Using this Manual

Welcome to this edition of the Barking and Dagenham Children’s Services Procedures Manual produced by tri.x. 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.

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. You will also find the detail of the next planned manual update in this section.

This manual will next be updated in May 2025.

If you would like to suggest a change to the procedures manual discuss your suggestion with your line manager in the first instance.

This manual contains a Library which reflects the structure of the contents list and can be accessed via the button bar on the left of your screen. 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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