Question: How is it determined if a young person is vulnerable?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance COVID-19: guidance for young people on shielding and protecting people most likely to become unwell if they catch coronavirus
section_headers: Advice for young carers supporting someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable
section_content: If you are a young carer supporting someone who is clinically extremely
vulnerable, you can help protect them by:

only providing essential care, unless they are your child
following all of the advice on preventing the spread of airway and chest Infections [ADD LINK from previous section]
not visiting or providing care if you are unwell – make alternative arrangements for their care
providing information on who they should call if they feel unwell and how to use NHS 111 online coronavirus service, and leaving the number for NHS 111 somewhere that is very easy to see
finding out about different sources of support that could be used and accessing further advice on creating a back-up plan, which is available from Carers UK
looking after your own wellbeing and physical health during this time. There is more information and advice especially for young people at Rise Above and Young Minds


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
There is good information about vulnerable people, but the information is more to prevent vulnerable people from getting sick.  There really isn't an explanation about what a vulnerable person is.
This response talks about what you can do to keep vulnerable children safe but the question wants to know what is considered to be vulnerable so the focus on this one is in the wrong place.

Reviewer ratings:
Could be Improved
Could be Improved

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak
section_headers: Prioritising children
How are vulnerable children defined?
section_content: The government encourages vulnerable children and young people to attend
educational settings, unless they have underlying health conditions that put
them at severe risk.
During the coronavirus outbreak, vulnerable children are defined as those who:

are assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked after child
have an education, health and care (EHC) plan, and it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely or more safely met in the educational environment
have been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children’s social care services), and who are therefore in need of continued educational provision. This might include children on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services, adopted children, those who are young carers, and those living in temporary accommodation
and others at the provider’s and local authority’s discretion

Vulnerable children’s attendance is encouraged, where it is appropriate for
them. A brief summary of attendance expectations, across the different groups
of vulnerable children and young people, is as follows:

for vulnerable children who have a social worker, attendance is encouraged where this is appropriate in line with the advice set out by Public Health England
for vulnerable children who have an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan, attendance is encouraged where it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely, or more safely, met in the educational environment
for vulnerable children who are deemed otherwise vulnerable, at the childcare setting, school or local authority’s discretion, attendance is encouraged where this is appropriate

Educational providers, local authorities, social workers, parents/carers, and
other relevant professionals (where applicable), should work together closely
to consider factors, such as the balance of risk, including health
vulnerabilities, family circumstances, risks outside the home, and the child
or young person’s assessed special educational needs. Further detail on
supporting vulnerable children is set out in Supporting vulnerable children
and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19)
outbreak.
*[EHC]: education, health and care

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
There is a good amount of information about vulnerable people here.  The information here explains what makes a person vulnerable.
This does a great job specifying right off the bat who is considered to be vulnerable. It then lists several bullet points of actions you can take to try to keep those people safe.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers
section_headers: Information on vulnerable young people
section_content: Vulnerable children and young people for the purposes of continued educational
provision during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are those across all year
groups who:

are assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child and are up to age 19
have an education, health and care (EHC) plan up to age 25 and it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely or more safely met in the educational environment
have been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children’s social care services), are up to age 19 and who are therefore in need of continued education provision. This might include children on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services, adopted children, those at risk of becoming NEET (‘not in employment, education or training’), those living in temporary accommodation, those who are young carers and others at the provider and local authority’s discretion.

More information, including the expectations around attendance and encouraging
attendance for different groups of vulnerable young people, can be found in
Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus
(COVID-19) outbreak.
From the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, we will be asking colleges
and other providers to invite increasing numbers of young people to return to
on-site provision, alongside priority groups (vulnerable young people and
children of critical workers). Special post-16 institutions will work towards
a phased return of more young people without a focus on specific year groups.
The government has set out guidance on staying alert and safe (social
distancing) to help educational settings support safe provision
for everyone who attends.
Many colleges and other providers have already taken steps to support
vulnerable young people, and the children of critical workers who cannot be
supported elsewhere, and we are grateful to providers for the vital role they
are playing in supporting the national response to coronavirus.
Specifically, we are asking that colleges and other providers:


continue to provide a safe space and encourage attendance: Being in an educational setting can be an important lifeline for many vulnerable young people, particularly where their needs cannot be met safely at home or where they may be at risk of harm.


There is a continuing expectation now and throughout the period from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest that vulnerable young people – regardless of year group – will attend educational provision, where it is safe and appropriate for them do so.


From the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, young people in returning year groups – including vulnerable young people - are strongly encouraged to attend their educational setting where possible, unless they are ill, or guidance says they should not attend.


Providers are expected to follow the process set out on encouraging, enabling and monitoring attendance and following up on non-attendance, see Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.


We appreciate that decisions on attendance will likely be based on finely balanced discussions between the education provider, the parent/carer and others, including social workers, local authorities and other relevant professionals where applicable. The decision might be taken that the learner should attend the educational setting on a full-time or part-time basis, depending on the needs of the individual. We also appreciate that circumstances do change and therefore attendance decisions should be kept under review. For young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan, colleges and other providers should ensure that existing risk assessments are up to date. 

Where vulnerable young people are already attending educational settings, they should continue to do so. Where young people are currently not attending but attendance is appropriate, we expect providers and local authorities to consider how to encourage their attendance.
If it is not possible for a vulnerable young person to attend a provider due to public transport routes being closed, then providers should speak to the local authority to consider what alternative transport arrangements could be put in place.


Make alternative arrangements: We are asking colleges and other providers that have been closed to work towards wider opening from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, so we expect the number of colleges and other providers that are closed to decline. However, in the meantime if a college or another provider is closed, the provider should notify the local authority/social worker. Providers should work with the local authority to ensure that the vulnerable young people who normally attend can be found a place in another educational setting. Providers can also contact their local ESFA team to discuss wider opening and which other local providers it may be possible for them to work with.
Keep in contact with all vulnerable learners: As per the existing guidance on vulnerable children and young people, all vulnerable young people continue to be expected and encouraged to attend educational provision where it is appropriate for them to do so. Colleges and other providers which are currently closed are being asked to work towards wider opening from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest.
However, where it is not safe for vulnerable learners to attend, or vulnerable learners cannot be persuaded to attend education settings, colleges and other providers should maintain regular communication with social workers, vulnerable leaners and their families to ensure they know where their vulnerable learners are and that they are safe. Colleges and other providers should continue to encourage attendance where appropriate. The frequency of contact required will depend on the individual’s circumstances and needs and will be based on the assessment of risk. Social workers will remain in contact with vulnerable learners and their families, including remotely if needed.

Section 15 below is a collection of examples from providers who are
successfully engaging vulnerable young people. It is intended to provide an
opportunity for colleges and other providers to learn from each other’s
emerging practice and develop their approach to engaging vulnerable learners
in education.
Colleges and other providers should continue to comply with the Keeping
children safe in education statutory
guidance. There is further information on safeguarding in Coronavirus
(COVID-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other
providers.
[EHC]: education, health and care
  [ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
There is a lot of information about vulnerable people here.  I think that it talks about vulnerable people and really describes what makes a person vulnerable.
This is about as good of an answer as you're going to get. It immediately lists the criteria to be considered vulnerable. It then goes into great detail about how to keep them safe and different actions that you can take along with several relevant links

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent