Using this Manual

1. About this Manual

This is the operational edition of Luton's Children's Social Care Procedures manual and replaces the former web enabled version. This manual contains the policies, procedures and guidance for Luton Children's Social Care. All previous policies, procedures and guidance should be discarded.

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;
• Protocols are agreements between two or more departments or agencies.

A web-based version of the Luton Safeguarding Children Board has been incorporated into this manual. This can be accessed by clicking on LSCB Procedures button at the top of the screen.

A web-based version of Working Together to Safeguard Children has also been added as an Appendix to the manual.

For further details, please contact Sancha Thomas (Sancha.Thomas@luton.gov.uk) and Jack Markham (Jack.Markham@luton.gov.uk).

2. Amendments

This manual will be updated on a regular basis and a summary of the changes can be accessed via the 'Amendments' button on the Home page. The next planned manual update will take place in December 2023.

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.

3. Local Resources

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

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.

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.

7. 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. 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 Luton 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:

• Internet Explorer 11 (Windows 7, 8 and 8.1);
• Microsoft Edge (Windows 10);
• Google Chrome;
• Mozilla Firefox;
• Apple Safari.

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.