Amendments

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Amendments

May 2024

CAPTION: May 2024

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Leadership and Management	Section 2, Fitness to Provide or Manage the Administration of a Fostering Service has been updated in line with updated Ofsted Guidance – Social Care Common Inspection Framework: Independent Fostering Agencies.
Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Alcohol, Drugs and Solvents	Information has been added to reflect the reclassification of nitrous oxide as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (as amended).
Smoking	This chapter has been refreshed.
Internet, Photographs and Mobile Phones	This chapter has been updated.
Female Genital Mutilation	A new section has been added on Other Harmful Practices. 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.
Assessment of Pets	Section 3.1, Assessment of Dogs has been updated to include XL Bully as a banned breed of dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (as amended).

CAPTION: Next Update

Next Update: November 2024

Archive

2023 Amendments

CAPTION: November 2023

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Managing Allegations Against Staff and Foster Carers	This chapter has been amended in line with revised Keeping Children Safe in Education. New Section 2, The Difference Between an Allegation of Harm and a Concern has been added.
Health Care Assessments and Plans	Information has been added into Section 4, Health Plans in relation to allergies.
Medication and First Aid	Section 4, Allergies has been added.
Internet, Photographs and Mobile Phones	This chapter has been refreshed and additional links added in Relevant Guidance.
Health and Safety in the Foster Home	Information has been added into Section 6, Diet, Nutrition and Allergies, in relation to allergies.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Supporting Children and Young People with Disabilities	This new chapter has been added.

CAPTION: May 2023

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Whistleblowing or Raising Concerns at Work	This chapter has been updated.
Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management	This chapter has been amended to incorporate Ofsted feedback. Additional information has been added into Section 2, Positive Behaviour Support and Section 5.4, Recording of Sanctions.
Restrictive Physical Intervention and Restraint	This chapter has been updated.
Health and Safety in the Foster Home	This chapter has been updated.
Removed Chapters
Fostering for Adoption.

2022 Amendments

November 2022

CAPTION: November 2022

Updated Chapters
Chapter Name	Details
Equality and Diversity	This chapter has been updated.
Managing Allegations Against Staff and Foster Carers	This chapter has been updated.
Fostering Panel	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Persons Disqualified from Fostering	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Supervision and Support of Foster Carers	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Matching and Placements with Foster Carers	This chapter has been updated to add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move (see Section 3.2, Placement Preparation and Section 4, Ending Placements and Placement Moves Within the Agency).
Consultation and Participation	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Contact with Parents, Siblings and Others	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Medication and First Aid	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Smoking	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Education	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Reviews and Meetings	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Preparing Young People for Adulthood and Leaving Care	This chapter has been amended to add guidance on when a child leaves the placement and add a link to the NYAS 'My Things Matter' Report – support and respect care-experienced children and their belongings when they move (see Section 3, Preparing for Independence).
Staying Put	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Positive Relationships and Behaviour Management	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Safeguarding Children and Young People and Referring Safeguarding Concerns	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Missing Children	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Countering Bullying	This chapter has been amended to reflect Keeping Children Safe in Education Statutory Guidance, the outcome of Ofsted's thematic report, Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges (June 2021) and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. See Section 2, Definition of Bullying.
Transporting Children	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
Assessment of Pets	This chapter has been reviewed and updated.
New Chapters and Features
Chapter Name	Details
Leadership and Management	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Monitoring and Review	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Staffing and Safe Recruitment of Staff	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Staff Qualifications, Training and Development	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Staff Supervision and Support	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Qualifications, Training and Development of Foster Carers	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Adoption by Foster Carers of a Foster Child Already Placed With Them	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Fostering for Adoption	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Advocacy and Independent Visitors	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Health Care Assessments and Plans	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Leisure Activities	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Care Planning	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Providing Personalised Care	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Transitioning for Young People with Extra Needs and Mixed Placements	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Offending and Anti-Social Behaviour – Guidance on When to Involve the Police	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Recognising Abuse and Neglect	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Child Criminal Exploitation and County Lines	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Self-harm and Suicidal Behaviour	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Female Genital Mutilation	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Health and Safety in the Foster Home	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Risk Assessment and Planning	This procedure has been added to the manual.
Removed Chapters
Supervision, Support and Training of Staff and Foster Carers.

Amendments

May 2024

Archive

November 2023

May 2023

November 2022