Host families

Placing children or adults at risk overnight in other people’s homes as part of a formal activity carries significant safeguarding risks and should only be considered when absolutely necessary. If hosting in private homes is unavoidable, organisations must be fully aware of the risks and take a formal, structured approach to hosting.

In most cases, a group sleepover – such as camping, residential-style accommodation, or staying in a community or church building – is preferable. This is especially true when the arrangement is short-term or infrequent, as it allows for better oversight and sits better with standard safeguarding guidance.

Any activity involving children, young people or adult at risk, staying with host families – such as visiting choirs or exchange programmes – must be explicitly addressed in the organisation’s safeguarding policy and procedures.

This SHOULD include:

• Clear safer recruitment processes for host families.
• Appropriate communication - The person being hosted should be clearly informed about what is expected of the host family and know who to contact if they have concerns or experience harm.
• Risk assessments - Organisations must be honest and realistic about the risks associated with hosting. Considerations should include the potential for harm posed by both adults and other children in the home.  
• Number of hours spent unsupervised - the relational nature of being in someone’s home can increase the risk of grooming and make disclosure more difficult for victims-survivors. 
• Additional risks specific to the organisation’s context.  

Organisations must follow safer recruitment procedures, including enhanced DBS and AccessNI checks for all individuals over the age of 16 within the home in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. 

If the person being hosted is an adult, enhanced DBS or AccessNI checks cannot be carried out. In Scotland, hosts are unlikely to be eligible for a PVG check, as these are role-specific rather than activity-specific. 

Safeguarding processes are typically most effective when they operate within environments of transparency and oversight. These conditions are significantly more difficult to achieve and maintain in hosting situations.

Page last updated: 12 November 2025