Using this Manual

This is the operational edition of Cumberland's Children's Services Procedures manual. This manual contains the policies, procedures and guidance for Cumberland Children's Services. 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 Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership has been incorporated into this manual. This can be accessed by clicking on the 'scp procedures' button on the right hand side of the screen.

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

This manual will be updated on a regular basis and a summary of the new and updated chapters will be located here. The next update for this manual will be published in February 2025.

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.

If you have any queries or suggestions, please contact your Manager in the first instance Deborah Hope (deborah.hope@cumberland.gov.uk).

This manual contains a documents library 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.

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.

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

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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.

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