Amendments

This chapter was refreshed in June 2026 to further define Cyberbullying in Section 2, Types of Bullying.

In June 2026, information was added as the government has extended free NHS services to care leavers with free prescriptions, dental and eye care services up to the age of 25.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated with information from the Youth Justice Charter - know your rights in the youth justice system. The Youth Justice Charter sets out what children can expect at each stage of the youth justice system — helping them understand who does what, what their rights are, and what to do if the standards are not met.

In June 2026, a new Section 5, Healthy Relationships and Intimate Partner Abuse (IPA) was added to this chapter.

In June 2026, a link was added in Section 10, Further Information, to the Children’s Commissioners’ guidance “What I wish my parents or carers knew…’: A guide for parents and carers on managing children’s digital lives. This chapter was also updated to include information relating to risks of abuse to children through the use of Artificial Intelligence and how staff and carers can mitigate these risks in a new Section 6, Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This chapter was refreshed in June 2026.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to contain additional information on recruiting people who have lived overseas and on the DBS update service, and a new Section 3, Personal Relationships at Work was added to this chapter.

In June 2026, information was added into Section 2, What is County Lines Offending? And additional guidance was added in Further Information.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to contain information from the Mental Health Foundation 2003, NICE guidance for Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence and the NHS England: Staying safe from suicide guidance. Additional website links were also added.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to reflect the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 and additional further information links.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to include the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to provide a link to the Information Commissioners Office ‘Better Records Together’.

In June 2026, information was added as the government has extended health services and other entitlements to care leavers.

In December 2025, information was added in Section 6.5, Moving and Handling and Postural Care on the importance for some children of good postural care to reduces their health risks and improve their quality of life.

This chapter was updated in December 2025 to include information for the Restraint and restrictive practices: positive environments for children - Ofsted: social care.

This chapter was updated in December 2025 to reflect Granting Leaves of Absence in Working Together to Improve School Attendance statutory guidance, which states that generally, the Department for Education does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance for leave of absence.

Section 3, Home Remedies was amended in December 2025 to include the increasing advisory role pharmacists play re over the counter medication.

In June 2025, amendments were made to the definition of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in line with further revisions to Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In June 2025, a new Section 3, Child Financial Exploitation was added.

In June 2025, this chapter was refreshed to add additional information in relation to Regulation 45 reviews and reports.

In June 2025, a link was added to Young People and Vaping (NHS).

In June 2025, informations in relation to sexually coerced extortion was added into Section 1, Risks.

In June 2025, information was added about Pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted).

In June 2025, amendments were made to the definition of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in line with further revisions to Working Together to Safeguard Children.

This chapter was refreshed in June 2025.

In June 2025, this chapter was refreshed and a link added to Guidance: Being an Appropriate Adult - guidance for those who perform the role of ‘appropriate adult’ and for the person benefiting from the appropriate adult's support.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2024.

In December 2024, this chapter was updated in line with the Online Safety Act 2023.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2024.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2024.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2024.

This chapter was refreshed throughout in December 2024.

This chapter was updated in December 2024 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK).

This chapter was updated in December 2024 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK).

In December 2024, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

This chapter was refreshed in June 2024.

In June 2024, definitions were updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In June 2024, a link was added in the Further Information section to Ofsted Guidance Children's Homes that Provide Care and Accommodation for Adults.

In June 2024, minor amendments were made to definitions in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In June 2024, information was added to reflect the reclassification of nitrous oxide as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (as amended).

In December 2023, a new section was added on Other Harmful Practices. The Health and Care Act 2022 has made it illegal to carry out, offer or aid and abet virginity testing or hymenoplasty in any part of the UK. It is also illegal for UK nationals and residents to do these things outside the UK. Information has also been added on Breast Flattening which is an offence as set out in CPS So-Called Honour-Based Abuse Legal Guidance.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2023 and additional links were added into Further Information.

This chapter was updated in December 2023.

Section 2.3, Appointment of Manager was updated in December 2023 in line with the updated Ofsted Guidance - Social Care Common Inspection Framework: Children’s Homes.

In December 2023, new subsections were added into Section 2, Safe Recruitment and Employment Checks, on Prospective Staff Spending Time in the Home and Carrying Out Interviews, in line with updated Ofsted guidance.

A link to DBS Digital Identity Verification Guidance was also added.