Amendments

In January 2026, Section 3, Home Remedies was amended to include the increasing advisory role pharmacists play re over the counter medication.

In January 2026 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 updated in January 2026 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.

In January 2026, in section 6.5 Moving and Handling and Postural Care information has been 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 January 2026 to include information for the Restraint and restrictive practices: positive environments for children – Ofsted: social care.

In January 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.

This was updated in May 2025 to include Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

This chapter was substantially updated in May 2025 and should be re-read.

This chapter was updated in May 2025, in line with online Safety Act

This chapter was substantially updated in May 2025 and should be re-read.

This chapter was substantially updated in May 2025 and should be re-read.

This chapter was substantially updated in May 2025 and should be re-read.

This chapter was refreshed in February 2024.

In February 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 February 2024, a link to Ofsted Guidance: 'Children's Homes that Provide Care and Accommodation for Adults' was added into Further Information.

In October 2023, a new Section 8, Other Harmful Practices was added. 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 was also added on Breast Flattening which is an offence as set out in CPS So-Called Honour-Based Abuse Legal Guidance.

In September 2023, new subsections 2.8, Prospective Staff Spending Time in the Home and 2.9, Carrying Out Interviews were added in line with updated Ofsted guidance.
A link was also added to information on DBS Digital Identity Verification Guidance.

Section 2.3, Appointment of Manager was updated in September 2023 in line with updated Ofsted Guidance – Social Care Common Inspection Framework: Children's Homes.

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

This chapter was added in February 2023.

In February 2023, this chapter was amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern was also added.

In February 2023, this chapter was amended in line with revised statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education. Information was added to note that Keeping Children Safe in Education provides that copies of a curriculum vitae should only be accepted alongside an application form as a curriculum vitae on its own may not provide adequate information. Information in relation to online searches was also added.

In February 2023, information in relation to allergies was added into Section 1, Responsibility and Risk Assessments.

A new Section 2, Allergies was added in February 2023.

In February 2023, information in relation to allergies was added into Section 2, Health Care Plans.

In November 2022, this chapter was updated to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Information was added into Section 2, Positive Behaviour Support, Section 6, Risk Assessment, and Section 9, Recording and Reporting.

In November 2022, this chapter was updated to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Added into Section 4, Staff Training: 'This training will be refreshed on an annual basis'. Added into Section 12, Recording and Management Review: information on holding a restorative conversation with the child following physical intervention or restraint.

In November 2022, this chapter was updated in relation to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

In November 2022, this chapter was updated to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Information in relation to Philomena Protocols was added into Section 6, Action to be Taken if a Child is Missing.

This chapter was updated in October 2022 to include information from Self-harm: Assessment, Management and Preventing Recurrence NICE Guidance.

In October 2022, this chapter was updated in line with Guidance: Children's Homes - Recruiting Staff (Ofsted).

Section 1, Equality and Diversity for Children and Young People was updated in July 2022.

Who Pays: Determining Which NHS Commissioner is Responsible for Commissioning Healthcare Services and Making Payments to Providers link was added in July 2022.

In July 2022, additional information in relation to the arrangements around gender of staff undertaking searches was added.

Links were added into Further Information.

Section 4, Supervised Contact was updated in June 2022 to reflect a finding by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman that the supervisor's observations of the contact must be clearly recorded in the child's record and shared with the parents within 3 months of the visit.

In March 2022, a link to 'Talking to Your Child About Online Sexual Harassment' (Children's Commissioner) was added.

In March 2022, a link to 'Who Pays?' was added. It provides information on which NHS Commissioner is responsible for making payment to a provider.

In February 2022, this chapter was amended to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report - support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move (see Section 2, Arrangements for the Transfer or Discharge).

In February 2022, this chapter was amended to note the importance of a child’s belonging’s being transferred in appropriate luggage and to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report - support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move (see Section 3.3, Placement Planning and Section 6, Support, Monitoring and Ending of Placements).

In February 2022, amendments were made in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance, to highlight the importance of sharing and responding to any concerns about the behaviour of an adult who works with children, no matter how small, including low level concerns.

In Januay 2022, this chapter was amended to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education Statutory Guidance, the outcome of Ofsted’s thematic report, Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
See:

• Section 2, Definition of Bullying;
• Section 3, General/Prevention;
• Section 5, Countering Bullying Day-to-Day.

A new Section 7, Further Information/Specialist Support was also added.

In Janaury 2022, this chapter was amended to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education Statutory Guidance, the outcome of Ofsted’s thematic report, Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. See Section 6, Sexual Abuse and Section 8, Bullying (including Online/Cyberbullying).

In January 2022, this chapter was amended throughout to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education Statutory Guidance and the outcome of Ofsted’s thematic report, Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges. Please see Section 5, Safeguarding in Schools. Section 5, Safeguarding in Schools was also updated to reflect the importance of sharing allegations or concerns about an adult’s behaviour. Additional material was added into Section 1, Responsibilities of the Placing Authority has enhanced the Personal Education Plans (PEPs). A new Section 1.3, Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) Funding was also added.

In January 2022, this chapter was amended to add a link to the Childnet toolkit which supports carers with keeping children safe online.

In January 2022, this chapter was amended to add a link to the Childnet toolkit which supports carers with keeping children safe online.

In July 2021, links were added to NSPCC Report Remove Tool and the UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS) Digital Passport.

In July 2021, this chapter was given a general refresh.

In May 2021, this guidance was reviewed and updated throughout to reflect updated advice on information sharing contained in the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In May 2021, a note was added regarding the checks which employers must carry out to ensure that any person applying to work in the home has the right to work in the UK. See Section 3, Safe Recruitment and Employment Checks.

In March 2021, the information contained in this chapter was reviewed and updated as required.

In February 2021, this chapter was added to the manual.

In January 2021, this chapter was significantly updated and should be re-read throughout.

In January 2021, this chapter was added to the manual.

In January 2021, this chapter was amended to reflect Working Together to Safeguard Children in respect of Homelessness and the vulnerability of children who are in this situation, or are threatened with this (see Section 1.7, Moving to Independent Living in Pathway Plan).

In January 2021, a fourth bullet point was added into Section 1, Introduction to reflect the revised statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children. The new bullet point means this procedure now covers situations where an individual has behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children. This is to capture concerns around transferable risk; for example where a person who works in the home is involved in a domestic abuse incident and this may have implications for their suitability to work with children.

In December 2020, this chapter was updated and should be re-read.

In July 2020, this chapter was added to the manual.

In July 2020, this chapter was significantly updated and should be re-read throughout.

In June 2020, this chapter was significantly updated and should be re-read throughout.

In February 2020, this chapter was significantly updated and should be re-read throughout.

In February 2020, this chapter was significantly updated and should be re-read throughout.