Using this Manual

This quick guide explains how the manual works.

1. Using this Manual

This is the procedures manual for Wokingham Children Services. Any copies of old procedures should be discarded.

The manual is laid out as following:

  • Procedures - this contains the procedures that meet the national social work requirements required by legislation and statutory guidance;
  • Practice Guidance - this contains local guidance, tools and other information that supports and complements the main procedures. It is important that you use this area;
  • The Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership has a range of guidance on safeguarding topics. These can be accessed from the button on the top toolbar titled 'SCP Guidance';
  • The Pan Berks Child Protection Procedures can be accessed from the same button and contain the multi-agency procedures for safeguarding.

The majority of electronic devices have the functionality to allow a shortcut to be downloaded to the welcome screen of their phone/tablet by loading the site using the web address above and tapping 'Add to Home Screen' from the menu on their browser.

The 'Using this Manual' guidance explains how this manual works, and sets out the latest amendments.
For more information about this manual, please contact the Policy and Quality Assurance Team on impactandinspectionteam@wokingham.gov.uk

2. Amendments

This manual is updated on a regular basis and a summary of the changes can be accessed via the 'Amendments' button on the Home page. You will also find the detail of the next planned manual update in this section. The next planned update will be in April 2024.

If you would like to suggest a change to the procedures manual discuss your suggestion with your line manager in the first instance.

3. Practice Guidance

This manual contains a Practice Guidance section which can be accessed via the navigation bar. This contains local guidance, tools and other information that supports and complements the main procedures. It is important that you use this area as it contains the local practice guidance that supports the main procedures.

4. Glossary and National Contacts

The manual is accessed by readers who may find terms that they are not familiar with. Therefore, a glossary of definitions is available under the resource tab.

There is also a National Contacts resource populated with details of key national agencies and organisations likely to be relevant to procedures user.

5. Regulatory Compliance

Every effort has been taken to ensure regulatory compliance. If you discover any errors or omissions, please alert your manager.

6. Register for Updates

We recommend that you register with us to automatically receive notification when this manual is updated, and to receive a monthly newsletter containing articles which may be of interest. Click on the 'Register for Updates' button on the home screen, to complete and send your details to us.

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.

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. 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 Wokingham Borough Council.

8. Accessibility

This website aims to achieve Double-A conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines in accordance with government guidelines. In order to change font size or manual colour use the highlighted 'Accessibility' button at the top right hand corner of any page.

9. Printing and Retaining Copies

The Manual is intended to be viewed on line to ensure only the most up-to-date version of procedures are 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.

10. Browser Recommendations

It is recommended that this manual is viewed with the latest browsers, with Java Script and cookies enabled for maximum compatibility and functionality.

Recommended browsers are:

11. Mobile/Tablet Compatibility

This manual has been tested on a variety of mobile devices to ensure that it displays correctly. If you are using an older mobile device it is possible that the manual will not display correctly.

If you would like the text to be larger, resize the text under the accessibility options, alternatively if you would also like the buttons and the rest of the layout to be enlarged you can use the zoom function within your browser.

The majority of devices have the functionality to allow a shortcut to be downloaded to the homescreen by loading the site using the 'url' and using the upload function and tapping 'Add to Home Screen'. The functionality may vary between devices, please refer to the manufacturer's instructions.