Amendments

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

This chapter was refreshed in April 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in April 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in April 2025.

In April 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 April 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK in the Related Guidance section.

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

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

This chapter was refreshed in April 2025.

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.

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

In October 2024, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

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

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

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

This chapter was updated in October 2024.

In October 2024, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

This chapter was added in July 2024.

In May 2024, information about self-administered medication was added in Appendix 1: Administration of Medication Guidance.

In April 2024, 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 added to information on DBS Digital Identity Verification Guidance.

Section 2.3, Appointment of Manager was updated in April 2024 in line with the updated Ofsted Guidance - Social Care Common Inspection Framework: Children’s Homes.

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

This chapter was refreshed in April 2024.

In April 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 on Breast Flattening which is an offence as set out in CPS So-Called Honour-Based Abuse Legal Guidance was also added.

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

In February 2024, information about Team Teach was added into Section 4, Staff Training.

This chapter was updated in April 2023 to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Information in relation to Philomena Protocols was added into Section 6, Action to be Taken if a Child is Missing.

In April 2023, this chapter was updated in line with Guidance: Children's Homes – Recruiting Staff (Ofsted) and 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 April 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.

This chapter was updated in April 2023 in relation to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

This chapter was updated in April 2023 to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Information was also added into Section 2, Positive Behaviour Support, Section 6, Risk Assessment and Section 9, Recording and Reporting.

This chapter was updated in April 2023 to include information from Self-harm: Assessment, Management and Preventing Recurrence NICE Guidance.

This chapter was updated in April 2023 to incorporate Ofsted feedback.

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

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

In April 2023, a new Section 2, Allergies was added.

This chapter was updated in April 2023.