Amendments

In April 2026, information was added as the government has extended health services and other entitlements to care leavers.

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

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

In April 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 added.  

In April 2026, this chapter was updated to provide links to RIDDOR.

In April 2026, this chapter was updated to include the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

In April 2026, information was added as the government has extended free NHS services to care leavers with free prescriptions, dental and eye care services up to the age of 25.

This chapter was refreshed in April 2026.

In April 2026, this chapter was updated to provide a link to the Information Commissioners Office ‘Better Records Together’.

In April 2026, a link was added in Section 9, Further Information, to the Children’s Commissioners’ guidance ’What I wish my parents or carers knew…’: A guide for parents and carers on managing children’s digital lives.

In April 2026, this chapter was updated to reflect the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 and additional further information links.

In October 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 October 2025, information was added about Pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted). A new 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 October 2025 to include information for the Restraint and restrictive practices: positive environments for children – Ofsted: social care.

Section 3, Home Remedies was amended in October 2025 to include the increasing advisory role pharmacists play re over the counter medication. 

In October 2025, a new Section 3, Child Financial Exploitation was added.

This chapter was updated in October 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 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.

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

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

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 in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children's Homes and Health Care.

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.

In March 2025, this chapter was refreshed throughout.

In April 2025, this chapter was refreshed throughout

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

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

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. 

This chapter was updated in line with the Online Safety Act 2023 in November 2024.