Quick Guide |
Manual Version 16, August 2011
ALL STAFF PLEASE NOTE:
Please read the whole of this guide.
Contents
- Display Options and Printing
- About this Manual
- Amendments and Planned Updates
- The Knowledge
- Terminology
- Keywords/Search
- Compliance
- Alerts and Suggestions
- Copyright
1. Display Options and Printing
1.1 Display 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.
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
Please note, copies may be printed for reference only, they may NOT be retained for more than 3 working days or used for any other purpose (See Section 9, Copyright).
2. About this Manual
This Manual contains CastleCare's procedures for children's homes and education.
The difference between Procedures and Guidance
The manual contains one chapter, summarising CastleCare's key policies, values and principles in relation to consultation, confidentiality and recording.
All staff and managers must ensure they apply procedures in the context of these policies, values and principles.
Procedures:
The bulk of chapters in this manual are procedures, which state how to act in given circumstances. Unless otherwise stated, usually at the top of a chapter, procedures apply to all Staff.
Guidance:
Guidance provides direction and advice relating to procedures. Guidance is sometimes provided in a procedures chapter, e.g. where it is specific to that chapter. In such circumstances, Guidance will be highlighted. However, the bulk of guidance is provided in a separate part of the Manual. Guidance chapters can be accessed via the Contents List, and links are provided from relevant procedures.
3. Amendments and Planned Updates
The content of this manual was amended in August 2011. Previously the manual was significantly amended in 2009 with minor changes added in February and September 2010.
If a Chapter is new or amended, it is shown as such in the Contents List and the changes to chapters are summarised at the start of the Chapter.
Below is a summary of the changes made in August 2011:
| Amendments | Details |
| Referrals and Placements | This chapter has been removed and has been replaced a NEW CHAPTER under the same name Referrals and Placements |
| Transfers between Homes/Discharges | Amended: August 2011 Significant changes made to all of section one and throughout to include the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). This chapter must be read by all staff. |
| Placement Plan Reviews | Amended August 2011 to include the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). This chapter must be read by all staff. |
| Looked After Reviews | Amended August 2011: this chapter had been entirely revised in line with Care Planning Regulations and new Children's Homes Regulations and Standards. |
| Absent Children | New August 2011: this chapter replaces the previous 'Absent/Missing Children Procedure' and must be read by all staff. |
| Physical Intervention | Amended August 2011 regarding the locking and bolting of doors and also seeking medical assistance. This chapter must be read by all staff. |
| Holidays and School Trips | Link added to new government guidance on school trips. |
| Activities and Transporting Children | Amended August 2011: procedures on travelling in the front of the vehicle. This chapter must be read by all staff. |
| Contact with Parents and Siblings | Amended August 2011: additional information added around considerations of placement |
| Health Care Assessments and Plans | Amended August 2011 in line with Care Planning Regulations regarding timings of plans and reviews; also updated in line with new Children's Homes Regulations and Standards. This chapter must be read by all staff. |
| Monitoring Quality Procedure | Amended August 2011 in line with new Children's Homes Regulations and Standards. This chapter must be read by all staff. |
| Social Worker Visits | Amended August 2011 in line with new statutory obligations of the Social Worker to regularly visit the child in placement. |
| Child Protection Referrals | Amended: August 2011 to incorporate allocated Child Protection Manage. This chapter has also been amended to advise that non-action will not be tolerated and will be managed as a disciplinary matter. |
| Advocacy and Independent Visitors | August 2011: This chapter has been deleted and replaced as NEW under the same name. This chapter must be read by all staff. |
| Visitors | Amended August 2011 regarding persons not holding the relevant CRB having a chaperone whilst in the home. |
| Company Vehicles | August 2011: This chapter has been updated throughout applying clear guidance on the arrangements for using company vehicles and the responsibilities of the authorised drivers; procedure on the use of personal vehicles has also been updated and must be read by all staff. |
| Absent Children, Levels of Concern | Deleted: this chapter has been removed as all guidance on this is now given within the NEW procedure Absent/Missing Children |
| Care Plans | Deleted: this chapter has been removed as all guidance on this is now given within the NEW chapter Care and Placement Plans Guidance |
| Placement Plans | Deleted: this chapter has been removed as all guidance on this is now given within the NEW chapter Care and Placement Plans Guidance |
| Care and placement plans Guidance | This chapter was introduced as NEW in August 2011 and should be read by all staff. |
| Regulations and Standards | Updated with New Standards and Regulations |
| Designated Managers | This chapter has been updated and should be read in conjunction with the new chapter: Event Notifications Table |
| Event Notifications Table | New: This chapter provides clear guidance on who should be informed and notified in the case of any significant events. |
| Guidance on Updating the Manual | This chapter has been amended to ensure that you know who to contact with ideas for developing the manual and also to give clear guidance on how to apply suggestions of amendments to chapters in word document. |
3.1 Planned Updates
The next planned update is planned for the February 2012.
If you wish to contribute to these updates e.g. by recommending a new procedure, amendment to an existing procedure or change to the functionality, please discuss your proposals in the first place with your manager; if your proposals are accepted, they should be passed to Lee Jones by the end of December 2011. See Section 3.2, Guidance on Editing the Manual
If you have any urgent updates, which can't wait until the planned update (e.g. emanating from a Complaint or required as a condition of registration), please contact Deborah Carr* immediately.
*In Deborah's absence, please contact Camilla Openshaw
3.2 Guidance on Editing the Manual
If you wish to recommend changes to this Manual please see Guidance on Updating the Manual.
4. The Knowledge
'The Knowledge' is a feature, incorporated into this Manual, to help practitioners and managers reassure themselves that they understand key procedures.
We have created a series of 'On-Line' questionnaires which you can complete at any time, or if requested by your Line Manager.
They are not 'tests', they are designed to reassure you that you can find key procedures and that they are easy to understand. Each questionnaire has up to 20 'multi-choice' questions, and all the answers are contained in this manual.
After completing a questionnaire, you receive a 'report' by email, telling you how you got on and which questions were answered incorrectly - you can then retake the questionnaire, as many times as you wish.
To find out more, click on 'The Knowledge' on the left hand side of the screen
5. Terminology
As far as possible, consistent terminology is used in this Manual, which means that some generic terms are used which users may not be familiar with.
'Home' and 'Resource' |
this is a generic term which means all homes |
'Resident', 'child' or 'young person' |
all these terms are used, to refer to children/young people looked after by CastleCare, including young adults over the age of 18, unless otherwise stated in the body of chapters. |
'Staff' |
means everyone employed or working in a voluntary capacity |
'Manager' |
means manager of a home or resource. |
'Line Manager' |
means the first line manager of the home/resource. More senior managers are referred to by Post Title |
| 'Parent' | means person(s) with Parental Responsibility |
'Placing Authority' and 'Social Worker' |
Placing Authority means the local authority/agency responsible for placing the child or commissioning the service (usually Children's Services - see below). Social Worker means allocated social worker or person with case responsibility (e.g. Personal Advisor for children preparing to leave care). If there is no allocated worker it means Duty Worker or Children's Services/Children's Social Care Team Manager |
| '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. CSSIW or OFSTED. |
'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 been replaced Children's Services or Children's Social Care Services - which normally provide children's social care and education services within the local authority. By the end of 2008, Children's Trusts will be established, bringing together various other agencies such as Sure Start, the Children's Fund, Connexions, behaviour and education support teams, children and Young People's strategic partnerships, and youth offending teams. |
'Placement Plan' |
The term 'Placement Plan' is the generic term meaning two plans used by CastleCare: The Placement Plan, drawn up upon admission, or shortly afterward, summarising the arrangements for the care of the child. These plans are different from LAC Placement Plans or ICS Placement Information Record drawn up by the Placing Authority/Social Worker. |
6. Keywords/Search
6.1 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.
6.2 Search
We have provided an improved Search function, available from the relevant button on the left hand menu bar. This will enable you to search for specific words within a Chapter, or you can search for actual Procedure titles and sub-sections within Chapters.
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 - via '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 manual 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 CastleCare.
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