Amendments

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

In May 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.

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

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

This chapter was updated in May 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets - GOV.UK in the Related Guidance Section.

In May 2025, Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness was updated in line with case-law.

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

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

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

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, links were added to additional sources of guidance.

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

In November 2024, links were added to the Child First Self-Assessment Toolkit, Guidance: Use of Force, Restraint and Restrictive Practices in the Children and Young People Secure Estate - This policy framework sets out rules and guidance on the use of approved restraint techniques and restrictive physical interventions for staff at secure settings and escort providers in the Youth Custody Service (YCS) and also A Joint Thematic Inspection of Work with Children Subject to Remand in Youth Detention.

In November 2024, this chapter was refreshed.

In November 2024, this chapter was refreshed.

In November 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.

This chapter was added to the manual in November 2024.

This chapter was refreshed in November 2024.

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

In November 2024, information on Ofsted checks was added into Section 5.1, Checks.

This chapter was updated in November 2024.

In November 2024, links to sources of further information were updated.

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

This chapter was added to the manual in November 2024.

In November 2024, information was added to Section 3, Stage One-The Pre-Assessment Process, with details on how to request information about an applicant from Ofsted.

In November 2024, information was added in relation to family group decision-making in Section 1, Introduction and Time Limits and Section 5, Pre-Proceedings. A link was also added to the Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making Procedure.

This chapter was updated in November 2024.

Section 5.2.5, Providing Support was updated in May 2024 to reflect the Home Office increase in financial support to individuals waiting to find out if they will be given asylum in the UK.

Section 4, Different Situations whereby Children may be Living with Family and Friend Carers was updated in May 2024 to include information about Ukrainian children being cared for my family and friends in the UK.

Section 2, Ordinary Residence was updated in May 2024 in line with case law.

In May 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 May 2024, additional information was added about online safety.

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

Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty was updated in May 2024 throughout 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. And to include information from Guidance - Placing Children: Deprivation of Liberty Orders (Ofsted)- guidance for providers, social workers and placement commissioners on placing children, subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL), in unregistered settings.

This chapter was amended in May 2024 to include information from Special Educational Needs and Disability: Improving Local Authority Decision Making - Report of the Administrative Justice Council’s Working Group on Special Educational Needs and Disability.

This chapter was updated in May 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 May 2024, this chapter was updated to include information from Guidance - Placing Children: Deprivation of Liberty Orders - guidance for providers, social workers and placement commissioners on placing children, subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL), in unregistered settings and President of the Family Division Practice Guidance: Placements in Unregistered Children’s Homes in England or Unregistered Care Home Services in Wales.

This chapter was refreshed in May 2024.