Quick Guide |
January 2012
This 'Quick Guide' must be read before accessing the body of the manual.
See Section 3, Amendments for a comprehensive list of the changes included in this update.
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 Lancashire Children's Social Care Services.
In this manual, all Lancashire Children's Social Care Services' 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. This chapter called 'Values' is 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.
FORMS
Forms are kept on the intranet - you can access the list of forms via the 'Forms' button in the left hand menu.
PAN LANCASHIRE POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
There are links to this manual from relevant chapters within the manual. Alternatively you can access this manual from the button on the bottom left hand side of the page.
3. Amendments
Changes made in January 2012
The table below sets out the new and amended chapters which were incorporated in January 2012:
| Chapter Title | Details |
| 1.1.5 Family and Friends Care Policy | This policy was added. |
| 1.3.1 Referrals | This chapter was updated. |
| 1.3.2 Referral of Concern about the Welfare of Children Flowcharts | This chapter was updated. |
| 1.3.3 Initial Assessments, 1.3.5 Core Assessments (including Section 47 Enquiries) and 8.2 Assessment Framework Guidance | These chapters were all updated to highlight the requirement that particular consideration as to who will receive assessments will be given in domestic abuse situations. They were also updated to include links to the Risk Assessment Toolkit. |
| 1.4.1 Social Care Complaints and Respresentations for Children, Young People and Others | This chapter was added. |
| 1.6.3 District Transfer Protocol for Leaving Care Cases | This chapter was added. |
| 1.7.1 Recording Procedures and 4.14.1 Change of Name | These chapters were updated to include the requirement that where amendments are made to the name of a service user - child, parent or carer - the social worker must inform CERMS to ensure that the information is on CERMS as well as ISSIS. |
| 3.1 Private Fostering Procedure | This chapter was updated. |
| 3.2 Social Workers' Practice Guide to Private Fostering | This chapter was updated. |
| 4.1.8 Treasure Chest for Children Looked After | This chapter was added. |
| 6.1 SEND Team | This chapter was updated in January 2012 when references to the Children with Disabilities Teams were amended to the SEND Teams. |
| 10.1 Local Contacts | This chapter was updated. |
| 10.4 Scheme of Delegation - Casework | This chapter was updated. |
Changes made in October 2011
This version of the Procedures Manual contains changes (made in October 2011) in relation to the following Regulations, Guidance and Standards:
- The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (Care Planning Regulations) and Associated Guidance;
- The Children's Homes (Amendment) Regulations 2011, Associated Guidance (Volume 5) and National Minimum Standards (NMS);
- The Fostering Services Regulations 2011, Associated Guidance (Volume 4) and National Minimum Standards (NMS);
- The Adoption Guidance and National Minimum Standards 2011.
These came into effect on 1 April 2011. Click here for a summary of the changes.
Changes as a result of the Care Leavers (England) Regulations 2010 and Associated Guidance are not yet incorporated.
Click here to access a web enabled version of the Children's Homes, Fostering and Adoption National Minimum Standards.
Where a chapter has been amended, it is marked as 'updated' in the Contents list and at the top of each chapter.
Where a chapter has been added to the manual; it is marked as 'new' in the contents list.
The table below sets out the new and amended chapters which were incorporated in October 2011:
| The following chapters have been added New chapters as a result of the above regulations |
|
| 1.3.7 Joint Working Protocol for Homeless 16/17 year olds | This is a new protocol agreed by Lancashire. |
| 1.6.1 Children's Social Care Transfer Protocol | This is a new protocol agreed by Lancashire. |
| 1.7.1 Recording Procedure | This is a new procedure agreed by Lancashire. |
| 1.7.6 File Audit Framework | This is a new procedure agreed by Lancashire. |
| 4.2.1 Placement Plans | This chapter was added to incorporate the changes made by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.2.11 Out of Area Placements Procedure | This chapter was added to incorporate the changes made by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.9.14 Disability Living Allowance - Children Looked After in Foster Placements | This is a new procedure agreed by Lancashire. |
| 4.13.7 Use of Images and Names of Children Looked After | This is a new procedure agreed by Lancashire. |
| 5.1.14 Application by current foster carers to adopt a child for whom they are caring | This is a new procedure agreed by Lancashire. |
| The following chapters have been amended | |
| Chapter Name | Change |
| 1.3.3 Initial Assessments and 1.3.5 Core Assessments (including section 47 Enquiries) | These chapters were updated to include references to young carers who are caring for a child in the family - they must be assessed as a child in need. |
| 4.1.1 Route Map for Looked After Children | This chapter was amended to incorporate the changes made by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.1.2 Decision to Look After and the Care Plan | This chapter was amended to incorporate the changes made by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.1.3 Care Planning Meetings and Permanence Planning | This chapter was amended to incorporate the changes made by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.1.6 Care Planning Guidance | This is a new procedure agreed in Lancashire in relation to the initiation of Care Proceedings and the Public Law Outline. |
| 4.2.2 Emergency Placements | This chapter was amended to incorporate the changes made by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.2.3 Placements in Foster Care | This chapter was amended to incorporate the changes made by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.2.4 Placements in Residential Care | This chapter was amended to incorporate the changes made by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, Children's Homes Regulations 2011 and associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.2.6 Placement with Parents and/or those Holding residence orders immediately before the Care Order | This chapter replaced the previous chapter in September 2011, to incorporate the changes made by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.2.7 Immediate Placements with Connected Persons | This chapter was amended to reflect the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and Associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.2.8 Practice Guidance Note relating to the use of Regulation 24 of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 | This chapter was amended to incorporate the changes made by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.2.9 Placements Outside England and Wales | This chapter was amended to reflect the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and Associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.3.1 Children Looked After Reviews and the Role of the Independent Reviewing Officer | This chapter was amended to reflect the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and Associated Guidance (including the IRO Handbook), which came into force on 1 April 2011 |
| 4.3.2 Problem Resolution Procedure and Flowchart | This chapter was amended to reflect the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and Associated Guidance (including the IRO Handbook), which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.4.3 Behaviour Management Policy for Foster Care | This chapter was amended in October 2011 to reflect the Fostering Services Regulations 2011, Associated Guidance and National Minimum Standards fort Fostering, 2011. |
| 4.5.1 Education of Looked After Children | This chapter was amended to incorporate the changes made by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.7.4 Health Care Assessments and Health Care Plans | This chapter was amended to reflect the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and Associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011 |
| 4.9.1 Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers | This chapter was amended to reflect the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and National Minimum Standards 2011, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.9.2 Fostering Panel Procedure | This chapter was amended to reflect the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and National Minimum Standards 2011, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.9.4 Persons Disqualified from Fostering | This chapter was amended to reflect the Fostering Services Regulations 2011, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.9.7 Allegations Against Foster Carers | This chapter was amended to reflect the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards for Fostering 2011, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.9.12 Variation to the Approval of Foster Carers | This chapter was amended to reflect the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and Associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.12.1 Social Worker Visits | This chapter was amended to reflect the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations, 2010 and Associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.12.2 Independent Visitors | This chapter was amended to reflect the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations, 2010 and Associated Guidance, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.13.1 Children's Bedrooms | This chapter was amended to reflect the Children's Homes (Amendment) Regulations 2011, Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards for Fostering 2011, which came into force on 1 April 2011. |
| 4.14.3 Child Trust Funds | This chapter was amended to reflect the changes in arrangements for Child Trust Funds. |
| 5.1.1 Adoption and Permanence Panel | This chapter was amended as a result of the Adoption Guidance and the National Minimum Standards which became effective from 1 April 2011. |
| 5.1.2 Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adoptive Parents | This chapter was amended as a result of the Adoption Guidance and the National Minimum Standards which became effective from 1 April 2011. |
| 5.1.3 Placement for Adoption | This chapter was amended as a result of the Adoption Guidance and the National Minimum Standards which became effective from 1 April 2011. |
| 5.1.6 Adoption Reviews | This chapter was amended as a result of the Adoption Guidance and the National Minimum Standards which became effective from 1 April 2011. |
| 5.1.8 Allegations Against Prospective Adopters | This chapter was amended as a result of the Adoption Guidance and the National Minimum Standards which became effective from 1 April 2011. |
| 5.1.11 Adoption Case Records | This chapter was amended as a result of the Adoption Guidance and the National Minimum Standards which became effective from 1 April 2011. |
| 5.2.1 Special Guardianship | This chapter was updated. |
| 6.3 Carer's Assessments | This chapter was updated to include reference to young carers who care for a child within the household. |
| 8.5 Care Plans Guidance | This chapter was amended to reflect the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and Associated Guidance, which became effective from 1 April 2011. |
| Scheme of Delegation | This was updated. |
Future Updates
The meeting to plan the next update will be in mid-May 2012 with a view to publication in the summer 2012.
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 Mike Sunderland (Mike.Sunderland@lancashire.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. Placements in Foster Care.
If you aren't sure which service or section to look in, try 'Search' which will help you identify specific Chapters and sub headings within Chapters.
4.2 You can search for a Chapter
If you aren't 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'.
5. Terminology
| '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 |
| 'Line Manager' | means the first Line Manager of a team/service |
| '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 Lancashire County Council.
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