Amendments

2025

March 2025

Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	In March 2025 Section 17.1, Registering an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability) was updated in line with case law.
Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings	In March 2025 information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.
Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery	In March 2025 links to sources of further information were updated.
Children's Consultation and Participation	In March 2025 this chapter was updated and should be reread.
Whistleblowing or Raising Concerns at Work	In March 2025 the Slough Children First Whistleblowing Policy was updated.
Supervision Policy	This chapter was updated in March 2025.
Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children	This chapter was refreshed in March 2025 in line with How Local Authorities and Children’s Homes Can Achieve Stability and Permanence for Children with Complex Needs (Ofsted).
Leaving Care and Transition	In March 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.
Social Worker Visits to Looked After Children	In March 2025 Section 1, Principles and Section 2, Normal Frequency were updated, in Section 2, the visiting frequency has also been updated in some circumstances and should be reread
Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance	In March 2025 links were added to additional sources of guidance.
Health and Safety	In March 2025 information was added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds.
Providing Personalised Care	In March 2025 this chapter was refreshed and additional guidance was added to Section 7, Children with Disabilities and Long Term Health Conditions.
Personal Care and Relationships	In March 2025 this chapter was refreshed and additional guidance was added to Section 1, Physical Contact.
Risk Assessment and Planning	In March 2025 this chapter was refreshed and additional guidance was added to Section 1, Introduction.
Ceasing to Look After a Child	In March 2025 this chapter was updated and should be reread.
Managing Concerns, Complaints and Allegations against Foster Carers	This chapter was updated in March 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK. in Section 4.4, Concluding the Investigation.
Virtual School	This chapter was updated in March 2025.
Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers	This chapter was updated in March 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK. in the Related Guidance Section.
Placement for Adoption	In March 2025 Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness was updated in line with case-law.
Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted	This chapter was updated in March 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 4.4, Concluding the Investigation.
Ofsted Inspection Framework	In March 2025 a link was added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.