Amendments

2025

January 2025

Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted	This chapter was updated in January 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets (GOV.UK) in Section 4.4, Concluding the Investigation.
Health and Safety	In January 2025, information was added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds.
Placement for Adoption	Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness was updated in January 2025 in line with case-law.
Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters	This chapter was updated in January 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets (GOV.UK) in the Related Guidance Section.
Allegations Against Foster Carers	This chapter was updated in January 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK) in Section 4.5, Concluding the Investigation.
Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery	In January 2025, links to sources of further information were updated.
Leaving Care and Transition	In January 2025, updates were made in Section 9, Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers, 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.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	Section 15.1, Registering an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability) was updated in January 2025 in line with case law.
Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children	This chapter was refreshed in January 2025 in line with How Local Authorities and Children’s Homes Can Achieve Stability and Permanence for Children with Complex Needs (Ofsted).
Ofsted Inspection Framework	In January 2025, a link was added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.
Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings	In January 2025, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.
Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers	This chapter was updated in January 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK) in the Related Guidance Section.