Amendments

In November 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.

In November 2025, Section 3, Home Remedies was amended to include the increasing advisory role pharmacists play regarding over the counter medication.

In November 2025, in Section 6.1, Who the Children’s Home Needs to be Registered With, 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 November 2025, a new section was added to the chapter on Child Financial Exploitation.

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

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

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.

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.

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 the Related Guidance Section. 

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

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

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

This chapter was refreshed in May 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in May 2025.

This chapter was added in November 2024.

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

This chapter was refreshed in November 2024.

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

This chapter was refreshed in May 2024.

In May 2024, a link to Ofsted Guidance Children’s Homes that Provide Care and Accommodation for Adults was added into Related Guidance.

In May 2024, new subections 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 added to information on DBS Digital Identity Verification Guidance.

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

In May 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).

This chapter was refreshed in May 2024 and additional links were added into Further Information.

Section 2.2, Appointment of Manager was updated in May 2024 in line with updated Ofsted Guidance – Social Care Common Inspection Framework: Children’s Homes.

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