Amendments

In June 2026, Section 8.6, Where the Advice from the Guardian and the Local Authority assessment are fundamentally different in relation to the safety and best interests of a child, was added to the chapter in line with practice guidance issued jointly by Cafcass and the ADCS.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to reflect the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 and a link to the Information Commissioners Office ‘Better Records Together’. Information was also added to Section 5, Timescales, giving further information on the timescales of a subject access request.

In June 2026, information was added to Section 3.4, Health and Emotional Well-being, as the government has extended health services and other entitlements to care leavers.

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

This chapter was refreshed in June 2026 to include information from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and Coram BAAF: Initial Health Assessment (IHA) Delivery Standards.

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

In June 2026, a link was added in Section 7, Online Safety, to the children commissioners' guidance ’What I wish my parents or carers knew…’: A guide for parents and carers on managing children’s digital lives. Section 12, Foster Carers and Firearms, was also updated to included more detailed information on the process to follow if foster carers own firearms/offense weapons.

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 to Section 5, Child’s Adoption Medical about the NHS England key principles for ensuring continuous health records of adopted children.

In June 2026, Section 3, Security, Retention and Sharing of Records was updated in the light of the Records of Adopted and Care-experienced People – Good Practice Guidance for Record-keepers and Care Professionals (England and Wales) Guidance - published February 2024 which recommends that Adoption records where an Adoption Order is made should now have for "good practice" minimum retention of 125 years (date of birth + 125 years this was previously 100 years) or for "exemplary practice" for 150 years, or best practice would be permanent preservation/retention. This chapter was also updated to provide a link to the Information Commissioners Office ‘Better Records Together’.

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 DfE 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.

In December 2025, information was added from How Local Authorities Can Help Young Carers (Ofsted Blog) and additional resources were added to Further Information.

In December 2025, information was added in Section 6.3, Placement before a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is Granted to highlight that the DfE has extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund initially until March 2027, with a new fair access limit of £3000.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025.

In December 2025, links were added to Youth Remand Concordat - Guidance and principles to follow a joint approach throughout the youth remand process for local and national partners and Delivering the best for girls in custody - an independent review into placements and care for girls in the Children and Young People Secure Estate.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025 to include information from the Criminal Injuries Compensation: A Guide.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025.
The Government guidance ‘Report the death or serious harm of a child or care leaver’ was updated to provide what information is needed when reporting incidents involving children who have died or been seriously harmed and abuse or neglect is known or suspected, looked after children and care leavers. The Serious Incident Notification Guide for local authorities was added.

In December 2025, this chapter was updated with guidance from the Youth Remand Concordat which gives guidance and principles for Local Authorities and key agencies in working with children through the remand process and 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 December 2025, information was added in Section 3, Examples of Adoption Support to highlight that the DfE has extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund initially until March 2027, with a new fair access limit of £3000.

This chapter was updated in December 2025 to include information from the Ministry of Justice Youth Remand Concordat and 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.

This chapter was updated in June 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK) in Section 4.5, Concluding the Investigation.

This chapter was updated in June 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets (GOV.UK) in Section 4.4, Concluding the Investigation.

This chapter was updated in June 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK) in Related Guidance.

In June 2025, information from Good decisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless (GOV.UK) was added to Section 1, Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Old Young People who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation. A new Section 3.1, Domestic Abuse and Homelessness was added.

This chapter was updated in June 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets (GOV.UK) in Related Guidance.

In June 2025, updates were made to reflect the Homelessness Code of Guidance - Chapter 22: Care Leavers (updated 3 May 2024) which sets out the expectation that authorities should have in place joint protocols which clearly outline jointly held corporate parenting responsibilities for care leavers. See Section 8, Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers.

In June 2025, this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.

Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness was updated in January 2025 in line with case-law.

In June 2025, information in relation to bunk beds was added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing.

This chapter was refreshed in June 2025 in line with How Local Authorities and Children’s Homes Can Achieve Stability and Permanence for Children with Complex Needs (Ofsted). Information was also added to Section 2.1, Additional Considerations Where a Child Has Multiple Needs and about how to access pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted) If you are thinking about opening a children’s social care service for children with complex needs.

This chapter was updated in June 2025.

Additional links were added in June 2025.

This chapter was updated in June 2025.

This chapter was updated in June 2025.

Section 5.2, Pre-Placement was amended in January 2025 to reflect that each child over 2 has their own bedroom (previously over 3).

Section 15.1, Registering an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability) was updated in January 2025 in line with case law.

This chapter was refreshed in January 2025.

In January 2025, links to sources of further information were updated.

In January 2025, a link was added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

In January 2025, information was added to Section 3, Stage One-The Pre-Assessment Process, with details on how to request information about an applicant from Ofsted.

In January 2025, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

This chapter was refreshed in January 2025.

In January 2025, information on Ofsted checks was added in to Section 5, Checks and References.

In January 2025, information was added into Section 1, Child in Need Planning Meetings in relation to a parent who has disclosed domestic abuse.

This chapter was added to the procedures manual in January 2025.

This chapter was updated in January 2025.

In January 2025, links to further information were updated. 

This chapter was updated in August 2024. Information was added into Section 17, Special Guardian Duty on the Death of the Child, that the relevant local authority should be notified if the child was previously a looked after child.

In August 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children. A new Section 3, Death of a Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24 was added.

In August 2024, this chapter was revised in response to Working Together to Safeguard Children (December 2023), and includes the ongoing development of the strategic leadership roles of Virtual School Heads (VSH) in promoting educational outcomes for children aged 0 to 18 who have, or previously had a social worker, and children in kinship care arrangements.

In August 2024, this chapter was revised in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In August 2024, information was added in relation to family group decision-making in Section 1, Introduction and Time Limits and Section 5, Pre-Proceedings. A link was added to Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making.

In August 2024, a link was added in Section 4, Age Assessment to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. In Further Information, a link was added to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance.

Section 15, Resolving Disagreements was updated in August 2024 to include information on Guidance: Carry Out an Order in Special Educational Needs Cases.

Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty was updated in August 2024 throughout in line with Revised Practice Guidance on the Court’s Approach to Unregistered Placements (October 2023) and Revised National Listing Protocol for Applications that Seek Deprivation of Liberty Orders Relating to Children under the Inherent Jurisdiction.

This chapter was updated in August 2024 to reflect Championing Kinship Care: The National Kinship Care strategy.

This chapter was added to the procedures manual in August 2024.

This chapter was added to the procedures manual in August 2024.

This chapter was updated in August 2024 to note that if a young person in a Staying Put arrangement dies up to and including the age of 24, notifications should be made in accordance with the procedure on Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24).

Additional links were added in August 2024.

In August 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, to note that notifications should also be made of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24.