Amendments

In May 2025, information from 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. Also, a new Section 3.1, Domestic Abuse and Homelessness was added.

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

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.

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

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

This chapter was updated in May 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets (GOV.UK) in Related Guidance. 

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.

In May 2025, this chapter was renamed (previously called Connected Persons Care Policy) and has been extensively revised in the light of government guidance.

In May 2025, a link was added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

This chapter revised in May 2025 in line with How Local Authorities and Children’s Homes Can Achieve Stability and Permanence for Children with Complex Needs (Ofsted). In Section 2.1, Additional Considerations Where a Child Has Multiple Needs information was added about how to access pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted).

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

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

In November 2024, links to sources of further information were added.

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

In November 2024, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

Section 15.1, Registering an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability) was updated in November 2024 in line with case law.

In November 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.

This chapter was updated in November 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.

In November 2024, this chapter was revised throughout.

This chapter was added in November 2024.

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

In May 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 Revised Practice Guidance on the Court’s Approach to Unregistered Placements (October 2023).

In May 2024, this chapter was renamed (previously called Family and Friends Care) and minor revisions were made throughout.

Section 10, Use of Inherent Jurisdiction to Authorise a Placement Involving a Deprivation of Liberty was updated in May 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. Also, to include information from Guidance - Placing Children: Deprivation of Liberty Orders (Ofsted)- guidance for providers, social workers and placement commissioners on placing children, subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL), in unregistered settings.

This chapter was revised and updated in May 2024 in accordance with Working Together 2023.

This document was added in May 2024 and sets out arrangements for how needs and concerns for unborn children will be responded to, from the early weeks of pregnancy, up until the birth of the child.

This chapter was added to the manual in May 2024 and replaces one previously entitled Education of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children.

This chapter was revised in May 2024 and a new section on Moving Areas was added.

This chapter was added in May 2024 and highlights the process for making a referral, identifying risks and completing an assessment with guidance on further steps that need to be made to safeguard newborn infants.