Amendments

In May 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 May 2026, this chapter was updated to contain information from the Mental Health Foundation 2003, NICE guidance for Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence and the NHS England Staying safe from suicide guidance. Additional website links were also added.

In May 2026, this chapter was updated to contain additional information on recruiting people who have lived overseas and on the DBS update service.

In May 2026, information was added into Section 2, What is County Lines Offending? Additional guidance was also added in Further Information..

In November 2025, a new Section 4, Note on Language was added.

In November 2025, a new Section 3, Child Financial Exploitation was added.

In November 2025, this chapter was refreshed and a link added to Guidance: Being an Appropriate Adult - guidance for those who perform the role of ‘appropriate adult’ and for the person benefiting from the appropriate adult's support.

In November 2025, a new Section 13, Safeguarding for Over 18 Years Old was added.

In May 2025, amendments were made to the definition of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in line with further revisions to Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In May 2025, information was added in relation to sexually coerced extortion.

In May 2025, a link was added to Young People and Vaping (NHS).

This chapter was refreshed in May 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in May 2025.

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

This chapter was updated in May 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK. in Section 3.3, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks. 

In November 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

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

In November 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In November 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In November 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In November 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

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

In November 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).

This chapter was updated in November 2024.

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

In November 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In November 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In November 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In November 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

In November 2024, this chapter was updated in line with Ofsted Guidance Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Supported Accommodation for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Aged 16 and 17.

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

In November 2024, this chapter was refreshed.

Section 8, Other Harmful Practices was updated in May 2024 to include information about other harmful practices, such as breast flattening and virginity testing or hymenoplasty.