Amendments

July 2024

Caption: July 2024
   
Updated Chapters
Chapter Title Details
Safe Use of the Internet, Social Media and Photographs This chapter has been updated in line with the Online Safety Act 2023.
Drugs and Substance Misuse Information has been added to reflect the reclassification of nitrous oxide as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (as amended).
Smoking and Alcohol This chapter has been refreshed.
Recognising Abuse and Neglect Definitions have been updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Female Genital Mutilations A new section has been added on Other Harmful Practices. 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 has also been added on Breast Flattening which is an offence as set out in CPS So-Called Honour-Based Abuse Legal Guidance.
Child Criminal Exploitation and County Lines Minor amendments have been made to definitions in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Leadership Management Section 2.2, Appointment of Manager has been updated in line with updated Ofsted Guidance – Social Care Common Inspection Framework: Children’s Homes.
Staffing and Safe Recruitment

Section 2.8, Prospective Staff Spending Time in the Home and Section 2.9, Carrying Out Interviews has been added, in line with updated Ofsted guidance.

A link was added to information on DBS Digital Identity Verification Guidance.

Preparation for Leaving Care A link has been added in the Further Information section to Ofsted Guidance Children’s Homes that Provide Care and Accommodation for Adults.

Next Update: January 2025

2024 Amendments

January 2024

Caption: January 2024
   
Updated Chapters
Chapter Title Details
Safe Use of the Internet, Social Media and Photographs This chapter has been refreshed and additional links added in Further Information.

2023 Amendments

July 2023

Caption: July 2023
   
Updated Chapters
Chapter Title Details
Health Care Assessments and Plans Information in relation to allergies has been added into Section 2, Health Care Plans.
Provision and Preparation of Meals Information in relation to allergies has been added into Section 1, Responsibility and Risk Assessments.
First Aid, Home Remedies and Medication Section 2, Allergies has been added.
Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management This chapter has been updated to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Information has been added into Section 2, Positive Behaviour Support, Section 6, Risk Assessment and Section 9, Recording and Reporting.
Use of Restraint and Physical Interventions This chapter has been updated to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Added into Section 4, Staff Training 'This training will be refreshed on an annual basis'. Information on holding a restorative conversation with the child following physical intervention or restraint has been added into Section 12, Recording and Management Review.
Missing Children This chapter has been updated to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Information in relation to Philomena Protocols has been added into Section 6, Action to be Taken if a Child is Missing.
Allegations Against Staff This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern has also been added.
Self-Harming and Suicidal Behaviour This chapter has been amended to include a link to Self-harm: Assessment, Management and Preventing Recurrence NICE Guidance in Further Information.
Staffing and Safe Recruitment This chapter has been 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 has also been added in relation to online searches.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Title Details
Supporting Children and Young People with Disabilities This chapter has been added to the manual.

January 2023

Caption: January 2023
   
Updated Chapters
Chapter Title Details
Providing Personalised Care This chapter has been updated.
Case Recording This chapter has been updated.
Contact with Parents/Carers, Siblings and Others Section 4, Supervised Contact has been updated to reflect a finding by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman that the supervisor's observations of the contact must be clearly recorded in the child's record and shared with the parents within 3 months of the visit.
Health and Wellbeing, Health Notifications and Access to Services This chapter has been updated.
Searching Children/Bedrooms Additional information has been added in relation to the arrangements around gender of staff undertaking searches.
Surveillance and Monitoring This chapter has been updated.
Staff Supervision and Appraisal This chapter has been updated.
Placements and Admissions This chapter has been amended to note the importance of a child's belonging's being transferred in appropriate luggage and to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move (see Section 3, Planning).
Moving to Another Placement This chapter has been amended to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move (see Section 2, Arrangements for the Transfer to Another Home).
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Title Details
Equality and Diversity This chapter has been added to the manual.
Children's Consultation and Participation This chapter has been added to the manual.
Female Genital Mutilations This chapter has been added to the manual.
Leadership Management This chapter has been added to the manual.
Recording and Reporting of Accidents This chapter has been added to the manual.
Staffing and Safe Recruitment This chapter has been added to the manual.
Health and Safety This chapter has been added to the manual.
Risk Assessment and Planning This chapter has been added to the manual.