Amendments

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to reflect the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 and a link to the Information Commissioners Office 'Better Records Together'. 

In June 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.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated.

In June 2026, a link was added in Section 7, Online Safety to the children commissioners' guidance "What I wish my parents or carers knew...': A guide for parents and carers on managing children's digital lives.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to include the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

In June 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. 

This chapter was refreshed in June 2026, to include information from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and Coram BAAF: Initial Health Assessment (IHA) Delivery Standards.

In June 2026, information was added to Section 3.2, Health and Emotional Well-being as the government has extended health services and other entitlements to care leavers.

This chapter was updated in June 2026.

In June 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 also updated to provide a link to the Information Commissioners Office 'Better Records Together'.

This chapter was refreshed throughout in line with local guidance in June 2026 and should be re read.  

In June 2026, this chapter was updated to provide a link to the Information Commissioners Office 'Better Records Together'. 

In June 2026, information was added to Section 5, Child's Adoption Medical about the NHS England key principles for ensuring continuous health records of adopted children.

In June 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 December 2025 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 December 2025 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.

In December 2025 information was added from How Local Authorities Can Help Young Carers (Ofsted Blog) and additional resources were added to Further Information.

This chapter was updated in December 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.

This chapter was updated in December 2025 in line with local procedure.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025.

In December 2025 this chapter was updated in line with local procedure.

This chapter was updated in December 2025 to include information from the Ministry of Justice Youth Remand Concordat.

This chapter was updated in December 2025.

In June 2025, this chapter was reviewed and updated in line with local procedure and should be re-read.

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

In June 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 June 2025, this chapter was reviewed and updated in line with local procedure and should be re-read.

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

In June 2025, this chapter was reviewed and updated throughout in line with local procedure.

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

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

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

In June 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.

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

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

In June 2025, a link to the local threshold document was added to related guidance.

This guidance was reviewed and updated throughout in June 2025.

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

This chapter was refreshed throughout in June 2025.

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

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