Amendments

This chapter was refreshed in February 2026 to include information from the Criminal Injuries Compensation: A Guide.

In February 2026, links have been added to Youth Remand Concordat - Guidance and principles to follow a joint approach throughout the youth remand process for local and national partners and Delivering the best for girls in custody - an independent review into placements and care for girls in the Children and Young People Secure Estate.

In February 2026, information was added from How Local Authorities Can Help Young Carers (Ofsted Blog) and additional resources were added to Further Information.

This chapter was refreshed in February 2026.

In February 2026, information was added in Section 6.3, Placement before a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is Granted to highlight that the DfE has extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund initially until March 2027, with a new fair access limit of £3000.

This chapter was refreshed in February 2026.

In February 2026, this chapter was updated with guidance from the Youth Remand Concordat which gives guidance and principles for Local Authorities and key agencies in working with children through the remand process. This chapter was also 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 February 2026, information was added into Section 3, Examples of Adoption Support to highlight that the DfE has extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund initially until March 2027, with a new fair access limit of £3000.

In February 2026, Section 8.6, Where the Advice from the Guardian and the Local Authority assessment are fundamentally different in relation to the safety and best interests of a child was added to the chapter in line with practice guidance issued jointly by Cafcass and the ADCS.

This chapter was updated in February 2026 to include information for the Restraint and restrictive practices: positive environments for children – Ofsted: social care.

This chapter was updated in February 2026 to include information from the Ministry of Justice Youth Remand Concordat. This chapter was also 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 February 2026, Section 3, Security, Retention and Sharing of Records was updated in the light of the Records of Adopted and Care-experienced People – Good Practice Guidance for Record-keepers and Care Professionals (England and Wales) Guidance - published February 2024, which recommends that Adoption records where an Adoption Order is made should now have for "good practice" minimum retention of 125 years (date of birth + 125 years this was previously 100 years) or for "exemplary practice" for 150 years, or best practice would be permanent preservation/retention.

This chapter was refreshed in February 2026. The Government guidance ‘Report the death or serious harm of a child or care leaver’ was updated to provide what information is needed when reporting incidents involving children who have died or been seriously harmed and abuse or neglect is known or suspected, looked after children and care leavers. The Serious Incident Notification Guide for local authorities was added to this chapter.

In August 2025, information 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, from Good decisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless (GOV.UK), and a section was added around Domestic Abuse and Homelessness.

In August 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.

This chapter was updated in August 2025 to reflect Granting Leaves of Absence in Working Together to Improve School Attendance statutory guidance, which states that generally, the DfE does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance for leave of absence.

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

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

This chapter was refreshed in August 2025 in line with How Local Authorities and Children’s Homes Can Achieve Stability and Permanence for Children with Complex Needs (Ofsted).

In August 2025, this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.

This chapter was updated in February 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK) in Section 4.5, Concluding the Investigation.

In February 2025, information on Ofsted checks was added into Section 5.1, Checks. A link was also added to Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK).

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

Section 15.1, Registering an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability) was updated in February 2025 in line with case law.

This chapter was refreshed in February 2025.

In February 2025, this chapter was refreshed.

In February 2025, this chapter was refreshed.

In February 2025, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.

This chapter was refreshed in February 2025.

This chapter was added to the manual in February 2025 which replaced the chapter Decision to Look After and Care Planning Procedure.

This chapter was added to the manual in February 2025 which replaced the chapter Decision to Look After and Care Planning Procedure.

In February 2025, links to sources of further information were updated.

In February 2025, information was added to Section 3, Stage One - The Pre-Assessment Process, with details on how to request information about an applicant from Ofsted. A link to DBS guidance leaflets (GOV.UK) was added in the Relevant Guidance Section.

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

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