Amendments

In May 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 May 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 have been added. A new Section 3, Protective and Supportive Action was also added to this chapter.

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

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

In May 2026, this chapter was updated to provide links to RIDDOR.

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

In May 2026, this chapter was updated to contain additional information on recruiting people who have lived overseas and on the DBS update service.

In May 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 May 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 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 Section 6, Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

In May 2026, a new Section 6, Healthy Relationships and Intimate Partner Abuse (IPA) was added to this chapter.

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

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

In November 2025, a new section was added to the chapter on Child Financial Exploitation.

In November 2025, in Section 6.1, information was added about Pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted). In Section 6.5, Moving and Handling and Postural Care, information was added 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 November 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.

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

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

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

This chapter was updated in May 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK.

This chapter was refreshed in May 2025.

In May 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 May 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in May 2025.

In May 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 updated in May 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in May 2025.

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

This chapter was updated in May 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK.

In November 2024, a link to Education Supply Chains - A Better Hiring Toolkit was added.

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

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

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

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

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

In November 2024, a link to Ofsted Guidance Children’s Homes that Provide Care and Accommodation for Adults was added Further Information.

This chapter was refreshed in November 2024.