Reading List

The sources below support the course content and are useful for practical refreshers, supervision, emergency planning and manager review. The clinical first-aid guidance referenced is mainly UK-wide. Regulation and local emergency arrangements vary across the nations, so staff should not assume one nation's children's homes framework applies everywhere.

Core UK emergency guidance

• Resuscitation Council UK: First Aid Guidelines (2025)
  Main UK-wide clinical source used for first-aid priorities including choking, recovery position, asthma, hypoglycaemia, poisoning, burns and use of an AED during a first-aid response.
• Resuscitation Council UK: Paediatric Basic Life Support Guidelines (2025)
  Primary paediatric CPR guidance for responding to an unresponsive child or young person who is not breathing normally.
• Resuscitation Council UK: Adult Basic Life Support Guidelines (2025)
  Reference for adult basic life support, relevant because adults and some older young people may collapse in children's homes.
• Resuscitation Council UK: Emergency treatment of anaphylaxis
  Guidance on recognising anaphylaxis, early intramuscular adrenaline and safe positioning.
• HSE: First aid in your workplace
  Manager-level guidance on first-aid duties, equipment, training and employer arrangements.
• HSE: Assess your business first-aid needs
  Practical help for registered managers and senior staff reviewing first-aid cover and readiness.
• GOV.UK: Emergency planning and response for education, childcare and children's social care settings
  England-only guidance on emergency planning in children's social care settings.

NHS practical first-aid and emergency pages

• NHS: First aid
  Public overview covering CPR, severe bleeding, burns and stroke recognition.
• NHS: How to stop a child from choking
  Child-focused guidance on choking first aid and when to escalate.
• NHS: Asthma attack
  Information on recognising severe asthma and when to seek urgent help.
• NHS: What to do if someone has a seizure
  Advice on protecting from injury, timing the event and when to call an ambulance.
• NHS: Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
  Guidance on recognising and treating low blood sugar safely.
• NHS: Head injury and concussion
  Information on red flags and when urgent assessment is needed after head injury.
• NHS: Burns and scalds
  Advice on cooling, covering and when to seek urgent medical help.
• NHS: Poisoning
  What to do after suspected poisoning and when urgent help is needed.

Children's homes context and four-nations signposting

• Children's homes regulations, including quality standards: guide
  Primary England source for the children's homes regulatory context referenced in this course.
• Wales: Part 6 Code of Practice (Looked After and Accommodated Children)
  Wales guidance on practice and planning for children in care.
• Scotland: Health and Social Care Standards - My support, my life
  Scotland standards on safe care, dignity and support in residential services.
• Northern Ireland: RQIA Minimum Standards for Children's Homes
  Northern Ireland standards and governance for children's homes.
• NHS: What to do if your child has an accident
  Child-focused advice on when to call 999, contact 111 or attend A&E after common accidents.

For daily practice, follow your home's live emergency plans and each child's individual health information. Use these official sources for wider guidance when needed.