Amendments

In February 2026, information was added from How Local Authorities Can Help Young Carers (Ofsted Blog) and additional resources were added to Further Information.

In February 2026, this chapter was revised throughout and should be re-read.

This chapter was refreshed in February 2026. 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 to this chapter.

In February 2026, 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.

In February 2026, 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. Information was added 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 refreshed in February 2026, to include information from the Criminal Injuries Compensation: A Guide.

In February 2026, 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 updated in February 2026, to include information for the Restraint and restrictive practices: positive environments for children - Ofsted: social care.

This chapter was updated in February 2026, to include information from the Ministry of Justice Youth Remand Concordat. Information was added 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 February 2026, 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 refreshed in February 2026.

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

This chapter was updated in August 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 August 2025, a new Section 2.1, Additional Considerations Where a Child Has Multiple Needs information was added 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.

In August 2025, links were added to additional sources of guidance.

In August 2025, information was added to Section 1, from Good decisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless (GOV.UK). A new Section 3.1, Domestic Abuse and Homelessness was also added.

In February 2025, information on Ofsted checks was added into Section 5.1, Checks and to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK) in Related Guidance.

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

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

In February 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.

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

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

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

In February 2025, this chapter was refreshed.

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

In February 2025, this chapter was refreshed.

In February 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 and to add a link to DBS guidance leaflets (GOV.UK) in Related Guidance.

This chapter was updated in February 2025.

This chapter was updated in February 2025.

This chapter was updated in February 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in February 2025 in line with How Local Authorities and Children’s Homes Can Achieve Stability and Permanence for Children with Complex Needs (Ofsted).

This chapter was updated in February 2025.

This chapter was updated in February 2025.

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

This chapter was refreshed in August 2024.

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

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

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 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Need or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24) Procedure.

In August 2024, amendments were made in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

This chapter was added to the manual in August 2024.

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, to note that notifications should also be made of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24.

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, and a link was added to Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making Procedure.

This chapter was added to the manual in August 2024.

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

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

Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty was updated throughout in August 2024 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.

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

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

This chapter was updated in August 2024 to reflect the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.