Quick Guide |
December 2011
New Users, not familiar with this Manual, should read the whole of this Guide.
Returning Users, who are familiar with the Manual, should read the amended sections.
Contents
- Display Options and Printing
- What is Included in this Manual
- Amendments and Planned Updates (Amended December 2011)
- Terminology
- Keywords and Search
- Contacts and Designated Managers
- Compliance
- Contact us and Alerts
- Copyright
1. Display Options and Printing
1.1 Display 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.
1.2 Printing
The Manual should normally be viewed on line.
However, users may print chapters, using the "print" icon in the top right of the manual;
Please note, the Manual will be updated regularly, so staff should avoid retaining printed versions - hard copies are only valid for 72 hours.
2. What is Included in this Manual
The Manual contains all 'operational' policies, procedures and guidance for the Children and Young People's Trust including Youth Offending, Children's Disability and the Sussex Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures.
- Policies, Values and Principles: All Brighton and Hove's Policies, Values and Principles are located in one Chapter, which readers must familiarise themselves with before proceeding to the main body of the Manual. These Policies, Values and Principles should then inform practice when implementing procedures. To access the Policies, Values and Principles chapter click on the 'Values' icon on the 'Home Screen'.
- Procedures and Guidance: Procedures and Guidance are usually located in separate Chapters. Procedures summarise how Managers and Staff must act in given circumstances. Guidance provides direction or advice to a decision or course of action.
3. Amendments and Planned Updates (Amended December 2011)
In December 2011, the following procedures were either updated or included:
- Health Care Assessments and Health Care Plans Procedure;
- Education of Looked After Children Procedure;
- Youth Advocacy Project (YAP) Procedure;
- Independent Visiting Service Procedure.
In April 2011, several new or amended Regulations, National Minimum Standards and Children Act Guidance came into force, including the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations, the Fostering Services Regulations and National Minimum Standards and the Adoption National Minimum Standards. To view a summary of the new/revised regulations please see Quick Reference Guide.
In August 2011, the following procedures were updated:
Looked After Reviews Procedure (Amended)
Appointment and Role of the Independent Reviewing Officer Procedure (New)
4. Terminology
As far as possible, consistent terminology is used in this Manual, which means that some generic terms are used - as follows:
| '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 |
| Designated Manager | The term Designated Manager is often used where notifications or approvals are required by a Manager above the level of Team Manager. Where users see this term they may click on it to view relevant contact details |
| '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. |
| Placement Plan/Placement Information Record | Both these terms are used in this manual to mean the same thing. Previously, Social Workers were required to complete an LAC Placement Plan for a Looked After Children, but the arrangement is changing with the implementation of The Integrated Children's System: Placement Plans are being replaced by Placement Information Records. Therefore, both terms are used in this manual to mean the same thing. NB: Where a child is placed in a Children's Home or in Foster Care, the Home/Carer will have their own plan or agreement which is designed to complement the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record. |
5. Keywords and Search
5.1 Keywords
Keywords are terms or phrases which require further definition or explanation (such as 'Significant Harm', 'CAFCASS' or 'Personal Education Plan').
This manual contains a 'Keywords Appendix' with over 400 definitions and cross references, some of which are highlighted within the body of chapters, like this - Significant Harm. If you find a Keyword like this, access the definition by clicking on it.
The majority of terms are not highlighted, but are defined in the Keywords Appendix - which acts like a 'search' facility. You can search for key terms, read definitions and see links to relevant chapters, if they exist in the manual.
5.2 Search
You can search the whole manual for Chapter titles and sub sections of individual Chapters.
To do this, click on 'Search' on the left hand side of the screen.
6. Contacts and Designated Managers
We have created an index of key contacts, agencies and teams including postal and website addresses - available from the 'Contacts' button located on the Home 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.
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 Contact Us' button on the left hand side of the screen, from anywhere within the manual.
8.2 Alerts
If you would like to be notified when this manual is updated, register your contact details in 'Contact Us' - on the left hand side of any screen.
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 Brighton & Hove Children and Young People's Trust.
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