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Quick Guide

Welcome to this latest edition of the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Children Procedures. This 'Quick Guide' must be read before accessing the body of the manual.


Contents

  1. Welcome and Introduction
  2. Display and Browser Options
  3. Amendments
  4. How to find a Chapter/Procedure
  5. Terminology
  6. Keywords
  7. Compliance
  8. Register for Updates
  9. Copyright
  10. Printing and Retaining Copies


1. Welcome and Introduction

Welcome to this latest edition of the Kent and Medway online Safeguarding Children Procedures.

Before accessing the procedures, users should read 'the "Quick Guide' and 'Values', which can be accessed by clicking on the relevant buttons on the left hand side of the screen.


2. 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

smallmediumlargehivis

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.


3. Amendments

When procedures are updated, any changes are indicated in the Contents List and at the top of the relevant chapter. A summary list is also available at the following link:

Click here to view details of updates made to this manual.

The next edition of these online procedures is scheduled for publication in May 2024. To be included in the May 2024 update any new or revised material will need to be received by tri.x, in the agreed formats, by the end of March 2024. Any amendments must be set out using the track changes feature of MS Word or supplied in PDF format ready for publication.


4. How to find a Chapter/Procedure

Individual chapters / procedures are categorised or grouped together as follows:

Introduction, Policy Framework, Principles and Values
Core Procedures
Practice Guidance
Protocols
Kent and Medway Local Safeguarding Children Partnership
Appendices
Leaflets

4.1 Search

If you aren't sure which category or section to look in try 'Search' which is accessible using the button on the left of your screen. Advice on how to refine your search is provided.


5. Terminology

Readers should note the following generic terms are used for roles / functions that may have a variety of local names:

  • Adults’ Social Services / Care refers to local authority social care services for adults;
  • Child refers to anyone under 18 years old (though the term ‘young person’ may appear if this reflects accepted professional practice e.g. with respect to teenagers);
  • Children’s Services (Education) refers to the functional division within Children’s Services providing and co-ordinating educational services for children and young people;
  • Local Authority Children’s Services refers to the functional division within Children’s Services which provide support, protection and care services to families and children;
  • Performance and Standards Officer - CP / Operational Safeguarding Lead (Medway) refers to officer/s in Local Authority Children’s Services offering ‘off line’ advice to professionals;
  • Child Protection Manager refers to the person responsible for data management of those subject to a child protection plan;
  • Kent Central Duty Team is the respective point of contact for new referrals in Kent. The Customer First Team is the point of contact for referrals in Medway;
  • Duty Officer describes the departmental point of contact with respect to open, closed or unallocated cases or cover provided for the unavailability of a named member of staff;
  • First Line Manager describes the team manager / group manager (Medway) responsible for a team of social workers or her/his assistant, or practice supervisor / senior practitioner;
  • Named Senior Officer refers to the individual within local authority and Police responsible for strategic oversight of the organisation’s management of allegations against people working with children;
  • District Manager / Service Manager refers to the second line manager to whom a first line manager reports (sometimes called operational manager / head of service);
  • Social Worker describes the practitioner with case responsibility (for children subject of a child protection plan, this will be a registered social worker);
  • Supervising Social Worker (sometimes called link or family placement worker or fostering officer) describes the practitioner working with foster carers.


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 is available 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.


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.


8. Register for Updates

If you would like to be notified when these procedures are updated please provide us with your details by using the 'Register for Updates' button on the left hand side of the screen, from anywhere within the manual.

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.


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 and Kent and Medway LSCP's.


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 print icon 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