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Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership (in Reading)Procedures Manual

Using this Manual

Welcome to the updated version of the Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership (in Reading) Procedures Manual.

This page explains how the manual works.

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. About this Manual
  3. Amendments
  4. Local Resources
  5. Glossary and National Contacts
  6. Regulatory Compliance
  7. Register for Updates
  8. Copyright
  9. Accessibility
  10. Printing and Retaining Copies
  11. Browser Recommendations
  12. Mobile/Tablet Compatibility

1. Introduction

This manual is devised to provide you with a set of chapters which comply with Working Together to Safeguard Children. The content has been written in a succinct style which is intended to be accessible to a wide range of users from all the agencies within the Safeguarding Children Partnership and the third sector.

The manual has been organised with the Core Procedures in the most prominent place. These chapters explain the actions that must be taken when there are concerns about the welfare of a child.

Chapters which relate to guidance have been written in Safeguarding Practice Guides which capture the most significant points and avoiding a level of detail which put the reader off. Where more detailed guidance is required, this can be included either through a link from a Safeguarding Practice Guide or as a replacement for a Safeguarding Practice Guide.

At the end of each chapter there is a Local Information section which may contain additional information produced by your local Safeguarding Children Partnership in addition to the safeguarding guidance in the chapter.

Local Information may include practice guidance, local protocols including Threshold Documents or additional information. You should check the Local Information for each chapter to familiarise yourself with this content.

Work will take place between the Safeguarding Children Partnership and tri.x to edit and amend the content of this manual to ensure that it reflects local practices and arrangements (see Section 2, About this Manual).

2. About this Manual

This is the most recent update of the manual and has been developed through a close working partnership between tri.x and Pan Berkshire SCP. The manual will continue to be updated bi-annually.

The next planned update will be September 2024.

3. 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.

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

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

4. Local Resources

This manual contains a local resource section which can be accessed via the button bar on the left of your screen. This section is populated and maintained locally. If there is a resource that you think should be added talk in the first instance to your manager.

5. 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 users.

6. Regulatory Compliance

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

7. 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 Reading SCP.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Browser Recommendations

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

Recommended browsers are:

12. Mobile/Tablet Compatibility

This manual has been tested on a variety of mobile devices to ensure that it displays correctly. However, if you find that you still cannot use the site select the 'mobile' option at the bottom of the screen. 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.