Reading List

These official sources underpin the course content and are intended for supervision, policy review, refresher learning and multi-agency follow-up. The list mixes England guidance with separate signposting for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland so staff do not assume one nation's procedures, standards or partnership arrangements apply across the whole UK.

England core guidance

• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026
  Statutory guidance in England on multi-agency safeguarding, including harm outside the home, looked after children, information sharing and assessments.
• Children's homes regulations, including quality standards: guide
  England guidance on the Children's Homes Regulations 2015, covering missing-from-care planning, protection, leadership and location review expectations.
• Children who run away or go missing from home or care
  England statutory guidance on prevention, protection, reporting and return-home arrangements for children who go missing.
• Child exploitation disruption toolkit
  Home Office guidance on multi-agency disruption, information sharing, action planning and practical steps where children, carers or children's homes are being targeted.
• Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines
  Home Office guidance for frontline professionals on county lines, signs to look for and recommended actions.

Wales signposting

• Safeguarding children who go missing from home or care
  All Wales practice guide for missing children, covering reporting, safe return, responsibilities of residential staff and follow-up action.
• Safeguarding children from Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
  All Wales practice guide on child criminal exploitation, indicators, information sharing and contextual safeguarding.
• Safeguarding children from child sexual exploitation (CSE)
  All Wales practice guide on child sexual exploitation, grooming, exchange and online overlap, and links with missing episodes.

Scotland signposting

• National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 - updated 2023
  Scotland's national child protection guidance, covering roles, responsibilities, assessment and safeguarding responses.
• Part 4: Specific Support Needs and Concerns
  Scotland section covering exploitation, looked after children who go missing from care, local partnership arrangements and return discussions.

Northern Ireland signposting

• Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland: Co-operating to Safeguard Children and Young People
  Northern Ireland's overarching safeguarding framework for organisations and agencies working with children and young people.
• Ministers launch Child Criminal Exploitation Action Plan
  Northern Ireland signposting on cross-departmental action and the strategic response to child criminal exploitation.
• Minimum Standards for Children's Homes - April 2023
  RQIA standards for Northern Ireland children's homes, including expectations on missing episodes, recording, advocacy and staff roles.

For day-to-day practice, follow the child's live plan and your home's local procedure first; consult these official sources for wider guidance or nation-specific detail.