Amendments

In October 2024, minor amendments were made to definitions in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children

In October 2024, this chapter was updated in line with the Online Safety Act 2023.

This chapter was updated in October 2024.

In October 2024, a link to Education Supply Chains - A Better Hiring Toolkit was added.

In October 2024, definitions were updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

This chapter was updated in October 2024.

In April 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.
Section 7, NHS Data Sharing was also refreshed and updated.

In April 2024, new subsections on Prospective Staff Spending Time in the Home and Carrying Out Interviews were added in Section 2, Safe Recruitment and Employment Checks in line with updated Ofsted guidance.
A link was added to information on DBS Digital Identity Verification Guidance.

In April 2024, a link to Ofsted Guidance Children’s Homes that Provide Care and Accommodation for Adults was added in Further Information.

This chapter was refreshed in April 2024.

Section 2.3, Appointment of Manager was updated in April 2024 in line with updated Ofsted Guidance – Social Care Common Inspection Framework: Children’s Homes.

In April 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).

In October 2023, a new Section 2, Allergies was added.

In October 2023, information in relation to allergies was added into Section 2, Health Care Plans.

In October 2023, this chapter was amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern was also added.

In October 2023, this chapter was amended in line with revised statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education. Information was added to note that Keeping Children Safe in Education provides that copies of a curriculum vitae should only be accepted alongside an application form as a curriculum vitae on its own may not provide adequate information. Information in relation to online searches was also added. It was also updated in line with Guidance: Children's Homes - Recruiting Staff (Ofsted).

In October 2023, information in relation to allergies was added into Section 1, Responsibility and Risk Assessments.

This chapter was refreshed in October 2023 and additional links were added into Further Information.

In October 2023, this new chapter was added to the Promoting Health and Wellbeing section.

This chapter was amended in October 2023 to include a link to 'Self-harm: Assessment, Management and Preventing Recurrence NICE Guidance' into Further Information.

This chapter was updated in October 2023 to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Information was added into Section 2, Positive Behaviour Support, Section 6, Risk Assessment and Section 9, Recording and Reporting. 

This chapter was updated in October 2023 to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Information in relation to Philomena Protocols was added into Section 6, Action to be Taken if a Child is Missing.

This chapter was updated in October 2023 in relation to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.