Using this Manual

Welcome to the online procedures for Calderdale Children's Social Care.

1. What is Included in the Procedures

The online procedures contain all 'operational' policies, procedures and guidance for Calderdale Children's Social Care, including 'Children in Need, Children Looked After, Children with Disabilities, Fostering, and Adoption (with links to One Adoption West Yorkshire, the regional adoption agency).

Children's Homes Policies and Procedures are found in a separate site which can be accessed from the manual home page.

Users can also access the West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures - from the 'Home' Screen.

2. Amendments and Planned Updates

2.1 Amendments

Amendments that have been made to existing chapters and new chapters that have been introduced in this update are indicated on the Contents List and at the top of each chapter.

Click here to view details of updates made to the procedures.

2.2 Planned Updates

The next scheduled update to the online procedures will go live in January 2025.

If you would like to make suggestions for the next update, either as an amendment to an existing chapter or concerning a new chapter please contact Louise Ambler (louise.ambler@calderdale.gov.uk).

If you want to use a chapter that has been developed by another local authority, please let Louise know. Tri.x need to seek permission for us to use that chapter.

Any amendments to existing procedures should be shown in track changes. In order to allow time for us to incorporate the changes into the online procedures, all amendments need to be received by the end of November 2024.

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. Terminology

As far as possible, consistent terminology is used throughout the procedures, which means that some generic terms are used as follows:

'Home' and 'Resource' This is a generic term which means Children's Home, Foster Home.
'Child' or 'Young Person' Both of these terms are used to mean any child under the age of 18. In most chapters however, the term 'child' is used.
'Staff' or 'Carer' This means all Staff and Carers (including) whether employed or not.
'Manager' This means Team Manager, it also means YOT Team Manager.
'Line Manager' This means the first Line Manager of a team/service.
Designated Manager The term Designated Manager is often used where notifications or approvals are required by a Manager above the level of Team Manager. Where users see this term they may click on it to view relevant contact details
'Parent' This means person with Parental Responsibility.
'Regulatory Authority' Regulatory Authority is the generic term used in the procedures 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.

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 user.

6. Feedback

We would like to hear about your experience of using the online procedures. Please use the Feedback button on the navigation bar to let us know what you think.

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. 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 Calderdale Council.

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 Java Script 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. 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.