Quick Guide |
October 2011
This 'Quick Guide' must be read before accessing the body of the manual.
This update incorporates amendments required to the way in which the fostering service operates as a result of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and the Fostering Services Regulations 2011, together with the associated guidance, and the National Minimum Standards for Fostering 2011, all of which became effective from 1 April 2011.
The references to the Pre-Accommodation Panel process have also been removed and some changes have been made to the Leaving Care Procedure when a reference to the Student Loan Company has been added, as well as the addition of some guidance in relation to ‘Transition to Adulthood’ as a result of the Care Leavers Regulations 2011.
The table below sets out a list of the chapters that have been added or amended. The Contents List also highlights where additions and amendments have been made.
Contents
- Display and Browser Options
- Structure of the Manual
- Amendments
- How to find a Chapter
- Terminology
- Keywords
- Compliance
- Contact us
- Copyright
- Printing and Retaining Copies
1. Display and Browser Options
People with a visual impairment may have difficulty accessing this Manual.
To change the size of the text/layout - please use these accessibility buttons
which are on menu bar on the left side of every screen. Click a larger button to increase your text size, the very largest being high visibility mode.
2. Structure of the Manual
This manual contains the policies, procedures and guidance for the London Borough of Hillingdon Children and Families Service.
In this manual, all Hillingdon Children and Families Policies, Values and Principles are located in one Chapter, which users are required to familiarise themselves with before proceeding to the main body of the Manual. These Policies, Values and Principles are located in a Chapter called 'Values' - available from the left hand side of the screen.
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.
A web-based version of the London Child Protection Procedures has been incorporated into this Manual. They can be accessed by clicking on 'London Child Protection Procedures' on the left hand side of the screen.
A web-based version of Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010 has also been added as an Appendix to the manual.
3. Amendments
The manual is updated on a regular basis and when the updates are published, any chapters which are new or have been significantly amended are indicated on the Contents List and at the top of the relevant chapter.
The changes in each update are also summarised at the top of the chapter.
This update takes account of the changes as a result of the new regulatory framework relating to fostering and care leavers. It does not take account of other changes as a result of the new regulatory framework relating to looked after children, adoption and children's homes which were effective from 1 April 2011. A summary list of these changes is available to managers and practitioners from the yellow button in the left hand menu – and they will be incorporated into the relevant chapters as soon as possible .
There will be a further planning meeting in January 2012 for the next planned update in February 2012.
Practitioners who wish any amendment or additions to be included when the next update is published should seek the approval of the service manager and, if approved, pass the information to Meng Pocock (Mpocock@hillingdon.gov.uk), Corporate Parenting Manager.
4. How to find a chapter
Procedures and guidance are located in individual 'Chapters' which are available from a 'traditional' Contents List - on the left hand side of the screen.
4.1 Using the Contents List
Chapters are categorised or grouped together as follows:
PARTS: The manual contains procedures categorised under a number of Service Sectors, like 'Looked After Children',
SECTIONS: Within each Service Sector e.g. 'Placements'.
CHAPTERS: Under each Section, you'll find individual Chapters/Procedures e.g. Placements with Parents
4.2 You can search for a Chapter
If you are not sure which service or section to look in, try 'Search' |which will help you identify specific Chapters and sub headings within Chapters.
Tips when using Search: The Search function is designed to help you find Chapters (Procedures) or sub sections of Chapters in this manual.
It will provide the best results if you know the title of the chapter or sub section, or you have a good idea what the title is.
You may have to try different or alternative spellings/terms before you get the result you are looking for.
For example:
- If a search for 'Section 47' doesn't return the right result, try 'Child Protection Enquiry' or just 'Protection';
- If 'Initial Assessments' doesn't return the right result, try 'Initial Assessment' or just 'Initial';
- If searching for 'Regulation 38' doesn't return the result you want, try 'Family and Friends'
If you can't find the procedure you require or you are frustrated, ask your manager/supervisor or contact us (see 'Contact Us' on the left hand side of the screen) and we'll advise/direct you to the relevant procedure if we can. NB: We'll reply within 2 working days.
5. Terminology
We believe it is crucial to use consistent terminology, which we agree with individual customers, for example
| 'Child' or 'Young Person' | both these terms are used to mean any child under the age of 18 |
| 'Parent' | means parent or 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 (Try it: click on the highlighted text). We call them 'Keywords'. Once clicked, the definitions will appear in a new window or tab, depending on your browser. You can leave it open for reference, or close it using the "close" button at the bottom.
Many Keywords are highlighted in the body of procedures, but you can search for the Keyword you need: Go to the Keywords Index, on the left hand side of the screen.
7. Compliance
7.1 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.
7.2 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.
8. Contact us
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.
9. 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 London Borough of Hillingdon.
10. Printing and Retaining Copies
The Manual should normally be viewed on line but can be printed, for reference only.
To print a chapter, click on the 
icon which is in the top right hand corner of the relevant procedure
Please note, the Manual will be updated regularly, so staff should avoid retaining printed versions - hard copies are only valid for 3 working days and the responsibility is on the practitioner to make sure that any printed copies are shredded after that period.
End