Amendments

In January 2026, the docuement Special Guardianship Order - Financial Policy was added as Appendix 4.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025, to include information from the Criminal Injuries Compensation: A Guide.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025.

In December 2025, this chapter was updated with guidance from the Youth Remand Concordat which gives guidance and principles for Local Authorities and key agencies in working with children through the remand process. In December 2025, this chapter was also updated with information from the Youth Justice Charter - know your rights in the youth justice system. The Youth Justice Charter sets out what children can expect at each stage of the youth justice system - helping them understand who does what, what their rights are, and what to do if the standards are not met. 

This chapter was significantly updated to reflect revised terminology and practice in December 2025, and should be read in its entirety.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025.

This chapter was updated in December 2025, to reflect Granting Leaves of Absence in Working Together to Improve School Attendance statutory guidance, which states that generally, the DfE does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance for leave of absence. 

This chapter was significantly updated in December 2025 to reflect updated practice and terminology. The chapter should be read in its entirety.

In December 2025, information was added from How Local Authorities Can Help Young Carers (Ofsted Blog) and additional resources were added to Further Information.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025. The Government guidance, Report the death or serious harm of a child or care leaver was updated to provide what information is needed when reporting incidents involving children who have died or been seriously harmed and abuse or neglect is known or suspected, looked after children and care leavers. The Serious Incident Notification Guide for local authorities was added to this chapter.

In December 2025, information was added in Section 3, Examples of Adoption Support to highlight that the DfE has extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund initially until March 2026, with a new fair access limit of £3000.

This chapter was updated in December 2025.

In December 2025, information was added in to highlight that the DfE has extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund initially until March 2026, with a new fair access limit of £3000.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025.

This chapter was updated in December 2025, to include information from the Ministry of Justice Youth Remand Concordat. In December 2025, this chapter was updated with information from the Youth Justice Charter - know your rights in the youth justice system. The Youth Justice Charter sets out what children can expect at each stage of the youth justice system - helping them understand who does what, what their rights are, and what to do if the standards are not met.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2025.

This chapter was updated in December 2025, to include information for the Restraint and restrictive practices: positive environments for children - Ofsted: social care.

This chapter was updated in October 2025.

This chapter was updated in October 2025.

This chapter was updated in October 2025.

This chapter was updated in October 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in August 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in August 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in August 2025.

This chapter was updated in August 2025 to include further guidance on Bi-directional abuse, please refer to Section 1.1, Bi-directional Domestic Abuse.

In June 2025 a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK was added.

This chapter was refreshed in June 2025.

With effect from 1st April the Leaving Care Service will now be provided by Lincolnshire County Council, Children’s Services from the Barnardo’s Leaving Care Service.

This chapter has been updated in June 2025 to reflect the revised Leaving Care Service and processes. This chapter should be read in its entirety. All related Leaving Care forms and processes will be updated to reflect the insourcing of the Service and will be available on the dedicated Leaving Care SharePoint page.

In June 2025 information was added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds.

This chapter was updated in June 2025.

This chapter was added to the manual in June 2025.

In June 2025 a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK was added.

In June 2025 links were added to additional sources of guidance.

This chapter was added to the manual in June 2025.

This chapter was updated in June 2025.

This chapter was updated in June 2025 to clarify the supervision timescales for Leaving Care cases, Please refer to section 5.1.6, In addition, good practice guidance on the 10 day discussion has been added to Section 5.1.

This chapter was updated in June 2025 to reflect updated practice and terminology.

This chapter was updated in June 2025 to include a link to new Guidance on Directions Made Under Section 38(6).

In June 2025 a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK was added.

This chapter was updated in June 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets - GOV.UK in the Related Guidance Section.

In June 2025 this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.

This chapter was substantially updated in June 2025 and should be re-read in its entirely. Additional links to the new Managing Child Protection Plans in the Context of Interim Supervision Orders (ISO) Guidance has been added including a Revised Appendix 1: The Review of a Supervision Order Process.

This chapter was updated in June 2025 to include a link to the revised Lincolnshire Preventing Domestic Abuse Strategy.

This chapter was updated in June 2025.

This chapter was added to the manual in June 2025.