Amendments

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

In June 2026, this chapter was updated.

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

In June 2026, this chapter was updated.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated.

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

In June 2026, a link was added in the Further Information section to the Children's Commissioners' guidance "What I wish my parents or carers knew...': A guide for parents and carers on managing children's digital lives.

In June 2026, this chapter was refreshed.

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

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

In June 2026, this chapter was refreshed and should be read. In Further Information a link was added to the Transitional Safeguarding Briefing for Sector Leaders: Strategic Briefing (Research in Practice).

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

This chapter was updated in June 2026.

In June 2026, this chapter was updated.

In June 2026, a scope box was added to give more clarity regarding the purpose of this procedure.

In June 2026, this chapter was reviewed and updated in line with local guidance.

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

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

In December 2025 this chapter has been 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,

In December 2025 a link to South Yorkshire Children in Need/Subject to a Child Protection Plan Moving Across Local Authority Boundaries Procedure was added to the related guidance section of this chapter.

In June 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 June 2025, this chapter was updated.

This chapter was refreshed in June 2025.

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

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

This chapter was refreshed in June 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in June 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in June 2025.

In June 2025, this chapter was updated.

This pathway was added in December 2024.

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

In December 2024, links to sources of further information were updated.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2024.

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

This chapter was updated in December 2024 to include information on Stalking Protection Orders. A new Section 6, 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.

This chapter was added to the manual in December 2024.

In December 2024, this chapter was refreshed.

In December 2024, this chapter was amended in line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

This PDF document was replaced with an updated version in December 2024.

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

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

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

This chapter was refreshed in December 2024.

In December 2024, this chapter was amended in line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

This chapter was refreshed in December 2024.

This chapter was added in July 2024.

In June 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 June 2024, a link to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance was added in Section 1.2.1, Age Assessment. A link to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance was added in Further Information. Section 2.3, Indicators was also amended to include information on Identifying Suspected Perpetrators of Modern Slavery. 

This chapter was refreshed in June 2024.

This chapter was updated in June 2024.

In June 2024, a new Section 9, 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 has also been added on Breast Flattening which is an offence as set out in CPS So-Called Honour-Based Abuse Legal Guidance. Section 8, NHS Data Sharing was also refreshed and updated.