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Contents

1. Display and Browser Options
2. Structure of the Manual
3. Amendments
4. How to find a Chapter
5. Terminology
6. Keywords
7. Compliance
8. Contact us
9. Copyright
10. 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

2.1 The Children and Young People's Service

This manual contains the policies, procedures and guidance for the London Borough of Newham Children and Young People Service.

In this manual, all Newham's 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.

2.2 London Child Protection Procedures

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.

2.3 Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010

A web-based version of Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010 has also been added as an Appendix to the manual.

3. Amendments

The changes included in this update are set out in the table below:

Chapter Title	Details
Updated Chapters
Children's Policy Values and Underlying Principles of Recording, Confidentiality and Consultation	A Guide to ensuring data security from relevant Council Procedures was added at Section 3 of this chapter.
Threshold of Care Panel - Terms of Reference	This chapter was significantly amended to take account of the Practice Directive issued in November 2011.
Decision to Look After, Care and Permanence Planning	Section 6.1 in relation to the contents of the Placement Plan was amended to take account of a Practice Directive issued in October 2011.
Recording Visits and Care Plans on CareFirst – Social Worker’s and Managers Responsibilities	A screen shot of the recording screen was added as an appendix to this chapter.
Children Missing from Care	This chapter was amended to ensure consistency with organisational changes. Some additions related to practice have also been made.
Allegations against Foster Carers	This updated procedure was approved in October 2011 and included in the manual in February 2012. A significant change is that Management Planning Meetings (MPM) are now referred to as LADO strategy meetings.
New Chapters
Safeguarding and LAC Management Alerts	This new chapter sets out the practice directive on this issue, which has been valid since 30 September 2011.
London Youth Offending Service and London Probation Trust: Case Transfer Protocol	This protocol was added.
Protocol on the Caretaking and Transfer of Cases between Youth Offending Services involving Newham Youth Offending Team	This protocol was added.

The manual is updated on a regular basis and when the updates are published, any chapters that 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.

The next update will be published in the summer of 2012. There will be a planning meeting in March 2012  to consider what is to be included in this update.

Practitioners who wish any amendment or additions to be included when the next update is published should seek the approval of their manager and, if approved, pass the information to the Head of Service Improvement - Christopher.Pelham@newham.gov.uk

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. 'Looked After Services', you will find a Section (group of procedures) like 'Placements'.

CHAPTERS: Under each Section, you'll find individual Chapters/Procedures e.g. Placement 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 '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 'Kinship Carer'

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
'Staff' or 'Carer'	means all Staff and Carers whether employed or not
'Parent'	means a 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 Newham.

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 72 hours.

End