Using this Manual
Scope of this chapter
Welcome to the Nottingham City Children's Homes Manual.
All former procedures both in paper and electronic forms are superseded by this manual and should no longer be used.
Before proceeding to the body of the manual, please read this 'Quick Guide'.
This Manual contains all of our key policies and procedures, listed in ‘Contents’ at the top of the screen.
The procedures are sub divided into several Sections e.g. Section 1: Ethos and Key Policies.
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 Section 1: Ethos and Key Policies; the other Sections primarily contain procedures and/or guidance.
All efforts are taken to ensure that the procedures are up to date; if you discover any errors including typing or spelling mistakes, please notify your Manager.
If you are unable to find a Procedure you require, consult your Manager or use the Search function - at the top of the screen.
This manual contains a local resource section which can be accessed via the navigation bar. You will find the Statements of Purposes and the Children’s Guides in this area as well as additional local Information.
If there is a resource that you think should be added talk in the first instance to your manager.
The nominated administrator for this area will be able to access online training in the use of the area from tri.x.
This library is populated and maintained locally and not by tri.x. tri.x will not be responsible for content which is added into this area, and any concerns should be directed to the contact person with responsibility for the procedures.
Many chapters have been changed in this current edition of this manual.
The next edition of this manual is scheduled to be published in November 2024. In order to be included in next edition of the manual it will be necessary for any new or amended content to be notified to tri.x by the end of September 2024. Any new material must be submitted in MS Word for PDF format and any amended chapters must be submitted in MS Word format with the alterations set out using the “track changes” feature. Unfortunately material set out in any other way cannot be processed.
This manual is routinely updated on a 6 monthly basis. Where urgent changes are required (for example due to a Serious Case Review etc.) these can be processed immediately.
Most chapters contain a summary of the key Regulations (including Quality Standards) that are relevant, together with links to a web enabled version of the Standards.
The manual is accessed by readers who may find terms that they are not familiar with. Therefore, a glossary of definitions is available via the 'Glossary' button on the Home page.
There is also a National Contacts resource populated with details of key national agencies and organisations likely to be relevant to procedures user.
We have tried to use consistent terminology throughout the Manual, as follows:
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Home |
This is a generic term which means Children's Home |
|
'Child' or 'Young Person' |
Both these terms are used to mean any child under the age of 18 |
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Home's or Registered Manager |
This is the registered manager for the home, sometimes the term 'Manager' is used. |
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Line Manager |
This is used to denote the first line manager for the home; the person who supervises the Home's Manager. |
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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. |
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Parent |
Means person with parent or person with Parental Responsibility |
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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 |
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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. |
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Placing Authority |
Placing Authority means the local authority/agency responsible for placing the child or commissioning the service (usually Children's Services - see below). |
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Children's Services, Children's Social Care Services |
All these terms are used in this manual. In effect they mean the same thing. In some areas, Children's Services still exist, but in most areas they have replaced Children's Services with Children's Social Care Services - which normally provide Children's Social Care and education services within the local authority. |
|
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.
If a senior manager, above the Home’s Line Manager, needs to be notified or give approval in given circumstances we use the term Designated Manager e.g. Designated Manager (Complaints). You will see that any term like this is highlighted and links to a document which states the post title or name of the relevant Manager.
At any time, you can view a summary of all circumstances where a senior manager must be notified or give approval – and other agencies e.g. if a Schedule 5 Notification is required – see Notification of Serious Events Procedure.
Every effort has been taken to ensure regulatory compliance. If you discover any errors or omissions, please alert your manager.
If you have any comments or suggestions to make about this Procedures Manual please consult your Line Manager.
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The Manual is intended to be viewed online to ensure only the most up-to-date version of procedures is being used. It will be updated regularly so, in the unlikely event there is a requirement for hard copies, they should be destroyed after 72 hours.
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Last Updated: May 31, 2024
v15
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