Quick Guide |
February 2012
WELCOME AND OVERVIEW
Welcome to this ninth edition of the Haringey Children’s Service Procedures. In this edition of the manual extensive changes have been made to comply with changes in regulation, guidance and minimum standards which were implemented in 2011. For an overview of the Chapters/Procedures that have changed or are new, in the current update please see the Summary of Changes below. Further review work is currently ongoing which will be incorporated into the online manual in the next update which has been brought forward to June 2012. Those Chapters which are currently under review are clearly marked in the Contents List.
ARE YOU NEW TO THIS MANUAL?
If so, welcome!
We want you to get the best out of this Manual, to help you do so, please read this Guide before proceeding.
If you have any questions or comments, talk to your Line Manager, or 'Alerts and Suggestions' - available from the left hand side of every screen.
ARE YOU A RETURNING USER?
We have made significant changes to this Manual in the last 12 months.
We want you to get the best out of this Manual, so please read this Guide before proceeding - or read the new/amended sections.
Contents
- Display Options and Printing
- Structure of the Manual
- Summary of Changes (Current Update)
- Forms Library
- Terminology
- Keywords
- Compliance
- Alerts and Suggestion
- Copyright
1. Display Options and Printing
1.1 Display
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.
1.2 Printing
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.
2. Structure of the Manual
This manual contains the policies, procedures and guidance for Haringey Children and Young People's Services. A separate operational manual is also available in respect of Haringey Children's Homes Procedures. Access to both manuals can be achieved through a shared home page.
2.1 Policies, Values and Principles
All Haringey's key 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 'Home Screen' (see 'Home' on the left hand side of the screen).
2.2 Separation of Procedures and Guidance
In an attempt to keep procedures succinct, where possible, 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.
2.3 Service Remits/Categories
Procedures for each service (e.g. First Response) are collated together - available from the 'Home Screen'.
2.4 London Child Protection Procedures
You can access the London Child Protection Procedures at any time from this manual - go to the 'Home Screen' - then following link to 'London Child Protection Procedures'.
3. Summary of Changes (Current Update)
3.1 Amendments
A significant number of additions and changes have been made in the current edition of the Children's Services Manual as follows:
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Details |
| Recording Children Missing from Care Procedure | New chapter which sets out new recording requirements in respect of children missing from care. |
| Missing from Care Risk Assessment Procedure | New chapter which introduces a new tool to be used in assessing and managing risk for children missing from care. |
| Youth Offending Service - Resettlement Policy and Procedure | New chapter designed to promote the achievement of continuity of care for young people in custody. |
| Youth Offending Service - Multi-Agency Risk Management Panel Guidance | New chapter setting out YOS Multi-\Agency Risk Panel Guidance. |
| Gangs and Serious Youth Violence Strategy Procedure | New chapter setting out guidance on how to deal with young people involved in gang activity and serious violence. |
| Victim Contact Procedures | New chapter setting out guidance regarding taking account of victims for the YOS service. |
| Family Support Panel Scoring Sheet Procedure | New chapter which provides a template to assist the Family Support Panel in the assessment of need for services. |
| Common Access Framework for Short Breaks Procedure | New chapter which sets out the common access framework for Short Breaks as developed by the North London cluster group (Haringey, Camden, Enfield, Islington and Waltham Forest). |
| Short Breaks Service Statement Procedure | New chapter which provides a summary of the range of short breaks available for disabled children and their families (access, planning and review). |
| Early Support: Terms of Reference | New chapter setting out the Terms of Reference of Early Support Referral and Planning Meetings. |
| Early Support: Places in Children's Centres | Eligibility criteria for Early Support funded places in Children’s Centres. |
| Access to Records Procedure | Setting out entitlement and processes in respect of access to case records |
| Managing the Work Done by Social Work Assistants and Unqualified Social Care Staff Procedure | New chapter which addresses the supervisory issues associated with operational staff who are not qualified as social workers. |
| Case Records for Looked After Children Procedure | New chapter which clarifies particular expectations regarding case recording for Looked After Children. |
| Updated Chapters and Features | |
| Chapter Name | Change |
| Values and Principles | This chapter was updated to clarify the appropriate use of Frameworki and to advise of the current review of the Haringey Equalities Policy. |
| Safeguarding Panel Procedure | This chapter has been substantially amended and should be re-read in full. |
| Missing from Home and Care Procedure | The previous Missing from Home chapter has been extended to refer to children missing from Care and links to the the recently introduced risk assessment and recording requirements. This chapter should therefore be re-read in full. |
| Care Pathway for Section 47 Child Protection Medicals Procedure | This chapter has been updated to reflect current arrangements. |
| Youth Offending Service - Children's Services Protocol | This chapter has been entirely replaced and should be re-read in full. |
| Placements Procedures | This chapter has been amended to ensure that the requirement to meet the education needs of children and young people is fully incorporated. |
| Placement with Connected Persons Procedure | This chapter is currently in draft. |
| Social Work Visits to Looked After Children Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with the requirements of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010 and should be re-read in full. |
| Health Care Assessments and Health Plans Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with the requirements of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010 and should be re-read in full. |
| Immunisations Procedure | The information and guidance on immunization in this chapter has been brought up to date. |
| Personal Education Plans Procedure | This chapter has been substantially amended and should be re-read in full. |
| Leaving Care and Transition Procedure | Sections regarding Financial Assistance, Transitions to the 18+ service, Personal Adviser Support 21-25 have been added or amended to this chapter. |
| Threshold Criteria for Disabled Children's Team Procedure | This chapter has been substantially revised and should be re-read in full. |
| Transition Policy (Draft) | The December 2010 edition of this policy has now been added which should be re-read in full. |
| Fostering Statement of Purpose Procedure | This statement of purpose has been significantly amended and updated and should be re-read in full. |
| Adoption Statement of Purpose | This statement of purpose has been significantly amended and should be re-read in full. |
| Adoption Values and Principles | This chapter has been amended to reflect the values contained in the Adoption National Minimum Standards. |
| Adoption Panel Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with current regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with current regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Placement for Adoption Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with current regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Adoption Reviews Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with current regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Inter Country Adoption Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with current regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Non Agency Adoptions Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with current regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Adoption Support Services Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with current regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Adoption Case Records Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with current regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Access to Birth Records/Adoption Case Records Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with current regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Intermediary Services Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with current regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Applications for Special Guardianship Procedure | This chapter has been updated to comply with current regulations, guidance and National Minimum Standards. |
| Forms Library | A number of forms have been added or replaced as follows:
|
| Scheme of Delegation and Local Contacts | Updated to reflect current organizational structure and associated delegation. |
| Haringey Cards / Practice Standards Procedure | This chapter has been significantly developed and should be reviewed in full. |
| Criminal Injures Compensation Procedure | This chapter has been updated to provide a link to the official online guide to the scheme and to update contact details. |
| Children's Trust Fund and Junior ISA's Procedure | This chapter has been significantly set out the ongoing issue of Child Trust Funds for some looked after children. The chapter also sets out the recent development of Junior ISA's as they relate to Looked After Children. |
| Family Support Procedure | This chapter has been significantly revised and should be re-read in full. Further amendments are planned for March 2012. |
| Legal Planning Meetings Procedure | Section “Who Can Convene Planning Meetings" has been amended and should be re-read. |
3.2 Planned Updates
We plan to update this manual at least twice in the next year, and we are very keen to involve all staff in the undertaking of these updates.
We want to hear from you if you think the format (look and feel) of the manual can be improved, or if you wish to contribute to the content e.g. provide feedback if you think a procedure should be amended or we need to include a new procedure.
You should send your comments or contributions to Amy Gonsalves (Child Protection and Review Support Officer)
Amy Gonsalves - Telephone 020 8489 3376
Email - Amy.Gonsalves@haringey.gov.uk
4. Forms Library
The manual includes a 'Forms Library', for non Frameworki forms. In the current update a number of new forms have been added to the Forms Library.
We plan to further expand the Forms Library alongside future manual updates. If you wish to recommend any forms to go into the library please contact Rachel Oakley (see above).
5. Terminology
We believe it is crucial to use consistent terminology, which we agree with individual customers, for example:
| Term | Definition |
| 'Child in Care' | In Haringey, we use the term 'Child in Care' to describe when a child becomes Accommodated or subject of Care Proceedings e.g. on an Interim or Full Care Order. You will also see the term 'Looked After Child' in this Manual - which has the same meaning. |
| '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 |
| '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. |
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 Notifiable Disease (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. Or, use 'Search'.
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 Alerts and Suggestions.
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. Alerts and Suggestions
8.1 Comments and suggestions
If you have any comments or suggestions to make about this manual please contact us by using the 'Alerts and Suggestions' 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 'Alerts and Suggestions' - on the left hand side of the 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 Haringey Children and Young People's Services.
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