Amendments

In March 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.  

This chapter was refreshed in March 2026.

This chapter was updated in March 2026 to include information for the Restraint and restrictive practices: positive environments for children – Ofsted: social care.

In March 2026, 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.

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

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

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

This chapter was updated in September 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.

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

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

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

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

In September 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 March 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK).

This chapter was refreshed in March 2025.

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

This chapter was refreshed in March 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in March 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in March 2025.