Using this Manual

This quick guide explains how the manual works.

1. About this Manual

This manual contains the inter-agency policies, procedures, protocols and guidance for Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton Safeguarding Children Partnerships. To clarify:

  • Procedures and protocols are sets of rules - they are MUST DO's;
  • Practice guidance is a tool for reflective practice, and identifies the best of current practice using current research.

This manual contains a set of chapters which reflect Working Together to Safeguard Children and related statutory guidance. The content has been written to be accessible to a wide range of users from the Safeguarding Children Partnership and other relevant local organisations and agencies, including the voluntary, charity, social enterprise, faith-based organisations and private sectors.

2. Amendments

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.

The next update will be available by May 2025.

If practitioners which to suggest any amendments or additions for the manual, they should contact their Local Safeguarding Children Partnership:

When the manual is updated and a chapter has been significantly amended or is new, it will be indicated in the Contents List and at the top of the relevant chapter.

For further information, please contact your LSCP:

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Regulatory Compliance

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

6. 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 Bedford Borough Safeguarding Children Partnership, Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership and Luton Safeguarding Children Partnership.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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:

11. 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.