Guidance for Children Missing from Home or Care

1. Introduction

This guidance has been produced in partnership with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, West Midlands Police and Barnardos. This document can not anticipate every situation and therefore individual judgement should be used to decide any action that is deemed necessary to protect the safety of the child, based on an assessment of risk. Where appropriate, advice should be sought from managers, and the Sandwell Safeguarding Children Procedures followed as required.

Children who go missing from home or care place themselves and, at times, others at risk; they are also at increased risk of being harmed. Every year around 100,000 children run away from home or care in the UK. Children run away from conflict, problems at home or school, neglect or abuse or because they are being groomed by individuals who seek to exploit them. Many run away on numerous occasions.

The reasons why children go missing from home or care are complex and frequently involve a number of 'push' and 'pull' factors, which should not be viewed in isolation from the child's experiences in daily life. 

A consistent, professional response is required for all missing episodes in order to ensure that measures are put in place to safeguard the child. Research shows that the level of risk to the individual child escalates with each missing episode and repeat episodes can be a significant indicator of high risk to the child. It is therefore important for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people that all practitioners who work with children are familiar with this guidance.

This guidance defines the roles and responsibilities of parents and carers (including kinship carers and foster carers), residential staff, the Police, Sandwell Children's Trust and other relevant practitioners. It applies to all children that are missing, including:

• All children under 18 who go missing from their family home;
• All children in the care of Sandwell Children's Trust placed outside of Sandwell;
• All children in the care of Sandwell Children's Trust placed with Local Authority carers;
• All children placed in private establishments or with Independent Fostering Agencies within Sandwell, where compliance with the guidance is specified in the contract or placement agreement;
• Children in the care of a responsible Local Authority who are placed in Sandwell (as the host authority);
• All children in Sandwell for who the Local Authorities have continuing responsibilities towards as Care Leavers.

Although there are particular vulnerabilities associated with Looked after Children who go missing, a number of children also go missing from their family home. The same response is required for both groups of children as they can experience the same risks.

Practitioners should also be aware that when a child runs away or goes missing this may be an indicator that they are at risk of, or experiencing sexual exploitation. A child is more vulnerable to being sexually exploited when missing or absent. All practitioners must therefore familiarise themselves with the indicators of child sexual exploitation and access the child sexual exploitation procedures for more information and guidance.

Going missing from home or care may also be an indicator of other specific risk factors including a child being a victim of Trafficking or Forced Marriage.  The procedures for safeguarding children who may have been trafficked and or made to engage in a forced marriage should therefore be consulted and read in conjunction with this guidance. This guidance is available on the SCSP website.

Children who are missing from education are not necessarily missing from home or care; however when children are missing from education this can be an indication of other risk factors. Any incidences of children missing from education should therefore be appropriately investigated. For further information please refer to children missing education policy.

See: Children Missing Education Policy.

2. Definitions

The following definitions are used throughout this guidance:

Note: For the purposes of this guidance, a child who has run away or who is missing will be defined as one when the episode has been reported to the Police.

3. Missing and Absent Children

A child will be defined as 'Missing' if their whereabouts are unknown and:

1. The circumstances are out of character; or
2. The context suggests the child may be;
   1. The subject of a crime; or
   2. At risk of harm themselves.

A child will be defined as 'Absent' if the following criteria are met:

1. The child has deliberately or carelessly absented themselves; and
2. This is not out of character or there is an apparent explanation for them going absent on this occasion; AND
3. The child is expected to return; AND
4. The child is not expected to suffer or cause harm whilst absent; AND
5. The level of risk does not justify police intervention at this time.

If any practitioner considers a child to be missing or absent they should:

1. Inform the child's parent / carer of their concern and establish when the child was last seen and the circumstances for the child. If the practitioner remains concerned that the child is possibly missing they must advise the parent /carer to inform the Police. The practitioner should also inform the parent / carer that they will notify the Police of their concerns that the child is missing;
2. Notify Sandwell Children's Trust if the child is already known to them or if there is a concern that the child is likely to suffer harm; and
3. Record what has been done.

If Children's Services are already involved with the child (for example as a looked after child, a child in need or subject to a child protection plan) the social worker / team responsible for the child should then:

1. Inform other local agencies who know the child;
2. Inform all practitioners involved with the child's plan;
3. Ensure that the missing episode is recorded on the child's file;
4. Complete the missing child action plan.

Responsibilities of the parent / carer prior to notifying the Police

A child's parent / carer should take all reasonable and practical steps to establish the whereabouts and well-being of a child in order to identify whether the child is absent or missing by:

1. Determining the nature and reasons for absence (including consideration of likely push and pull factors and any trigger events);
2. Ascertaining the likely intentions of the child;
3. Searching the immediate locality;
4. Telephoning and sending SMS (text) messages to the child's mobile phone and checking the social media sites, if these are accessible;
5. Checking places frequented by the child;
6. Making enquiries with the child's relative;
7. Making enquiries with child's friends;
8. Making enquiries with the child's school, college, providers of education or work placement, community groups or places of worship if appropriate;
9. If the child is looked after, making enquiries with the other children in the foster home, children's home, or residential school to establish if they have seen or heard anything.

Note: Where the child is in a temporary foster placement, the local authority will assume the responsibility to ensure the Police are informed or that the carer has done so.

Informing the Police

When a child is reported as absent or missing the Police will create an incident log, obtain information and ask questions to establish the level of risk. This will include:

• Name and gender of the child (including all names and aliases);
• Date of birth and age;
• Description of the child and their clothing;
• The child's home address and if relevant the child's family home address;
• The location the child is absent from;
• Circumstances of the absence, including any signs of pre-planning (have they taken any money/clothing etc.);
• Whether the child told anyone they intended to leave, including if they have left a letter or note;
• The child's mobile phone number and if they have taken their mobile;
• If any contact has been made with the child, including if a message has been left on the child's mobile phone and/or if a text message has been sent;
• Locations where the child may have gone, including places where they were found previously;
• Details of any friends and associates they may be with;
• Name, address and telephone number of the reporting person and their relationship to the child;
• Addresses that the reporting person has already checked (including time/date and details of who lives at the addresses visited).

When determining the risk the Police will consider a number of factors including:

• The child's level of vulnerability (including age and any learning difficulties);
• The child being a risk to others;
• If the child has any alcohol or substance misuse problems;
• If the child is at risk of sexual exploitation;
• If the child is at risk of criminal exploitation;
• The child's emotional mental well-being;
• The child's physical vulnerability;
• The risk of self-harm;
• If the child has been a victim of bullying;
• Whether the child takes medication and the risk to the child/ others if they do not take it on time;
• Whether the child is at risk of trafficking or forced marriage;
• Whether the child is likely to visit someone who may be violent, sexually abusive or supply them with drugs or alcohol.

4. Recording of Missing Episodes for children residing in Sandwell Missing Child

Following the Police classing a child as missing within Sandwell a missing child compact notification will be received by the Local Authority via the CSE GCSX email inbox from West Midlands Police. This will be recorded using case note type missing child Initial Notification on the Liquid Logic case recording system and the information work flowed to the responsible team. (This will be on LCS for children that are open to Children's Social Care)

The responsible Team Manager/COG (Community Operating Group) Manager should ensure that a missing child action plan is completed for every missing episode, this should include the following:

• Identification of the risk factors to include the needs and circumstances of the child. This should include reference to any previous missing or absent episodes and the associated action plans;
• Planning and decision making taken by the Local Authority in relation to the identified risks;
• Any other family members/ professionals to be informed of the missing episode, e.g. Independent Reviewing Officer if the child is looked after;
• Arrangements for the return interview;
• Contingency planning; such as identifying suitable alternative short term accommodation for the child if this is required;
• Consideration to an intervention strategy to address the long-term risk and vulnerability factors being completed.

For any child that has a missing episode the Critical Incident report should be completed: Critical Incident & Guidance.

Planning for a child's return is extremely beneficial, especially with regard to children who go repeatedly missing or those who fall into the high risk category.  If planning is not undertaken the likelihood of the child going missing again will not reduce. 

If the child is not open to the Local Authority and there are safeguarding concerns identified then the case will be referred to the Multi agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). The MASH will make a decision about the most appropriate action to be taken which could include a s.47 investigation.

If the child is placed in Sandwell and looked after by another Local Authority a member of the CSE team will inform the responsible Local Authority of the missing episode to ensure that appropriate arrangements for the return interview are put in place, by the responsible authority.

Child Located

Following the child being found a found child compact notification will be received by the Local Authority via the CSE GCSX email inbox from West Midlands Police. This will be recorded on the Liquid Logic case recording system and the information work flowed to the responsible team (This will be on LCS for children that are open to Children's Social Care).

5. Return Interviews

Statutory guidance requires that return interviews are offered to all young people who go missing.  Return interviews should take place within 72 hours of the child or young person returning or being found. The interview is an opportunity to identify and understand any risks and issues experienced by the child. In Sandwell Barnardos undertake the independent return interviews which they arrange following receipt of the found notification (Please note that the notification received by the CSE team is only in relation to children placed in Sandwell).

The return interview will include the following:

• Date Return Interview was offered;
• Date and place of interview;
• Reasons and details of the Missing Episode;
• Confirmation that CSE screening tool was completed;
• Actions taken to include consideration of Emotional Wellbeing, Sexual Activity, Drinking Alcohol. Smoking, Smoking Cannabis, Using Other Drugs, Health;
• Push and Pull factors;
• Level of Risk of the Young Person Repeating the Runaway;
• Confirmation that the child has been given information about how they can access further or on-going support services;
• Parents/carers view of the incident;
• Views of what the child wants to happen now – short term/long term;
• Discussion with the child about whether they are happy where they are living, or are they worried/upset about anything? Are they afraid of anybody?
• The child's normal Friendship Groups and Patterns (including reference to gangs).

When completed a copy of the return interview will be provided to the allocated worker via the case recording system i.e. Liquid Logic or LCS. The information within the return interview should be reviewed and incorporated into the ongoing plan for the child and retained on the child's electronic record.

Any information obtained during an independent return interview that may affect any future risk assessment or may assist in finding the child should they go missing again, should be exchanged between the Police, the Local Authority and other relevant agencies involved with the child. This may include the completion of a FIB (Force Intelligence Bureau) West Midlands Police - Information Report (see Appendix 1: Police Information Report for example of good FIB). This will assist in building a comprehensive picture of why the child was missing and what support they and their carers may require, reducing the potential of future missing episodes and the risk to the child. 

An evaluation of whether the child is likely to continue to go missing will be one of the factors informing the decision to make a referral to Sandwell Children's Trust.

If a referral to Sandwell Children's Trust is not appropriate, or after discussion with Children's Services it is agreed a referral is not required, then provision of Targeted Services support for the child (and their family) should be considered.

For children not subject of an assessment by Sandwell Children's Trust, (Section 47 Enquiry, or a Child in Need or Child Protection Plan) the return interview will be reviewed by the Local Authority nominated manager (CSE Team Manager) and appropriate action taken e.g. referral to MASH should there be child protection concerns or consent sought from the family for an Targeted Services assessment.

If a child chooses not to engage with a return interview the Barnardos worker will record the reasons for this and share this with the Local Authority nominated manager. Sometimes it is not possible to contact a child directly and / or parents may refuse for a return interview to be conducted. Should this be the case, this information will also be reviewed by the nominated manager.

6. Management Oversight and Reasons

The Local Authority nominated manager in conjunction with the CSE Coordinator will review all compact missing reports. The purpose of this is to collect data on demographics, people, places and perpetrators. Collecting, sharing and analysing data relating to children who go missing, is essential; the sharing of data assists to detect problems and issues such as sexual exploitation, offending behaviour, adults who pose a risk to children and crime related activity, such as trafficking that might not be apparent.  It also assists to contribute to implementation of effective preventative strategies which focus on reducing the incidence of missing children, whilst ascertaining the priorities for collaborative safeguarding, and ensuring that needs of children are met. Additionally analysing data aids strategic problem profiling; identifying missing patterns and trends, for example, areas where children are frequently located, repeat missing individuals allowing for informed responses and action. Therefore missing children data is required to be cross referenced with children missing from education, children not in school data and youth offending service data on absconding and breaching to assist with comprehensive problem profiling.

The nominated manager will also ensure that missing reports relating to children placed within Sandwell by another authority are shared with the responsible placing Local Authority, in order to instigate reviews of care placements if required.

Please note that that the case holding Team Manager is responsible for all action planning, interventions plans and review of the plans.

All data relating to children missing or away from placement without authorisation is reported to the Department for Education by the responsible Local Authority through the annual data returns.

7. Intervention Plans/Strategies

Missing interventions seek to reduce the risks that a child may be exposed to and prevent the likelihood of further incidents of the child being absent / missing / away from placement without authorisation.

Common strategies include:

• Disrupting the child's contact with adults suspected of being involved in grooming, abuse, coercion, trafficking, violence, use and supply of illegal substances, illegal activities and sexual exploitation;
• Disrupting the child's relationship with other young people suspected of introducing them to adults involved in grooming, abuse, coercion, trafficking, violence, use and supply of illegal substances, illegal activities and sexual exploitation;
• Gathering evidence to prosecute adults suspected of being involved in grooming, abuse, coercion, trafficking, violence, use and supply of illegal substances, illegal activities and sexual exploitation;
• Listening and taking account of the child's wishes and feelings;
• Promoting positive relationships with family, friends and carers;
• Identifying ways of physically protecting the child;
• Ensuring contact is maintained with a child whilst missing or absent;
• Setting clear boundaries and developing contracts regarding expectations and responsibilities;
• Motivating positive behaviour;
• Empowering the carer/ foster carer;
• Building the child's self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth through the provision of positive activities;
• Raising awareness of the risks associated with running away or being missing;
• Meeting any physical, emotional, mental health needs the child might have;
• Working with the carers or parents to make the child's home a place where they want to be;
• Working with education & training providers to meet the child's needs; and
• Providing specialist support through to multi-agency partnerships.

Intervention meetings should take place in the event of repeat episodes of children going missing from home and care. These meetings should have clearly identified purpose and attendance. The meeting should be held within a week of any the following trigger episodes. The meetings should be chaired by the case holding Team Manager and recorded on the child's electronic case record:

• After three missing episodes within a 30 day period;
• Three episodes in twelve months;
• One episode of three or more days.

The Child's Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) must be informed of all instances of a child being, missing absent or away from placement without authorisation. The Care Plan should be reviewed to include details of arrangements required to keep the child safe and minimise the future risk of the child going missing or absent from their placement.

If a child has been missing from placement for 24 hours then a CLA notification must be completed.

If a looked after child remains missing for more than 72 hours the social worker will arrange a missing person strategy meeting to share information and coordinate action to locate the child.  This meeting must be held within 5 working days after the 72 hour deadline is met.

If another type of Child Protection / Planning Meeting has already been organised for another purpose, it is possible to utilise that meeting in order to address the missing concerns and formulate a Missing Strategy rather than hold a separate meeting.

The social worker will arrange an early missing person strategy meeting – within 72 hours – when there are particular concerns for the child's welfare, for example a young person who runs away persistently, leaves their placement to meet with unfamiliar or inappropriate adults, or engages in other risky behaviour.  These meetings will be particularly important when groups of young people run away together.

8. Looked After Children Missing (including Out of Area Placements)

Initial Missing Risk Assessment

Placement planning for every child who is becoming Looked After or who is already Looked After must include consideration of the risks and vulnerabilities associated to missing (and sexual exploitation where applicable) and reach an agreement with all those concerned with the child's care, of how the placement is expected to respond to any incidences of missing and 'away from placement without authorisation'.

The child's Social Worker has responsibility for ensuring that an initial assessment of risk is completed when a young person is accommodated. This should include an assessment of the level of risk of the geographical area in which the young person is to be placed, particularly where the placement is outside of the Local Authority area.

It is recognised that in emergency or unplanned placements, the Placement Plan, including the initial assessment of risk, is unlikely to have been completed, prior to the child being placed. However, all available information should be shared at the time of placement. If there are grounds to suspect that the young person is likely to go missing from their new placement, a multi-agency preventative strategy discussion or meeting should be held to reduce the risks.

The initial risk assessment and any action plans should be reviewed as part of the Looked After reviewing processes and following any missing episode.

Photographs

Two recent photographs of the child (face and full body length) should be retained by the carer for missing from care purposes. Copies of these photographs should also be held on the child's electronic file. Digital photographs are preferable and they should be regularly updated. If these are obtained post-placement, careful consideration should be given as to how these photos are taken so as not to stigmatise the child.

Missing Children - Out of Area Placements

An Out of Area Placement is a placement of a child by one Local Authority:

• In a residential placement that is located in another Local Authority area (the host authority); or
• With foster carers who live in another Local Authority area.

Before a child is placed in an Out of Authority Placement, the Social Worker for the responsible authority should liaise with the residential / foster care agency and the host Local Authority and agree to the actions required to be taken if a child is reported as absent, missing or away from placement without authorisation from by their provider.

The Agency should contact the child's Social Worker or the responsible authority's Out of Hours Service as soon as it is confirmed that a child is missing from their care.

The Social Worker should then record the following case note on LCS: Missing Child Initial Notification – Out of Borough (C) and work flow through to the CSE team.

The responsible Team Manager should ensure that a missing child action plan is then recorded on the child's file using the following case note type Missing Child Action plan (C). This should be completed for every missing episode.

The child's Social Worker should also inform the child's parent or any other person with parental responsibility as soon as it practical to do so, but no later than 24 hours, after the child was reported missing.

When the child is found the following case note should be recorded on LCS by the allocated Social Worker, Missing Child Found Notification (C) and work flowed to the CSE team

The allocated Social Worker is responsible for ensuring that a return interview is arranged for all children placed out of borough (Please note for children placed within a 30 mile radius of Sandwell this can be completed by the Barnardos missing worker based within the CSE team). Planning for return interviews should have been considered as part of the placement planning. Following completion of the return interview the following case note should be recorded Missing Child Return Interview (C) and work flowed to the CSE team

The child's Independent Reviewing Officer must be kept fully informed of any incidences of a child missing, absent or away from placement without authorisation.

Record Keeping

Throughout any period that a Looked After child is absent or missing from their placement, the child's Social Worker and carers must keep a full record of all actions taken and information shared. This information must also be recorded on the child's electronic file.

Review of Looked after Child's Care Plan

When a Looked after Child who has been missing has been located, the child's social worker and their line manager should decide in consultation with the child's Independent Reviewing Officer, carers and the child whether they should convene an early statutory review of the child's Care Plan.

The statutory review will provide an opportunity to check that the Care Plan has been appropriately amended to address the reasons for the child's missing episodes and include an intervention strategy to prevent reoccurrences.

The Child's Independent Reviewing Officer should also review the suitability of the placement in conjunction with the child, and his / her family, the placement provider and the child's social worker. 

Media

The Police have responsibility for considering whether to inform the media regarding missing Looked after Children to assist in locating the individual. However decisions to publicise a missing Looked after Child will only be taken after discussions have taken place between the Police and Director of Childrens Services to agree a media strategy. The Social Worker whenever possible should also ensure that those with parental responsibility are informed of the media presentation.

Where agreement over publicity cannot be reached between the Police and Local Authority, the ultimate decision on publicity is that of the Police. However, the Police must have reasons to publicise against the wishes of the Local Authority and these reasons must be recorded.

Unless it is absolutely necessary, the child will not be identified as a Looked after child.

The effectiveness of this guidance will be monitored by the MOG (Missing Operational Group). This will include the following:

• Incidents of missing children from home, care and education;
• Analysis of missing from home incidents, patterns, theme and outcomes;
• Practice and Procedural issues;
• Safeguarding Implications.

Appendices

Appendix 1: Police Information Report

Appendix 2: West Midlands Police Information Report Example of Completed Form