Using this Manual

Welcome to the latest electronic version of the Lincolnshire SCP manual of procedures. This manual was amended in October 2024. See Section 2, Amendments for further details.

This manual is produced in conjunction with tri.x and it is updated every six months. The next version is scheduled to be published in April 2025. If you have any comments, additions or if you find that there is something that needs to be improved about the manual, please e-mail: lscp@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

This 'Quick Guide' must be read before accessing the body of the manual.

These procedures use the word ‘must’ where the provision is a legal requirement. The word ‘should’ is used where the provision should be complied with but is not a legal requirement, such as where it is taken from non-statutory government guidance or accepted good practice.

1. Structure of the Manual

This manual contains the policies, procedures and guidance for Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership. In this manual, all 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 home screen.

2. Amendments

This manual was updated in October 2024. Details of new and amended chapters are indicated at the top of relevant chapters and on the Contents List.

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

If you wish to make amendments to any existing chapter, changes to existing chapters have to be done using track changes, otherwise we will have to ask for amendments to be done again.

3. How to find a chapter

Procedures and guidance are located in individual 'Chapters' which are available from a 'traditional' Contents List - on the top of the screen.

3.1 Using the Contents List

Chapters are categorised or grouped together as follows:

SECTIONS: Within each Service Sector the procedures are listed numerically'.

CHAPTERS: Under each Section, you'll find individual Chapters/Procedures e.g. 'Social Work Assessment'. You can search for a Chapter

If you aren't sure which service or section to look in, try 'Search' which can be accessed via the button on the top of your screen and will help you identify specific Chapters and sub headings within Chapters.

4. 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.

5. Terminology

We believe it is crucial to use consistent terminology, which we agree with individual customers, for example:

Caption:
   
'Child' or 'Young Person' Both of 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.
'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.

6. 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.

7. Regulatory Compliance

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

8. 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 Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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:

13. 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.