Quick Guide |
December 2011
This 'Quick Guide' must be read before accessing the body of the manual.
This manual was significantly updated in December 2011, see Section 4, Amendments for a list of new chapters and edited chapters.
For example the adoption procedures have been amended to reflect the changes in the Adoption National Minimum Standards.
Contents
- Introduction
- Display and Browser Options
- Structure of the Manual
- Amendments
- Planned Updates
- How to Find a Chapter
- Terminology
- Keywords and Search
- Compliance
- Contact Us
- Copyright
- Printing and Retaining Copies
1. Introduction
Welcome to this, the third edition of the Leeds Children’s Services Procedures Manual.
This manual is devised to be easy to use and it is worth taking the time to read this guide so that you can get the best from the manual as simply as possible.
In essence, this manual is a website which operates in the same way as the other websites that you use on a regular basis.
The manual and it’s site will be maintained on a regular (at least six monthly) basis and you will be able to contribute to this process by sending any comments that you have to us via the contact us button on the left of any screen. This can include any errors or omissions that you notice.
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
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. Structure of the Manual
This manual contains the policies, procedures and guidance for Leeds Children's Services. In this manual, all Leeds Children's Services Policies, Values and Principles are located in one Chapter, which users are required to familiarise themselves with before proceeding to the main body of the Manual. These Policies, Values and Principles are located in a Chapter called 'Values' - available from the left hand side of the screen. Procedures and Guidance: In an attempt to keep procedures succinct, procedures and more detailed guidance are separated - with links provided as appropriate. 'Procedures' summarise how Managers and Staff must act in given circumstances. 'Guidance' provides direction or advice to a decision or course of action.
4. Amendments
The table below contains a comprehensive list of new and amended chapters. Click on the titles and you will be taken to the chapters. Using this table helps existing users to identify what has changed in the manual without having to review the contents list of the manual. However, new and updated chapters are noted in the contents list and where relevant, in the scope boxes of the chapters.
| New Chapters and Features | |
| Court Orders | This new chapter lists relevant legislation in regard to social care. |
| Statement of Purpose - Adoption | This new chapter includes the aims and objectives, a description of the service it provides and the facilities that are provided. |
| Court Business | This chapter describes the role of the social care legal team and the role of the social work team in respect of court proceedings and legal responsibilities. |
| Complaints Procedure | This is the procedure for dealing with complaints made about Leeds children’s services at the service delivery level. This guidance is for representations, including complaints, made by children and young people. It also applies to parents, foster carers and other adults making a complaint. Throughout the guidance the term complainant is used when referring to an adult, child or young person making a complaint about services to a child. |
| Equality and Diversity Policy | This new chapter aims for an inclusive partnership framework at city, area, and cluster (and neighbourhood level) which should support and challenge all stakeholders to play an active part in the future development and delivery of services. |
| Assessing Housing Need: Care Leavers | This protocol is intended to improve joint working between the Leeds City Council’s Environment and Neighbourhoods Department, Children’s Services’ Pathway Planning Team, Children's Asylum and Refugee Team, Gipsil and Archway support projects and the Leeds ALMOs, and outlines how referrals for rehousing of young people leaving care should be managed. |
| Family and Friends Policy | This new policy sets out how Leeds City Council, in collaboration with its local partners will meet the needs of children living with family and friends in any of the following circumstances:
|
| Staying Put Policy | The policy sets out the conditions required to extend a former fostering arrangement beyond a young person’s eighteenth birthday, the associated financial implications, the social care requirements associated with extending former fostering arrangements and the consequential Income Tax, National Insurance and Welfare Benefit issues. |
| Leaving Care Financial Policy | This is new chapter. |
| Mother and Baby Assessment Placements (Finance) | This chapter is for eligible care leavers who are young mothers. |
| Foster Carers Handbook | This new section incorporates new and previous chapters which are relevant to foster carers. |
| Arranging Forensic Medical Examination | This include two flowcharts in regards to arranging forensic medical examinations and Transfer of Information. |
| The Prevention Services Diagram | This is a new diagram. |
| The Prevention Services Procedure | This policy refers to the Prevention Services in regard to avoiding needless criminalisation of young people. |
| Family Finding Role and Procedure | This chapter outlines the role of the family finder and the family finding process. |
| Foster Carer Payment for Skills (PFS) Model and the Tasks, Skills, Competencies (TSC) Framework | The Model provides clear entry requirements and expectaiton regarding carer training and development for each level. |
| Quality Assurance Framework | This document sets out the Children and Young People's Social Care Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). |
| Case File Audit Framework | This relates specifically to practice and record keeping in relation to Children and Young People.. |
| Updated Chapters | |
| Title | Change |
| Adoption Chapters | This section of the manual has been brought up to date with the Adoption Services National Minimum Standards. |
| Adoption Panel | This chapter was significantly updated to reflect the changes from the Adoption Minimum Standards and Guidance 2011 and it is advised that it should be re read. The main changes are:
|
| Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters | This chapter was significantly updated to reflect the Adoption Services National Minimum Standards 2011. The changes are:
This chapter should be read in its entirety. |
| Placement for Adoption | This chapter was updated to reflect the changes in the Adoption Services National Minimum Standards 2011. The changes are:
This chapter should be read in its entirety. |
| Adoption Support | This chapter was significantly updated to reflect the Adoption Services National Minimum Standards 2011. The changes are:
This chapter should be read in its entirety. |
| Monitoring and Supervision of Adoptive Placements | This chapter was slightly updated in regard to frequency of visits. |
| Disruption of Adoptive Placements | This chapter was slightly updated in regard to invitations to the fostering link worker and the previous foster carer and their link worker. |
| Allegations Against Prospective Adopters | This chapter was slightly updated see Section 2, Introduction bullet point a). |
| Non-Agency Adoption | This chapter was significantly updated and should be read in its entirety. |
| Adoption Case Records | This chapter was significantly amended to reflect the changes in the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and Adoption Services National Minimum Standards 2011. The changes are:
This chapter should be read in its entirety. |
| Access to Birth Records and Adoption Case Records | This chapter was updated to take account of the changes in the Adoption Services National Minimum Standards 2011. The changes are:
|
| Working with Birth Parent-relinquished Baby Procedure | This chapter was significantly updated to take account of the changes in the Adoption Services National Minimum Standards 2011. The changes are:
This chapter should be re read in its entirety. |
| Life Story Books Guidance | This chapter was updated, Section 1, What is a Life Story Book? The changes are in relation to who should be involved in putting the contents together and the completed life story book should be presented to the prospective adopters within 10 working days of the adoption ceremony. |
| Later Life Letters | This chapter was slightly updated in regard to the later life letter given to the prospective adopters within 10 working days of the adoption ceremony. |
| Adoption of Children Looked After | This guidance was updated to take account of the changes in the Care Planning, Placement and Case Reviews (England) Regulations 2010 and Adoption Services National Minimum Standards 2011. The changes are:
|
| Financial Support in Adoption - Guidance for Adoptive Parents | This chapter was slightly updated in regard to the Head of Service for Looked After Children making decisions and payments regarding meals will be in line with the council’s subsistence rates for meals. |
| Financial Support in Adoption - Guidance for Social Workers | This chapter was slightly updated. The changes are:
|
| Criteria for Assessing Adoptive Parents and Foster Carers | This chapter was slightly updated to include Adopters. |
| Guidance on all References in Adoption | This chapter was update, links are made to Ex Partner Questionnaire and Adoption assessments/references guidance. |
| Initial Visits Guidance | This chapter was updated. The changes are:
|
| Summary Medication Policy for Foster Carers | This chapter was slightly updated in see, Routine Medical and Dental Treatment in regard to gas and air, intravenous, oral or intranasal sedation. |
| Medical Treatment and Medical Policy for Looked After Children in Foster Care | This chapter was slightly updated in, see Routine Medical and Dental Treatment in regard to gas and air, intravenous, oral or intranasal sedation. |
| Family Placement Service Medication Policy for Children using the Short Breaks Service | This chapter was updated to include two new documents:
|
| Forms Library | This chapter has been substantially updated. |
| Fostering Policy | This chapter was updated. The changes are:
|
| Core Assessments (Including Section 47 Enquiries) | This chapter was slightly updated , see Section 9.3 Child at Continuing Risk of Significant Harm (ii) links to ‘Have your Say’ booklets, Child Protection Conference – information for parents and carers and Child Protection Meetings – A Guide for Children and Young People. |
| Looked After Reviews | This chapter was significantly updated. The changes are:
|
| Leaving Care | This chapter was slightly updated, to include links to the Needs Assessment and Pathway Care Plan. |
| Statement of Purpose: Fostering Service | This chapter was significantly amended and should be re read. |
| Decision to Look After and Care Planning | This chapter was slightly updated. The changes are: A child may not come into care without the express permission of HOSDAR or the Head of Service in an emergency situation. Change form ‘desk’ to service. |
| Placements in Foster Care | This chapter was slightly updated. The changes are: The placement request should be emailed to the placement service. |
| Placements in Residential Care | This chapter was slightly updated, in regard to the Placement Service. |
| Local Contacts | This chapter was slightly updated in regard to the contact details for the Placement Service. |
| Medication Policy for Children who use Residential Services | This chapter was updated and should be read in its entirety. |
| Local Keywords | This chapter was amended to include a definition for Children’s Guardian. |
5. Planned Updates
This is the fifth operational version of the electronic manual. Inevitably there will be things that you the manual user will see that should be changed. This could be something simple like a link that doesn't work or a term that is incorrect, or it could be something more sophisticated such as a chapter that should be included. Whatever it is, please let us know so that the quality and accessibility of the manual can be enhanced. You can do this by using the Contact Us button on the left of every screen.
The manual will be updated in June 2012.
6. How to Find a Chapter
Procedures and guidance are located in individual 'Chapters' which are available from a 'traditional' Contents List - on the left hand side of the screen.
6.1 Using the Contents List
Chapters are categorised or grouped together as follows:
PARTS: The manual contains procedures categorised under a number of Service Sectors, like 'Looked After Children',
SECTIONS: Within each Service Sector e.g. 'Looked After Services', you will find a Section (group of procedures) like 'Adoption and Permanence'.
CHAPTERS: Under each Section, you'll find individual Chapters/Procedures e.g. 'Adoption Case Records' 4.2 You can search for a Chapter
If you aren't sure which service or section to look in, try 'Search' which will help you identify specific Chapters and sub headings within Chapters
7. Terminology
We believe it is crucial to use consistent terminology, which we agree with individual customers, for example:
| 'Home' and 'Resource' | this is a generic term which means Children’s Home, Foster Home |
| 'Child' or 'Young Person' | both these terms are used to mean any child under the age of 18 |
| 'Staff' or 'Carer' | means all Staff and Carers (including) whether employed or not |
| 'Manager' | means Team Manager, it also means YOT Team Manager |
| 'Line Manager' | means the first Line Manager of a team/service |
| 'Parent' | means person with Parental Responsibility |
| '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. |
| '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. |
8. Keywords and Search
8.1 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 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.
Many Keywords are highlighted in the body of procedures, but you can search for the Keyword you need: Go to the Keywords Index, on the left hand side of the screen, or, use 'Search' .
8.2 Search
We have provided a Search function, available from the relevant button on the left hand menu bar. This will enable you to search for Chapter/Procedure titles and sub-sections within Chapters.
It will provide the best results if you know the title of the chapter or sub section, or if you have a good idea what the title is.
You may have to try different or alternative spellings/terms before you get the result you are looking for.
9. Compliance
9.1 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.
9.2 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.
10. Contact us
If you have any comments or suggestions to make about this manual please contact us by using the button on the left hand side of the screen, from anywhere within the manual.
11. 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-Childcare Ltd and Leeds Children’s Services.
12. 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 
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.
End