Amendments

In April 2026, information was added in Section 2, County Lines, and additional guidance in Further Information.

In April 2026, this chapter was updated to include links to useful resources.

In April 2026, this chapter was updated to include links to useful resources.

In April 2026, this chapter was revised. 

In April 2026, this chapter was updated to include Medically Unexplained Symptoms, Perplexing Presentation and Fabricated or Induced Illness definitions. 

In April 2026, this chapter has been revised and should be re-read. In Further Information, a link has been added to the Transitional Safeguarding Briefing for Sector Leaders: Strategic Briefing (Research in Practice).

In April 2026, the information about Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs) was updated because the pilot project had ended, and it is unclear whether they will be rolled out nationally.

In April 2026, this chapter was updated to reflect changes to NICE guidance for Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence. and the NHS England  Staying safe from suicide guidance.

This chapter was updated in April 2026 in reference to assessment and intervention to support and improve outcomes for the baby and their family.

In April 2026, this chapter was updated to include information on Section 49A of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the legal duty of Operation Encompass. 

In April 2026, this chapter was updated to contain additional information on recruiting people who have lived overseas and on the DBS update service. 

This chapter was updated in October 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

In October 2025, this chapter was refreshed as a result of good practice guidance from recent legal judgements. In addition, amendments were 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.

In October 2025, this chapter was refreshed throughout.

In October 2025, a new Section 3, Child Financial Exploitation was added.

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

This chapter was updated in April 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 April 2025 to include a link to Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK) in Section 9, Further Information.

This chapter was refreshed in April 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in April 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in April 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in April 2025.

In April 2025, links to sources of further information were updated.

In April 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.

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

In October 2024, a link to 'Good Practice Guidance Centring the Child and Working with their Family Network as Part of Return Interviews (Missing People)' was added in Further Information.

In October 2024, amendments were made in line with the Online Safety Act 2023.

In October 2024, amendments were made in line with the Online Safety Act 2023.

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

In October 2024, this chapter was refreshed throughout.

In October 2024, this chapter was added and replaces 'Agency Roles and Responsibilities'.

In October 2024, this chapter was refreshed throughout.

In October 2024, this chapter was refreshed throughout.

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

In October 2024, amendments were made in line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

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

In October 2024, amendments were made in line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In October 2024, a link to 'Transitional Safeguarding Resources (Local Government Association)' was added.

In October 2024, this chapter was updated to add a new Section 6, Non-fatal Strangulation. 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 addition, a new Section 9, Stalking Protection Orders was added.

In April 2024, this chapter was revised throughout in line with updated statutory guidance.

In April 2024, this chapter was amended:

• To include information on identifying suspected perpetrators of modern slavery;
• To reflect the launch of the National Age Assessment Board, which began a phased rollout on 31 March 2023;
• To include a link to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance (see Section 1.2.1, Age Assessment);
• To include a link to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance (see Further Information).

In April 2024, this chapter was refreshed and additional links were added into Further Information.

In April 2024, this new chapter was added to Safeguarding Practice Guidance.

In April 2024, information was added on other harmful practices such as breast flattening and virginity testing or hymenoplasty.
Section 7, NHS Data Sharing was also refreshed and updated.

In April 2024, this chapter was revised throughout in line with updated statutory guidance.

In April 2024, this chapter was revised throughout in line with updated statutory guidance.