Amendments

In September 2025, this chapter was refreshed on the basis of good practice guidance from recent legal judgements. Also, amendments made as the Working Together With Parents Network that supports professionals working with parents with learning disabilities and learning difficulties and their children is now run by Research in Practice, part of the NCB family.

This chapter was updated in September 2025.

This chapter was revised in September 2025.

This chapter was updated in September 2025 to bring it into line with Children Missing Education (August 2024). The changes are technical updates only to bring the guidance in line with the Working together to improve attendance statutory guidance and the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024. It also highlights pending legislation: The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and brings to the attention of readers Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) Thematic Reviews of Children Not in School in Local Areas which will be undertaken in 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in September 2025.

In September 2025, a new section was added to the chapter on Child Financial Exploitation.

This chapter was updated in March 2025.

This chapter was updated in March 2025 to include information on Stalking Protection Orders.

In March 2025 information was added into Section 1, Definition in relation to sexually coerced extortion.

This chapter was refreshed in March 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in March 2025.

In March 2025 this chapter was refreshed.

In March 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.

This chapter was updated in March 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in March 2025.

This chapter was updated in March 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 9.1, Substantiated Allegations. 

This chapter was updated in March 2025 to Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 9, Further Information.

This chapter was updated in September 2024.

In September 2024, this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.

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

This chapter was updated in September 2024.

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

This chapter was updated in September 2024.

In September 2024, a link was added in Section 1.2.1, Age Assessment to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. In Further Information, a link was added to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance. 

This chapter was updated in September 2024. A new Section 6, on Non- Fatal Strangulation was added. Definitions were also updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children which now uses the statutory definition of domestic abuse in Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

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

In September 2024, Section 7, NHS Data Sharing was refreshed and updated.

This chapter was updated in September 2024, with new guidance from Working Together to Safeguard Children around purpose and function of Child Protection Conferences and the role of the Lead Practitioner. 

This chapter was refreshed in September 2024.

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

In March 2024, a new Section 8, Other Harmful Practices was added. 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 was also added on Breast Flattening which is an offence as set out in CPS So-Called Honour-Based Abuse Legal Guidance.

In March 2024, a new subsection Principles was added into Section 2, Serious Violence Duty to include information from the Ofsted Framework Joint Targeted Area Inspections of the Multi-agency Response to Serious Youth Violence.

In March 2024, this chapter was amended to include information on Identifying Suspected Perpetrators of Modern Slavery into Section 2.3, Indicators.

This chapter was updated throughout in March 2024.

This chapter was updated throughout in March 2024.

This new chapter was added to the manual in March 2024.

This chapter was refreshed in October 2023 and links were added to additional guidance in Further Information.

This chapter was amended in October 2023 to reflect that the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 raised the age of marriage and civil partnership to 18 in England and Wales, with effect from 26 February 2023.

In October 2023, information in relation to the Serious Violence Duty was added into Section 5, National Guidance in Information Sharing.

In October 2023, this chapter was amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. A new Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern was also added.

This chapter was updated in October 2023. Information in relation to the National Age Assessment Board was added into Section 1.2.1, Age Assessments.

This chapter was refreshed in October 2023.

This chapter was refreshed in October 2023. Section 5.19, Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements was updated to include information on the extension of the duty to co-operate under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. A link to 'Matters of Concern, Safeguarding Concerns, Allegations and Complaints for Children in Custody - Youth Custody Service (Youth Justice Resource Hub)'  was added into Section 5.9, The Secure Estate for Children. A new Section 2, Serious Violence Duty was also added, including information in relation to Serious Violence Reduction Orders.

In October 2023, this chapter was updated to include information from the UK Social Work Practice in Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People report.

In October 2023, this chapter was refreshed to include information on resources from the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse.

In October 2023, this chapter was amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. Section 4.5, Application Form was updated to note that Keeping Children Safe in Education provides that schools and colleges should only accept copies of a curriculum vitae alongside an application form. A curriculum vitae on its own will not provide adequate information. Information in relation to online searches was added into Section 4.6, Scrutinising and Shortlisting.

In October 2023, this chapter was refreshed and additional information was added into Section 3, Indicators.

In October 2023, information in relation to Serious Violence Reduction Orders was added into Section 4, Protection and Action to be Taken.