Amendments

2025

May 2025

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 May 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 a section was added around Domestic Abuse and Homelessness.
Child’s Records and Retention	This chapter was updated in May 2025 when the schedule of retention was updated.
Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings	In May 2025, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	In May 2025, Section 15, Resolving Disagreements was updated in line with case law.
Northumberland Local Protocol for Assessment and Support	In May 2025, this new chapter was added replacing the previous link, and name changed from 'Local Protocol for Assessment'.
Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers	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.
Kinship Care	In May 2025, this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.
Allegations Against Foster Carers	This chapter was updated in May 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK).
List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers	This chapter was updated in May 2025.
Health and Safety	In May 2025, information was added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds.
Leaving Care and Transition	In May 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.
Ofsted Inspection Framework	In May 2025, a link was added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.
Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children	This chapter was revised in May 2025 in line with How Local Authorities and Children’s Homes Can Achieve Stability and Permanence for Children with Complex Needs (Ofsted). In Section 2.1, Additional Considerations Where a Child Has Multiple Needs information was added 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.
Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance	In May 2025, links were added to additional sources of guidance.