003-04 to 2004-05. Annex A of the circular lists the affected authorities.

LAC (2005)6 - Children's Services Grants 2005-06

LAC (2005)5 - Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation, PSHE and Sure Start Plus Grant 2005-06

LAC (2005)3 - Integrated Children's System: A Statement of Business Requirements.

LAC (2005)2 - Children’s Services Grants 2004-05: Audit Arrangements

LAC (2004)26 - Local Authority Circular : Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in custody
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LAC (2004)22 - Children's Services Grant

LAC(2004)21 - Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Leaving Care  Grant (Guidance)

LAC (2004)18 - Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation, PSHE and Sure Start Plus Grant 2004-05

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LAC(2004)14 - Local Authority Circular (The Independent Review Mechanism)

LAC(2004)6 - Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Leaving Care Costs: 2004-05

LAC(2004)5 - Review of Children's Cases. 25th February 2004

This guidance is issued to councils with social services responsibilities under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, which requires councils to act under the guidance of the Secretary of State. It contains guidance to councils about the actions needed in the light of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the criminal case of R v Angela Cannings ("the judgment").

LAC(2004)1 - Protocol for Judicial Case Management in Public Law Children Act Cases Circular.

Issued by the Department for Constitutional Affairs to address the difficulties caused to children and their families, and cost implications resulting from the current delay in completing proceedings, the Protocol consists of 6 steps to streamline the key processes towards achieving a final hearing within forty weeks. The Circular sets out the action required by local authority social and legal services to ensure compliance with the Protocol.

Family Information Leaflets for Parents and Children

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Leaving Care  Grant (Determination)

Contact - Government Response to Making Contact Work

Since the launch of Every Child Matters a substantial and wide-ranging debate has taken place about the future of the services for children. A related debate that was already underway was that revolving around how best to improve outcomes for children caught up in private law disputes between parents in the family courts . The 2002 Children Act Sub-Committee Report Making Contact Work set out thought provoking and constructive proposals for change. This response to Making Contact Work focuses on how best to help those families whose cases have been brought to the attention of the courts through contact and other applications.

Family and friends carers scoping paper prepared for and submitted to the Department of Health

This 'scoping' paper was commissioned by the Department of Health to inform the policy-making process in relation to family and friends carers placements. Its remit was:
1. To describe the current policy and legislative framework, highlighting any anomalies; difficulties or conflicts;
2. To review the existing research evidence, including evidence from the United States and New Zealand, in relation to the policy and practice issues and policy and legislative framework;
3. To analyse the implications for policy development, particularly in relation to children's services objectives;
4. To describe the forthcoming research evidence;
5. To identify the gaps in the research evidence.

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Local Authority Social Services Letters

Local Authority Circulars


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