Using this Manual

This manual contains the policies, procedures and guidance for Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership. In this manual, all Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership 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 left hand side of the screen.

Working Together to Safeguard Children

The latest version of Working Together was published in 2023. Click here to view the web-enabled version of the national guidance. Please register for updates on the left to be notified when this manual is updated.

This manual is the latest operational edition of the Procedures Manual.

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.

The manual is due for a 'planned update' in September 2024.

Any requests for amendments or additions should be sent to Elizabeth Peters: Elizabeth.Peters@Hertfordshire.gov.uk, who will need to authorise any amendment or addition before it can be included.

Please note: any correspondence regarding the manual must include references to the chapter numbers and sections as they appear in this current version. We will not be able to progress any matters where old referencing/numbering is quoted.

Changes to existing chapters should be provided to us (via Matthew Turmaine on a Word version of the chapter concerned, using 'Track Changes'. You can either copy and paste the text from a chapter into Word to do this, or request a copy of the chapter concerned from us, via Matthew Turmaine.

Please note: it is essential that all changes you make to a chapter are visible (Track Changes will ensure this).

This manual contains a documents library which can be accessed via the navigation bar. If there is a resource that you think should be added talk in the first instance to your manager.

The nominated administrator for this area will be able to access online training in the use of the area from tri.x.

This library is populated and maintained locally and not by tri.x. tri.x will not be responsible for content which is added into this area, and any concerns should be directed to the contact person with responsibility for the procedures.

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.

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 Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership.

This website aims to achieve Double-A conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines in accordance with government guidelines. 

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.

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:

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• Microsoft Edge (Windows 10);
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• Mozilla Firefox;
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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.