Amendments

2025

May 2025

Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings	In May 2025, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.
Aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983	In May 2025, this chapter was revised based upon the Statutory Guidance: Discharge from Mental Health Settings.
Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery	In May 2025, links to sources of further information were updated.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	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.
Leaving Care and Transition	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.
Health and Safety	In May 2025, information was added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds.
Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters	This chapter was updated in May 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets (GOV.UK) in the Related Guidance Section. Information was added to Section 3, Stage One - The Pre-Assessment Process, with details on how to request information about an applicant from Ofsted.
Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance	In May 2025, links were added to additional sources of guidance.
Allegations Against Foster Carers	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.
Ofsted Inspection Framework	In May 2025, a link was added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.
Placement for Adoption	In May 2025, Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness was updated in line with case-law.
Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children	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).
Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted	This chapter was updated in May 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets (GOV.UK) in Section 4.4, Concluding the Investigation.
Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers	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. Information on Ofsted checks was added in to Section 5.1, Checks.