Amendments

In January 2026, a new Section 4, Note on Language, was added.

In January 2026, a new Section 12, Safeguarding for Over 18 Years Old, was added to this chapter.

In January 2026, 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 January 2026, a new Section 3, Child Financial Exploitation, was added to the chapter.

In January 2026, this chapter was refreshed, and a link was 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.

This chapter was updated in July 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK. in Section 3.3 Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks.

In July 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 July 2025 information was added in relation to sexually coerced extortion.

This chapter was refreshed in July 2025.

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

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

This chapter was refreshed in July 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in January 2025. Ofsted Guidance Surveillance and Monitoring in Residential Childcare Settings was updated to cover supported accommodation services.

In January 2025, amendments were made in line with the Online Safety Act 2023.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated to reflect updated Prevent Duty Statutory Guidance.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In January 2025, a link was added to Education Supply Chains - A Better Hiring Toolkit. This provides simple guidance to support schools and colleges to hire new employees in line with regulatory and industry best practices. It may be of interest to employers in other sectors.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

This new chapter reflecting Ofsted Guidance Surveillance and Monitoring in Residential Childcare Settings was added in January 2025 to cover supported accommodation services.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In January 2025, amendments were made line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In January 2025, amendments were made line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Section 2, Responsibility of the Local Authority was updated in July 2024 to reflect the Home Office increase in financial support to individuals waiting to find out if they will be given asylum in the UK.

This chapter was updated in July 2024.

In July 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.

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

In July 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 July 2024 and additional links were added into Further Information.