This UK quality standard defines best practice for the health and wellbeing of looked-after children and young people. NICE quality standards describe high-priority areas for quality improvement in a defined care or service area.

This quality standard covers the health and wellbeing of looked-after children and young people from birth to 18 years and care leavers (including young people planning to leave care or under leaving care provisions). It applies to all settings and services working with and caring for looked-after children and young people, and care leavers, including where they live.

NICE has produced a tailored resource for looked-after children and young people. This resource is aimed specifically at corporate parents and includes key messages from each of the quality statements, key resources, further information and practical tools all of which are relevant to this audience. The resource also contains links to relevant OFSTED judgements. The resource has been co-produced by in the UK by the NICE Collaborating Centre for Social Care and key people in the social care sector.