Getting Started with this Procedures Manual
Contents
- Display and Browser Options
- About this Procedures Manual
- Terminology
- Glossary and National Contacts
- Register for Updates
- Compliance
- Comments and Suggestions
- Copyright
- Printing and Retaining Copies
1. Display and Browser Options
People with a visual impairment may have difficulty accessing this Handbook.
To change the size of the text/layout - please use the accessibility buttons which are on the menu bar at the bottom of the screen, they look like this:
Click a larger button to increase your text size, the very largest being high visibility mode.
2. About this Procedures Manual
This manual contains all of our key policies and procedures, listed in 'Contents' on the top of the screen.
When you have read this guide, start by familiarising yourself with the Contents List and the Procedures listed under each section.
You will see that our key policy statements are in Residential Child Care – Key Principles; the other sections primarily contain procedures and/or guidance.
If you are unable to find a Procedure you require, consult your manager or use the search function on the top of the screen.
3. Terminology
Please note: at Childhood First where we refer to the 'child' / 'children', this includes young people too.
We have used the following terms and post titles:
| Home | This is a generic term which means Children's Home. |
| 'Child' or 'Young Person' | Both of these terms are used to mean any child under the age of 18. |
| Home's or Registered Manager | This is the registered manager for the home, sometimes the term 'Manager' is used. |
| Line Manager | This is used to denote the first line manager for the home; the person who supervises the Home's Manager. |
| Staff or Carer | Means all Staff and Carers whether employed or not. |
| Key Worker | Members of staff that have special responsibility for Children in the home. |
| Parent | Means person with Parent or person with Parental Responsibility. |
| 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. |
| Placing Authority | Placing Authority means the local authority/agency responsible for placing the child or commissioning the service (usually Children's Services - see below). |
| Placement Plan | The term 'Placement Plan' is the generic term meaning the home's own plan for the child/young person. The term 'Placement Information Record' is an Integrated Children's Service (ICS) record, generated by the Placing Authority. |
These procedures use the word ‘must’ where the provision is a legal requirement. The word ‘should’ is used where the provision should be complied with but is not a legal requirement, such as where it is taken from non-statutory government guidance or accepted good practice.
4. Glossary and National Contacts
If there are terms in this procedures site which you are not familiar with, you can use the Glossary to find definitions of key terms.
This is a live online glossary, containing key definitions. It's a free resource powered and kept up to date by tri.x.
There is also a National Contacts resource populated with details of key national agencies and organisations likely to be relevant to procedures user.
5. Register for Updates
We recommend that you register with us to automatically receive notification when this manual is updated, and to receive a monthly newsletter containing articles which may be of interest.
Click here to 'Register for Updates' - complete and send your details to us.
We will manage your data respectfully and in accordance with your preferences and we will never share your data with other organisations for marketing or other purposes.
6. Compliance
Regulatory Compliance
Every effort has been taken to ensure regulatory compliance. If you discover any errors or mistakes, please alert your Supervising Social Worker.
7. Comments and Suggestions
If you have any comments or suggestions to make about this Procedures Manual please consult your Line Manager.
8. 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.
9. Printing and Retaining Copies
The Procedures Manual should normally be viewed on line but can be printed, for reference only, via the printing options of your internet browser (usually by clicking File from the top menu, and then selecting Print, or using the keyboard shortcut 'ctrl + p').
Please note, the Procedures Manual will be updated from time to time, so you should avoid retaining printed versions - hard copies are only valid for 72 hours.
