1.1.1 Foreword and Introduction |
Welcome to this revised edition of the Specialist Children’s Services and Safeguarding Procedures Handbook.
I know that previous editions have proved invaluable to staff in knowing and understanding how Southwark is implementing policy and procedures across Specialist Children's Services and Safeguarding.
This edition now includes the changes in the regulatory framework relating to children looked after by Southwark and carer leavers, which became effective from 1 April 2011.
It also includes the Family and Friends Policy, which has been effective since 30 Septembers 2011, as required by recent statutory government guidance.
The Handbook is completely electronic, so that it can be amended and be made available to all staff easily. We have a contract with Tri-x-Childcare Limited who produced the handbook to ensure that updates are planned and published regularly. If you have any comments or changes that you believe should be made to any of the chapters, please do not keep them to yourself, but get in touch with Jackie Cook, Head of Social Work Improvement and Quality Assurance, who would be very pleased to hear from you. Any changes which have the necessary managerial approval can then be included in the next planned update.
Finally, if you are new to Southwark and therefore unfamiliar with the structure and how to use the handbook, I would ask you to familiarise yourself with the following before proceeding: the Quick Guide and Children’s Policy, Values and Underlying Principles of Recording, Confidentiality and Consultation. The first summarises how the handbook has been constructed; the second summarises the key policies, values and principles, which must be adopted when implementing any of the procedures contained in the handbook.
These two chapters may be accessed via the Contents pages or from the buttons at the top of each page.
Romi Bowen
Strategic Director of Children’s Services
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