Quick Guide |
Manual Version November 2011
Welcome to this new version of the Children's Services Procedures Manual.
In this November 2011 revision two changes were made to this manual. These comprised the addition of the Friends and Family Policy and the Support for Friends and Family Caring for Children in Need Guidance and Procedure.
The changes and additions which were made in the previous (August 2011) update are listed below.ALL USERS: (even if you are familiar with the previous version of the manual) should read this 'Quick Guide' before accessing the body of the Manual.
Contents
- Display and Browser Options
- Structure of the Manual
- Amendments and Planned Updates
- Search
- Terminology
- Keywords
- Printing and Retaining Copies
- Contact us and Alerts
- Compliance
- Copyright
1. Display and Browser Options
People with a visual impairment may have difficulty accessing this Manual, if they do, they can change the size of the text/layout - please use the accessibility buttons on the left hand side of every screen; these are the "letter a" buttons increasing in size.
Click a larger "a" button to increase your text size, the very largest being high visibility mode.
2. Structure of the Manual
This Manual has been designed and published by Tri-X-Childcare for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Children's Services.
2.1 What is Included
The Manual is designed to contain all policies, procedures and guidance for Kensington and Chelsea Children's Services.
We have also incorporated a copy of the London Child Protection Procedures and the Pan London Adoption Procedures (see Section 2.2, The London Child Protection Procedures). These are now under review and revised Adoption chapters are planned for the next update of this manual scheduled for February 2012.
Policies and Values: All Children's Services Policies and Values are located in one Chapter, see 'Values' (on the left hand side of the screen). This Chapter outlines the key policies, values and principles for Children's Services; all procedures in this Manual should be read in the context of this Chapter.
Procedures and Guidance: In an attempt to keep procedures succinct, procedures and more detailed guidance are separated - with links provided as appropriate. 'Procedures' summarise how Managers and Staff must act in given circumstances. 'Guidance' provides direction or advice to a decision or course of action.
Procedures and Guidance are located in individual 'Chapters' which are available from a 'traditional' Contents List - on the left hand side of the screen.
2.2 The London Child Protection Procedures
A web based version of the London Child Protection Procedures has been incorporated into this Manual.
To access the London Child Protection Procedures, click on the London Child Protection Procedures' button - on the left hand side of the screen.
3. Amendments and Planned Updates
3.1 Amendments
This manual contains some new or amended chapters. If a chapter is amended or new, it will be indicated in the Contents List.
If a chapter is significantly amended, the amendment will be summarised at the start of the chapter.
| New Chapters and Features - August 2011 | |
| Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children | The purpose of this protocol is to set out the mutually agreed process to ensure effective action is taken to prevent youth homelessness and the provision of accommodation to homeless young people is sufficient to meet their needs. |
| Placement with Connected Persons | New chapter to the manual. |
| Joint Protocol for the Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Old Homeless Young People | New chapter to the manual. |
| Responsibilities of the Local Authority to Former Looked After Children and Young People in Custody | New chapter to the manual. |
| Looked After Children and Young People in Contact with Youth Justice Services | New chapter to the manual. |
| Search | An updated search function has been incorporated into this version of the manual. |
| Updated Chapters - August 2011 | |
| Chapter Name | Change |
| Decision to Look After a (Child Care and Permanence Planning) | This chapter was slightly amended regarding timescales. |
| Looked After Reviews Resolution Protocol | This chapter was significantly amended and should be read in its entirety. |
| Fostering Panel | These chapters have been amended to reflect the changes in the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, Associated Guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers | |
| Limit on the Number of Children in Foster Home | |
| Allegations, Serious Concerns and Complaints Concerning Foster Carers | |
| Persons Disqualified from Fostering | |
| Supervision of Foster Carers | |
| Foster Carer Supports Assessment Requirements | |
| Leaving the Looked After Service | |
| Annual Review of Foster Carers | This chapter was amended in June 2011 in relation to the Fostering Agencies Regulations 2011, Associated Guidance (Volume 4) and National Minimum Standards |
| November 2011 Amendments | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Friends and Family Policy | New chapter added to the manual. |
| Support for Friends and Family Caring for Children in Need Guidance and Procedure | New chapter added to the manual. |
3.2 Planned Updates
The next planned update is: scheduled for publication in February 2012. To be included in this next update any new or amended material must be provided to Tri.x by the end of December 2011. All new material for inclusion must be saved in Word format and any amendments to current procedures must be set out using the "track changes" feature of Word.
If you wish to contribute to this update e.g. with an amendment to an existing procedure, to suggest the inclusion of a new procedure or improvement in the look and feel of the manual, please contact Joanne McNeil (Joanne.McNeil@rbkc.gov.uk).
4. Search
If you aren't sure where to find a Chapter/Procedure, you can use the 'Search' feature located on the left hand side of any screen.
This feature may help you locate the right Chapter, or sub section of a Chapter, that you require.
If you can't find the procedure you require or you are frustrated, ask your manager/supervisor.
5.Terminology
We believe it is crucial to use consistent terminology, which we agree with individual customers, for example:
| 'Home' and 'Resource' | this is a generic term which means Children’s Home, Foster Home |
| 'Child' or 'Young Person' | both these terms are used to mean any child under the age of 18 |
| 'Staff' or 'Carer' | means all Staff and Carers (including) whether employed or not |
| 'Manager' | means Team Manager, it also means YOT Team Manager |
| 'Line Manager' | means the first Line Manager of a team/service |
| 'Parent' | means person with Parental Responsibility |
| 'Regulatory Authority' | Regulatory Authority is the generic term used in this manual to describe the independent regulatory body responsible for inspecting and regulating services e.g. Ofsted. |
| 'Social Worker' | This means the worker allocated to the child/family. If there is no allocated worker, the Duty Social Worker or Team Manager is responsible. |
6. Keywords
The Manual is accessed by practitioners from varying agencies, who may find terms that they are not familiar with. Therefore, a large glossary (Keywords) of terms such as Significant Harm is included (Try it: click on the highlighted text). We call them 'Keywords'.
7. Printing and Retaining Copies
The Manual should normally be viewed on line.
However, users may print chapters, using the "print" icon in the top right of the manual, e.g. 
Please note, the Manual will be updated regularly, so staff should avoid retaining printed versions - hard copies are only valid for 72 hours.
8. Contact us and Alerts
8.1 Comments and Suggestions
If you have any comments or suggestions to make about this manual please contact us by using the button on the left hand side of the screen, from anywhere within the manual.
8.2 Alerts
If you wish to be alerted when this manual is next updated, please complete the form In 'Contact Us'
9. Compliance
9.1 Regulatory Compliance
Every effort has been taken to ensure regulatory compliance. If you discover any errors or mistakes, please alert your manager or contact us.
9.2 W3C Compliance
This manual meets the double A Standards of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), for example, it can be accessed by people with high levels of visual impairment. To find out more, click on 'Display Options' on the left hand side of the screen.
10. Copyright
The content of this website can be accessed, printed and downloaded in an unaltered form, on a temporary basis, for personal study or reference purposes. However any content printed or downloaded may not be sold, licensed, transferred, copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner or in or on any media to any person without the prior written consent of Tri-X-Childcare Ltd and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
End