Shining StarsFostering Agency Procedures Manual

This chapter has been refreshed and updated to reflect the new Information Sharing Duty under section 16LA of the Children Act 2004, as amended by the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.

This chapter has been updated to include updated legislation in relation to sexual harassment being identified as a protected disclosure from April 2026.

A new Section 3, Regulatory Duties Placed on Online Platforms to Keep Children Safe has been added that sets out regulatory duties placed on online platform providers to keep children safe.

This chapter has been updated in accordance with the updated Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 in Relation to Allegations Against Staff and Foster Carers.

This chapter has been updated to incorporate information, and a new Section 7, Data Protection Complaint has been added regarding the right to make a complaint about data protection, which came into force in June 2026 under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

This chapter hasbeen updated to incorporate updated guidance from Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 in relation to online safety and artificial intelligence.

This chapter has been reviewed and updated with further clarification regarding risks and concerns in Section 2, Sharing Information in line with Working Together 2026. A link has been added from the Information Commissioner's Office in Section 3, Breaches of Confidentiality.

This chapter has been updated. The following new sections have been added: Section 1.1 Who is at Risk?, Section 1.2 Adultification of Child Victims, Section 1.3 Definitions, and Section 3.2 Impact of Victim Blaming Language.

Section 11, Foster Carers and Firearms has been updated to included more detailed information on the process to follow if foster carers own firearms/offense weapons.

This chapter has been updated to include information relating to risks of abuse to children through the use of Artificial Intelligence and how staff and carers can mitigate these risks in Section 7, Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This chapter has been updated to include the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

Information has been added to this chapter in Section 5, Timescales, giving further information on the timescales of a subject access request.

This chapter was refreshed to further define Cyberbullying in section two and provide further information/specialist support in Section 6, Further Information/Specialist Support.

This chapter has been refreshed to include information from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and Coram BAAF: Initial Health Assessment (IHA) Delivery Standards. Also information was added as the government has extended free NHS services to care leavers with free prescriptions, dental and eye care services up to the age of 25. For further information, please see Government extends free NHS services for care leavers.

This chapter has been updated to reflect the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 and additional guidance and information links.

This chapter has been updated to contain additional information on recruiting people who have lived overseas and on the DBS update service.

This chapter has been updated to contain information from NICE guidance for Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence and the NHS England Staying safe from suicide guidance. Additional website links have been added.

Information has been added into Section, What is County Lines Offending? And additional guidance in Further Information

This chapter has been refreshed.

This chapter has been 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.

Section 2, Home Remedies has been amended to include the increasing advisory role pharmacists play re over the counter medication.

A new Section 3, Child Financial Exploitation has been added.

A link has been added to Young People and Vaping (NHS).

Amendments have been made to the definition of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in line with further revisions to Working Together to Safeguard Children.

Information in relation to sexually coerced extortion has been added into Section 3, Risks.

• Section 1, Education Policy
• Section 2.1, Personal Education Plans
• Section 3, What Foster Carers will do.

This chapter has been updated.

A link to 'Information about the IRM for Foster Carers' has been added into Section 6, Representations / Independent Review Procedure.

This chapter has been reviewed throughout and updated as required.

Section 2, Leaving Care has been updated.

This chapter has been reviewed throughout and updated as required. Information has been added in relation to the Disclosure and Barring Service Update Service.

This guidance has been reviewed and updated throughout to reflect the revised DfE Information Sharing Advice for Practitioners Providing Safeguarding Services to Children, Young People, Parents and Carers.

This chapter has been reviewed throughout and updated as required. Information has been added in relation to seeking parents' permission before discussing referral about them.

Information on the application process for criminal record checks for someone from overseas has been updated in Section 3, Checks.

Section 5, Tasks of Supervising Social Worker if Allegations are made Against the Foster Carer has been added.

Section 1, Introduction and Definitions of Significant Harm has been updated to reflect sometimes 'significant harm' refers to harm caused by one child to another (which may be a single event or a range of ill treatment), which is generally referred to as 'peer on peer abuse.'

Section 2, Looked After Reviews has been updated to reflect circumstances when they may be convened.

A link has been added to the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme in Section 8, Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme.

Section 5, Medical Emergencies has been updated to reflect that before assistance arrives do not move the person other than to remove them from immediate danger or place them into the recovery position.

Section 4, Electronic Cigarettes (also called e-cigarettes and vaporisers) has been updated with regards to Public Health England - independent expert e-cigarettes evidence review.