Amendments

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

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

In June 2026, a link was added to the related guidance section 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. This chapter was also updated to include information relating to risks of abuse to children through the use of Artificial Intelligence and how staff and carers can mitigate these risks in a new section 7, Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This chapter was updated in June 2026 and should be re-read.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to reflect the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 and additional guidance and information links. Information was also added to this chapter in Section 5, Timescales, giving further information on the timescales of a subject access request.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to include the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

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

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

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

In June 2026, Section 11, Foster Carers and Firearms was updated to include more detailed information on the process to follow if foster carers own firearms/offense weapons.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to contain information from NICE guidance for Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence and the NHS England: Staying safe from suicide guidance. Additional website links were also added.

This chapter was refreshed in June 2026 to further define Cyberbullying in Section 2, Types of Bullying and a new Section 6, Further Information/Specialist Support was added to this chapter.

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

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025.

In December 2025, this chapter was 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 June 2025, a link was added to Young People and Vaping (NHS).

This chapter was refreshed in June 2025.

In June 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 June 2025, information was added into Section 3, Risks in relation to sexually coerced extortion.

This chapter was refreshed throughout in December 2024 in line with revised statutory guidance.

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

This chapter was updated in December 2024 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK.

In December 2024 a information was added to Section 5, Checks,  with details on how to request information about an applicant from Ofsted.

In December 2024 a link was added to local information in Local Resources.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2024.

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

In December 2024 a link was added to local information in Local Resources.

This chapter was updated in December 2024 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK.

In December 2024 information was added into Section 8, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds.

In December 2024 a link was added to local information in Local Resources.

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

In June 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).

This chapter was refreshed in June 2024.

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

In June 2024, additional good practice information was added on checking of employment history and references.

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

Section 2, Fitness to Provide or Manage the Administration of a Fostering Service was updated in June 2024 in line with the updated Ofsted Guidance - Social Care Common Inspection Framework: Independent Fostering Agencies.

Section 3.1, Assessment of Dogs was updated in June 2024 to include XL Bully as a banned breed of dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (as amended).

This chapter was refreshed in December 2023 and additional links were added into Related Guidance.

Section 4, Allergies was added in June 2023.

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

In June 2023, information in relation to allergies was added into Section 6, Diet, Nutrition and Allergies.

This chapter was added into the manual in June 2023.

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

In June 2023, this chapter was amended in line with the revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern was also added.

In June 2023, this chapter 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 was also added in relation to online searches.