Amendments

In April 2026, a link was added in Section 7, to the children 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, information was added to Section 3.4, Health and Emotional Well-being, as the government has extended health services and other entitlements to care leavers.

In April 2026, Section 2, Retention and Confidentiality of Records was updated in the light of the Records of Adopted and Care-experienced People – Good Practice Guidance for Record-keepers and Care Professionals (England and Wales) Guidance - published February 2024 which recommends that Adoption records where an Adoption Order is made should now have for "good practice" minimum retention of 125 years (date of birth + 125 years this was previously 100 years) or for "exemplary practice" for 150 years, or best practice would be permanent preservation/retention. A link was also provided to the Information Commissioners Office ‘Better Records Together’.

In April 2026, this chapter was updated to reflect the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 and a link to the Information Commissioners Office ‘Better Records Together’.

This chapter was refreshed in April 2026 to include information from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and Coram BAAF: Initial Health Assessment (IHA) Delivery Standards.

In April 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. It was also 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 April 2026, information was added to Section 5, Child’s Adoption Medical, about the NHS England key principles for ensuring continuous health records of adopted children.

This chapter was refreshed in April 2026.

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, Section 8.6, Where the Advice from the Guardian and the Local Authority assessment are fundamentally different in relation to the safety and best interests of a child was added to the chapter in line with practice guidance issued jointly by Cafcass and the ADCS.

This chapter was updated in April 2026 to include information from the Ministry of Justice Youth Remand Concordat. It was also 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.

This chapter was refreshed in April 2026.

In April 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.

In April 2026, Section 3, Security, Retention and Sharing of Records was updated in the light of the Records of Adopted and Care-experienced People – Good Practice Guidance for Record-keepers and Care Professionals (England and Wales) Guidance - published February 2024, which recommends that Adoption records where an Adoption Order is made should now have for "good practice" minimum retention of 125 years (date of birth + 125 years this was previously 100 years) or for "exemplary practice" for 150 years, or best practice would be permanent preservation/retention. A link is also provided to the Information Commissioners Office ‘Better Records Together’.

In April 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.

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

In October 2025, information about how to access pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted) was added in Section 2.1, Additional Considerations Where a Child Has Multiple Needs. If you are thinking about opening a children’s social care service for children with complex needs.

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

In October 2025, informationfrom Good Decisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless (GOV.UK) was added to Section 1, Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Old Young People who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation. A new Section 3.1, Domestic Abuse and Homelessness was also added.

This chapter was refreshed in October 2025 to include information from the Criminal Injuries Compensation: A Guide.

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 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 October 2025, information was added from How Local Authorities Can Help Young Carers (Ofsted Blog) and additional resources were added to Further Information.

This chapter was refreshed in October 2025.
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.

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

This chapter was updated in April 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets (GOV.UK) in Section 4.4 Concluding the Investigation.

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

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

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

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

In April 2025, a link was added to: 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.

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

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

This chapter was refreshed in April 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 October 2024 and new links were added.

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

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

This chapter was added to the manual in October 2024.

This chapter was refreshed in October 2024.

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

This chapter was refreshed in October 2024.

This chapter was added to the manual in October 2024.

This chapter was updated in October 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.

This chapter was refreshed in October 2024.

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

This chapter was refreshed in October 2024.

In October 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.

In October 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 the Family Networks and Family Group Decision Making Procedure.

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

In October 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 October 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 refreshed in October 2024.

In October 2024, this chapter was refreshed throughout.

In October 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. 

This chapter was updated in October 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.

This chapter was amended in April 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.
Section 15, Resolving Disagreements was updated to include information on Guidance: Carry Out an Order in Special Educational Needs Cases.

This chapter was updated in April 2024 to reflect updated Ofsted guidance.

Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a was updated in April 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.

In April 2024, amendments were made.

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

In April 2024, a link was added in Section 4, Age Assessment to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. In Further Information, a link was added to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance.

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

This chapter was refreshed in April 2024.

In April 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.

In October 2023, information in relation to allergies was added into Section 6, Diet, Nutrition and Allergies.
A new Section 7, Online  Safety was also added.

This chapter was amended in October 2023 to note that with effect from 1 April 2023, the leaving care allowance increased from £2,000 to £3,000. It was also revised to include information from the revised Ofsted inspection framework.

This chapter was updated in October 2023. Information in relation to the National Age Assessment Board was added into Section 4, Assessment.

In October 2023, amendments were made to reflect case-law in relation to assessing legal capacity.

Section 5.2.5, Providing Support was updated in October 2023 to reflect the Home Office increase in financial support to individuals waiting to find out if they will be given asylum in the UK.

In October 2023, information in relation to allergies was added into Section 4, Health Plans.

This chapter was updated in October 2023.

This chapter was updated in October 2023. Information in relation to legal aid for foster carers and prospective adoptive parents in First Tier Tribunal appeals. It was also updated to include information from Guidance: Area SEND Inspections Framework and Handbook (November 2022) was added into Section 15, Resolving Disagreements.  

In October 2023, this chapter was updated to include information from the UK Social Work Practice in Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People report.

In October 2023, this chapter was amended to include information from Annex to MOJ Circular 2022/03: Additional Information on Remand to Local Authority Accommodation (RLAA).

This chapter was amended in October 2023. A link to 'Self-harm: Assessment, Management and Preventing Recurrence NICE Guidance' was added into Further Information.

In October 2023, information was added into Section 4, Care Orders and Supervisions Orders on a Care Plan of the Child Remaining at Home in relation to Supervision Orders, in line with Public Law Working Group (PLWG) Recommendations to Achieve Best Practice in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems: Supervision Orders.
Section 8, Court Hearings was also updated in line with A View From the President's Chambers: Relaunching the PLO (November 2022), and that section should be re-read.
In Relevant Guidance, a link was added to Pre-proceedings and Family Justice Hub (Research in Practice).

Section 3, Section 20 Accommodation was updated in October 2023 in line with case-law.

This chapter was amended in October 2023 to reflect that the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 raised the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales, with effect from 26 February 2023.

In October 2023, this chapter was refreshed and a link was added to 'National Early Permanence Practice Standards (Coram Centre for Early Permanence)'. 

In October 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.

In October 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.

In October 2023, this chapter was updated to reflect the updated Public Law Working Group Best Practice Guidance. This includes the new interim guidance, issued by the President of the Family Division, that addresses the lawful extension of care proceedings beyond 26 weeks. Section 6.3, Placement before a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is Granted was added in line with guidance that states where there is no pre-existing relationship between the child and special guardians the child should be placed on an interim basis before the special guardianship order is made. 

This chapter was amended in October 2023 to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Additional information was added into Section 2, Positive Behaviour Support and Section 5.4, Recording of Consequences.