1.5.4 Missing Children

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This procedure primarily applies to Looked After Children, but the following sections do not:

Section 14, Children Missing from other Local Authorities

For children in other circumstances also see relevant London Child Protection procedures e.g.

AMENDMENTS

This Chapter was amended in February 2012 and a link added to the Statutory Guidance on children who run away and go missing from home or care and to the London Child Protection Procedure “Safeguarding Children Missing from Care and Home”.

Introduction
Definitions of a Missing Child
Planning before the Event
Action when a Child goes Missing
Information to be made Available to the Police
Informing the Press
Recording
Planning for the Child’s Return
Communication with Other People
The Return
Missing During External Activity of a Residential Home
Longer Absences of a “Missing” Child
Decision Making for all Cases
Children Missing from Other Local Authorities
Children Missing from Home

1. Introduction

From time to time children who are Looked After absent themselves from their placement. These children are at risk, and their absence requires proper attention from the professionals involved with them. This involves not only a consistent and coherent response to the absence, but also careful planning for the return of the child.

The Police are frequent partners of Family Services in managing this response and planning. It is therefore important that staff in both Family Services and Police work together to achieve successful outcomes. This joint procedure has been developed to assist in this. It combines elements of Family Services and Police procedures in relation to missing children so that, where these procedures overlap, respective responsibilities and actions to be taken are clear.

2. Definitions of a Missing Child

For the purposes of this protocol a child under the age of 18 years is to be considered “missing” if s/he is absent from her/his place of residence without authority to a degree or in circumstances where the absence causes concern for the safety of the child or there is potential danger to the public.

Absences that cause concern are those where staff have no indication that a child is likely to return within a short space of time or where there is immediate concern for the child’s safety. Some children absent themselves for a short period and then return. Often their whereabouts are known. Sometimes children stay out longer than agreed. This is part of normal teenage patterns of behaviour, and may be testing boundaries. Such behaviour does not necessarily come within the definition of “missing” for the purposes of this procedure.

However, staff will need to assess the significance of each incidence of absence and to apply the above definition of absence causing concern. In doing so, the following should be taken into consideration:

Previously assessed level of vulnerability;
Whether the child is subject to a Child Protection Plan;
Age of the child;
The legal status of the child;
Time of day or night;
History of self-harm;
Physical/learning difficulties;
Whether the child has any essential medical needs;
Previous behaviour patterns;
Any known problems with money, employment, friends/family/relationships, school/college, drugs or alcohol;
Any agreement reached regarding staying out beyond the usual time;
Her/his likely associations while missing;
State of mind at time of going missing;
Whether the child is a current victim of bullying or harassment, e.g. sexual, racial, homophobic, or is the subject of local community concerns;
Group behaviour;
Any guidance within the child’s own Care Plan or Placement Plan;
Any other particular circumstance at the time of the incident;
Research evidence suggests that the duration of absences should not be taken as an indicator of the level of risk to the young person. Absences of short duration may be as risky as longer ones; for example, when the absence is to commit an offence, it is often of short duration.

When consideration of these factors gives rise to concern about the absence, staff must take immediate action in terms of this protocol.

3. Planning before the Event

Prior to each planning meeting, including pre-placement meetings, Family Services staff must consider whether it is appropriate to discuss associated risks of the child absenting himself/herself. Where it is considered appropriate, the discussion should include the following and be recorded in the Care Plan:

The degree of risk of the child absconding;
The level of supervision/support offered to the child in this regard;
The parents’ advice on what action they feel should be taken if the child goes missing;
The level of risk presented if the child absconds;
Any known addresses that the child may frequent; or
Any known adults known to or involved with the child who may place him/her at risk.

This information must be reviewed at a Placement Plan Reviews and Looked After Reviews, the child’s Care Plan and Placement Plan updated as necessary.

4. Action when a Child goes Missing

When a child absents himself/herself without permission, it is necessary to initiate procedures that encourage him/her to return as quickly and safely as possible. An important part of this is for the child to understand that s/he will be treated positively on return.

Residential staff: Whoever discovers that a child has absented herself/himself without permission should immediately inform the senior manager on duty.

Foster-carers: They should notify the Police directly in all circumstances and then advise the child’s social worker (or a member of the child’s social work team if the social worker is not available).

The senior manager on duty at the residential home or the duty officer will consider whether the absence causes such concern as to fall within this procedure. If it does not, the senior manager or duty officer should take whatever steps are appropriate to secure the safe and speedy return of the child. If it does fall within this procedure, the senior manager or duty officer without delay should inform:

The Police, who will treat the matter as involving a “vulnerable missing person”;
The parents or any persons having Parental Responsibility, unless there are serious reasons why this should not be done. If a Looked After Child becomes missing late at night it would not usually be appropriate to wake natural parents to inform them, although the police may decide to do so in order to conduct a search of their premises. However, the parents should be notified the next day or immediately if there are serious concerns about the child’s safety;
The social worker (or a member of the social work team) and the child’s key worker (where this person has not already been informed). When the senior manager makes this report out-of-hours s/he should inform the Emergency Duty Team (EDT), even when no action from them is being requested, so that they may co-ordinate any information reaching them from other agencies. When the EDT has been informed, it remains the responsibility of the residential senior manager to inform the child’s social worker and key worker of the current situation, at the first opportunity;
The senior manager or duty officer should discuss with the social worker, who will consult with her or his manager, whether to notify members of the child’s extended family, and if so, how.

The child’s social worker must inform the Child Protection Unit in accordance with police procedure.

If the child is subject to a child protection plan the Designated Manager (Child Protection) must also be informed.

If the child is the subject of court proceedings or a court order, or a ward of the court the Councils Legal Services Department must also be informed so that appropriate action may be taken.

All local agencies who know the child must be contacted and informed of the situation.

Existing records in these agencies must be checked to obtain any information which may help to trace the missing child, and details should be passed to the police officer undertaking the missing person enquiry.

The designated nurse for child protection (PCT) in the Royal Borough must be notified about the missing child. S/he will take responsibility for initiating appropriate local or national notifications of other PCT's.

Where, initially, the senior manager or duty officer has decided that the absence does not fall within this procedure, this decision should be reviewed frequently if the child does not return or his/her whereabouts are not identified. If the period of absence continues for twelve hours from when first noticed, it should be considered to come within this procedure. This should be seen as a maximum period; in most cases action should be initiated within a shorter period of time.

Any case of a missing child that causes particular concern or difficulty should be brought to the attention of the Designated Manager (Missing Children) and to the Police Divisional Commander. The Designated Manager (Missing Children) and the Divisional Commander will then decide on further action. If there is any suspicion that the child may be removed from the UK jurisdiction, the Designated Manager (Missing Children) should consider whether appropriate legal interventions should be initiated and Legal Services should be consulted about options.

Any unauthorised absence lasting for 24 hours should be reported by the residential senior manager or social worker to their line managers. Any unauthorised absence lasting for 48 hours must be reported to the Head of Service and Designated Manager (Missing Children).

5. Information to be Made Available to the Police

When reporting an absence to the police, Family Services staff should make available:

The full name of the child, date or birth, sex and ethnic identity;
A description of the child, including height, colour of eyes, clothing, etc.;
A recent photograph;
Family addresses;
Known acquaintances;
Any previous history of absconding;
Name and phone number of social worker;
Details of any court order;
When the child was last seen, in what circumstances, and by whom;
The name and address of the child’s GP and Dentist;
Any circumstances which might increase the risk to the child.

Family Services staff should also make available to the Police any information arising out of their own risk assessment including the results of any room search (for potential information on the child’s whereabouts) and which members of the child’s family and friends have already been contacted and any information resulting from this.

6. Informing the Press

It is for the Police to advise the media about a child missing from the care of the local authority. This will be done in accordance with Police rules about communications with the media. A decision to publicise the absence in the Press and/or television will always be made in consultation with Family Services and with adequate time allowed for prior communication with the child’s parents.

7. Recording

Throughout this process a full record must be kept of all actions taken and messages received or given.

The fact that the child has been missing for a period in excess of 24 hours must be notified to the social work team business support officer (BSO) for inclusion in the 903 record. One of the following codes must be assigned to the placement type for purposes of recording this period of absence:

Missing - Absent more than 24 hours from agreed placement	In Refuge (section 51 of Children Act)	M1
	Whereabouts known (not in Refuge)	M2
	Whereabouts unknown	M3

At the end of the period of absence the social work team (BSO) must be informed, and must update the placement code to that of the placement itself, i.e. the placement code in use prior to the period of absence. )

Please note that recording this period of absence is not viewed as a placement change when calculating placement stability performance.

The Designated Manager (Missing Children) should receive a monthly report of all children recorded as missing for more than 24 hours. This should be produced by the Business Information Team based on information recorded on the 903 record.

8. Planning for the Child's Return

If a child’s absence continues beyond a few hours and falls within this protocol, the residential senior manager, or, in the case of an absence from foster care, the duty officer, if possible in consultation with the social worker, parents and Police, should commence contingency planning for when the child is located. Such plans should include:

Will the child return to the previous placement?
How will s/he be conveyed there?
Do the Police wish to interview the child before s/he is returned to the placement?
Who would be an appropriate “independent person” to talk to the child after his/her return?

The Police will co-operate in the plans developed by Family Services to return a child to his/her residence. Family Services will make arrangements for the transportation of the child.

Occasionally, however, especially if the child is over 16 and is being Looked After, the Police may have limited power to enforce a return if the child resists this and is not apparently at any risk. Where a missing child is over 16 and is being Looked After by Family Services, prior discussions should taker place between the Police and Family Services regarding Police/Family Services powers to enforce a return.

9. Communication with Other People

If a child’s absence continues for more than a few hours, and after the Police, social worker and parents have been informed, the senior manager of the home should make arrangements to inform all the children and staff within the home. In this way rumours may be avoided, and further information regarding the missing child may be gathered. The child’s school should also be informed. Any useful information they may offer should be passed to the Police.

In time it may become necessary to adjust or cease payments from Family Services to the residential establishment or foster carer. The social worker will be responsible for initiating action.

10. The Return

When the missing child is found there should be a Strategy Discussion/Meeting within the working day, if practicable, including previously involved agencies to consider:

Immediate safety issues;
Whether to instigate a Child Protection Assessment and to discuss any police investigation into an alleged crime;
Who will interview the child for the Child Protection Assessment;
Who will interview the child if there is not to be a Child Protection Assessment;
Who needs to be informed of the child’s return (locally and nationally)?

If the child has been found outside of the Royal Borough and is not likely to return, representatives of the “receiving” authority must been involved in the Strategy Discussion/Meeting and transfer of the case must be discussed.

The child should be told that it is expected for her/him to talk to someone independent of the home or foster home about the absence. This would normally be the child’s social worker, but if the child wishes it could be someone with no connection with him/her, including a police constable. It is the responsibility of the residential senior manager to ensure that the child receives an interview with an independent person within 72 hours of the return. In the case of a child missing from a foster home, the social worker must visit him/her within 72 hours and arrange for an independent person to interview, if requested by the child. This interview should provide a safe opportunity for the child to discuss any concerns regarding his or her care, including any questions regarding a possible abusive situation. The interview must take place without parents, foster carers or residential staff being present or in close proximity.

The child’s medical condition should be discussed immediately, and an offer made to arrange medical attention.

Where a Child Protection Assessment has taken place, the CPU Family Services must have a final strategy discussion to agree the outcome, as for any Child Protection Assessment, including the need for a child protection conference.

11. Missing During External Activity of a Residential Home

If a child goes missing during an external activity arranged by the residential home (or in an analogous situation), the person in charge of the activity will:

Notify the local Police in that area;
Notify a senior manager at the residential home;
Institute a local search if staffing levels permit.

The senior manager at the residential home will be responsible for ensuring that the general procedures in relation to a missing child are followed.

The senior manager of the home and the person in charge of the external activity will decide whether the party should return to the home, and when.

The residential home will need to maintain communication with the local Police where the absence occurred.

12. Longer Absences of a "Missing" Child

Whenever a child is missing for 5 days, and is assessed as “high risk”, a strategy meeting should be held attended by appropriate staff from Family Services, the Police and other agencies involved.

At this meeting the chair should elicit a clear statement about the actions being taken in respect of the absence, and s/he should satisfy herself/himself that all that should be done is being done.

The meeting should consider whether to circulate other local authorities and agencies in the areas where it is felt the child might have gone. Consideration should be given to national notification of authorities and agencies including Social Security, the Benefits Agency and the Child Benefit Agency.

Where the meeting agreed that the details of the child should be circulated to other local authorities and agencies, the key worker should draft an appropriate letter giving details of the child, any circumstances causing concern and the action required if the child is found. If the child is subject to a Child Protection Plan this letter should conform to the requirements of the Child Protection procedures.

A senior member of Family Services should seek assistance from the Department of Work and Pensions if the Police have not already contacted them.

A missing child will be notified by the Police to the Police National Missing Persons Bureau immediately after going missing. The cases of “high risk” missing children are reviewed by the Police on a daily basis.

Designated Manager (Missing Children) should formally review all cases where children have been absent for 6 months or more and should satisfy herself/himself about the actions taken to recover the child.

While the child remains absent his/her case should remain “open” to Family Services, and should be reviewed at six monthly intervals by the Designated Manager (Missing Children).

All police missing persons files will remain “live” until the child is traced or until the Divisional Commander is satisfied that the child is no longer missing.

13. Decision Making for all Cases

If the missing child is subject to a Child Protection Plan and is not found within 20 working days, the Review Child Protection Conference must be brought forward to consider whether any other actions should be taken.

If the missing child is Looked After, Family Services must decide and record whether to bring forward the next Looked After Review.

The social worker and team manager must give consideration to the need for legal action and record, in explicit terms, the reasons for their decision.

14. Children Missing from Other Local Authorities

Notifications of children and/or families reported missing by other local authorities are sent to the Designated Manager (Child Protection) via the DCFS. The majority of missing children are subject to a Child Protection Plan, though some are Looked After. The details are added to the Person Index (PI+) as a notification with a brief note of reasons for concern, who to contact if the person or family is located in the borough and any action required.

If a missing notification involves an unborn baby or pregnant woman the following are also notified:

The Health Link Team at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital;
Designated Nurse (Child Protection), at K&C PCT.

The Designated Manager (Child Protection) also receives "found" notifications - a subsequent notification is added to PI+ to this effect. Notifications are removed from PI+ 18 months after the last communication concerning the missing child.

15. Children Missing from Home

This section should be read in conjunction with the London Child Protection Procedures.

The statutory guidance on “Children missing from home and from care” enjoins Local Authorities, the Police and other local agencies to work together to achieve a consistent response to the needs of children missing from home. They are asked to develop multi-agency protocols covering this aspect of missing children, defining roles and responsibilities. In addition, Local Authority Circular LAC(2002)17 of the DoH asked all Police Forces to ensure that every case involving a child or young person going missing is considered for referral to Family Services for an initial assessment of need or, if necessary, for enquiries to be made under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989.

Usually, through not invariably, the initial notification that a child is missing from home will be made to the Police. The Police Child Protection Unit will undertake a risk assessment, based on criteria referred to above in Section 2, Definitions of a Missing Child and will then decide whether to refer the case to the Family Services social work team for the area in which the child lives.

When referring a child missing from home to Family Services, the Police will make available all relevant information to enable Family Services to carry out its functions, including the sort of information referred to in Section 5, Information to be made Available to the Police (for children missing from care) including information arising out of the Police risk assessment.

When a child is referred to Family Services by someone other than the Police, the provisions of this procedure in respect of children missing from care will apply mutatis mutandis to these circumstances. In particular, the definition of a “missing child” (see Section 2, Definitions of a Missing Child), “Action when a child goes missing (see Section 4, Action when a Child goes Missing) and “Information to be made available to the Police” (see Section 5, Information to be Made Available to the Police) will apply.

Many children who run away from home will be “children in need” as defined by Section 17 of the Children Act 1989. Family Services will need to decide, in each case that has been referred to them, whether the child should have access to an initial assessment provided by Family Services that conforms to the requirements of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. This assessment will:

Evaluate the risks if a child or young person were to go missing again; and
Whether or not they and their families might be appropriately offered local family support services.

Family Services will also need to decide whether it is appropriate for enquiries to be made under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989.

Whether or not children who have gone missing from home are assessed as being “in need”, they will be offered access to an interview upon their return. As far as possible the person conducting this interview should be independent of existing arrangements for the young person's care and welfare, and the young persons views should be taken into consideration in deciding which agency might best offer the necessary “independent” perspective. The provisions of paragraph 10.1 above should be followed with adaptation to the specific circumstances.

The return interview should aim to provide the young person with information about how, if necessary, they will be able to access follow-on services such as mediation or counselling.

Where children missing from home are identified outside of their home authority, the “receiving” and the home authority will need to negotiate so that the child or young person may be linked back into appropriate local services.

In conformity with the DoH guidelines, the Designated Manager (Missing Children) will be responsible for monitoring the policy and performance relating to children missing from home, and the provisions of this procedure relating to children missing from care shall apply mutatis mutandis to children missing from home in respect of review, decision making, longer absences of a missing child, and children missing from other local authorities.

End