Amendments

In December 2025, this chapter was updated.

In December 2025, this chapter was updated.

In December 2025, this chapter was added to the manual.

In December 2025, this chapter was added to the manual.

In December 2025, this chapter was updated.

The Practice Standards booklet in the Related Guidance section was updated in December 2025. 

In December 2025, this chapter was updated.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025. 

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025.

In December 2025, this chapter was added to the manual.

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.

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

This chapter was updated in June 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 3.4, Concluding the Investigation.

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.

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

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

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

This chapter was updated in June 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in June 2025.

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