Amendments

2025

June 2025

Allegations Against Foster Carers	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.
Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Olds who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation; and Duty to Refer	In June 2025, information was added to Section 1, prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17 Year Old Young People who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation from Good decisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless - GOV.UK and Section 3.1, Domestic Abuse and Homelessness was added.
Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters	This chapter was updated in June 2025, with a link to DBS guidance leaflets - GOV.UK in the Related Guidance Section.
Health and Safety	In June 2025, information was added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds.
Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children	This chapter was refreshed in June 2025.
Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance	In June 2025, links were added to additional sources of guidance.
Kinship Care	In June 2025, this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.
Leaving Care and Transition	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.
Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted	This chapter was updated in June 2025, with a link to DBS guidance leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 4.4, Concluding the Investigation.
Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children	This chapter was refreshed in June 2025, in line with How Local Authorities and Children's Homes Can Achieve Stability and Permanence for Children with Complex Needs (Ofsted). Information was also added in Section 2.1, Additional Considerations Where a Child Has Multiple Needs information about how to access pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted). If you are thinking about opening a children's social care service for children with complex needs.
Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers	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.