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Using this Manual

Scope of this chapter

This quick guide explains how the manual works.

This online procedures manual replaces all previous procedures manuals, which should now be discarded.

For further details, please contact Laura Armstrong (Laura.Armstrong@durham.gov.uk).

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 details of the next planned manual update in this section.

The procedures manual will next be updated in May 2026.

If you would like to suggest a change or addition to the procedures manual, contact Laura Armstrong (Laura.Armstrong@durham.gov.uk).

Click here to view details of updates made to this manual.

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, contact Holli Meadows (Holli.Meadows@durham.gov.uk).

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 procedure users.

Every effort has been made 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 Durham Children's Services.

tri.x is committed to ensuring its platform is accessible to all users and has embedded accessibility into its design, development, and testing processes. The platform is currently partially conformant with WCAG 2.2 Level AA, meaning most content meets accessibility requirements, with ongoing improvements to areas such as form behaviour, colour contrast, control sizing & responsiveness.

Accessibility is regularly reviewed through internal assessments, automated testing tools, audits, and user feedback, with amendments evaluated on each release. tri.x supports modern browsers and assistive technologies and now includes a text-to-speech feature to further support users with visual impairments. Users are encouraged to report any accessibility issues so they can be triaged and addressed in future releases.

For more information, please see our Accessibility Statement.

Text-to-Speech allows users to listen to manual content instead of, or alongside, reading it.

A play icon appears next to supported section headings. Selecting the icon will read the content of that section aloud.

Google Translate is an online translation tool that enables users to translate text, documents and websites into a wide range of languages. It is provided for general assistance when accessing information written in another language and can be found at the bottom of every page on this site. This tool is useful for gaining a general understanding of foreign language content, but translations should be reviewed for accuracy if being used in formal or official communications.

The Manual is intended to be viewed online to ensure only the most up-to-date version of procedures is being used.

There will be times when hard copies of some of the chapters may be required for meetings etc. They should not be kept for any longer than necessary. Users are encouraged to develop the habit of consulting the online version in the first instance.

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:

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.

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

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