t risk. Whether just a few hours, overnight or several days – never treat this as routine, even if the child/YP has done it before, or has a significant history of such.
This may be:
– failing to arrive or stay at school / football club/external place
– failing to return home at the expected time
– failing to return overnight/over several days
If you know where the child/YP is, even if they are not supposed to be there , the child/YP is not classed as missing, this is called “unauthorised absence”. A child/YP is only “missing” when their whereabouts is unknown. You do need to report both, but the way they are managed may be different – follow the advice of your SSW as confusion about how, and when, suspected missing children are reported,can result in delayed or premature reporting. Delayed reporting leads to missed safeguarding opportunities, while premature reporting can result in avoidable police contact and potential criminalisation of a young person, when they might just be late home or testing boundaries.
It is important to know, however, that just because these situations aren’t defined as ‘missing,’doesn’t mean they are without risk.
What to do :
1. Try to make and sustain contact with the child/YP by phone/text/social media, to establish their safety and welfare, and encourage and support them to return -offering to collect if possible. They may, however, not respond.
2. Make a judgement based upon your knowledge of the child/YP, familiarity with the area, specific risks, time of day/night – and decide how long you will wait before taking any further action. If you know that risks are low and the child/YP needs a little “ time and space”, then allow it – if you’re unsure, call your SSW.
3. If you know where, or with whom, the child/YP is, consider making contact; but be sensitive that theymay not appreciate you calling up their friends/contacts, so don’t rush straight into that without thinking it through.
4. Inform your SSW if the child/YP is not in contact and/or has not returned within the time scale you decided (number 2, above). This may be out of office hours, do not wait until the next day to report, your SSW is on call 24 hours per day.
5. Your SSW will advise on next steps, which may be to inform the police and the child/YP’s social worker. If this is out of office hours, the child/YP’s social worker will not be available and you will need to call the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) within the local authority. Make sure you have the contact numbers to hand and all the details you may need.
6. The police will ask for the child/YP’s details such as name, date of birth, ethnicity and a description of the child, what they were wearing and for any information you may have about where the child might be, to start a search; and details of the placing local authority. Your agency (GLF/Fostering Hearts/South Coast Fostering) will collect relevant information about the child/YP from the files, and put this together on a form, a “Missing from Care Pack” which will be sent to you once the child/YP is reported to your SSW, for you to share with the Police.
7. Please complete the electronic incident report form previously sent by Richard. If you do not have it readily available, kindly request your SSW to resend the form to you. Your report should include:
- Any circumstances or events you are aware of that may have led to the child or young person’s absence
- The specific steps you took to locate the child/young person
- The times at which each action was taken
- When and how the absence was reported
Please ensure the incident report is submitted online within 24 hours of the child/young person going missing. Keep your SSW informed of any updates or changes in circumstances as they occur
8. If the child/YP does not return overnight, you will need to report again the following day, to your SSW and the child/YP’s social worker.
9. When the child/YP returns, ensure their safety and welfare as priority, respond warmly and empathically. Leave discussions until another day.
10. Inform professionals when a child/YP returns .
11. Cooperate/implement follow up actions, which may include “return to care” interview with the child/YP ; meetings with the SW; multi-agency strategy meetings.
Tips:
-Don’t panic, try to think rationally, stay calm.
-Any communication you have with the“absent” child/YP must be warm and empathetic, establishing their safety and welfare as the priority, offering to help them get back -no why/where questions, recriminations. Avoid saying you are worried about them – this may make it harder to return due to feeling shamed, or it may intensify feelings of powerfulness and increase the time they are missing.
-Keep an open dialogue with the child/YP through texts if they are not picking up calls, not a constant stream, just gentle reminders that you are thinking of them in warm and empathic tones, as above, offering to support their return. Continue throughout their absence, even if they are not responding.
-Ensure you have, to hand, information the Police may request : a recent photo; hold a memory of the child/YP’s clothing as they leave the house; keep a list of telephone numbers/addresses of friends/relatives/school; and share the “Missing from Pack” sent to you by your agency. Reflect also on any immediate triggers that may have contributed to the child/YP leaving; and on the child/YP’s state of mind before leaving ie distressed, angry – and share that with professionals.
– Once you have informed those who need to be alerted, make time to have a cup of tea or take a quiet moment to breathe deeply, gather your thoughts, so you are thinking rationally and are able to think the incident through and plan for the child’s return.
-Don’t leave your home to start looking for a child/YP, if you are considering that ensure that you first discuss with your SSW or the child’s social worker, and get their agreement– but avoid putting yourself at risk in an attempt to locate the child/YP.
– You may use tracking apps or phone software (such as “Share Location”) to assist in locating the child/young person. However, be sure to seek the young person’s consent for this in general practice
-Be aware that the police may update you on the progress of the search, this can be through the night, at regular intervals, even if there is no progress. The Police may also ask if you will collect the child/YP from the station. Ensure you remain polite and cooperative with the police.
– When the child/YP returns greet them warmly, don’t get into those why/where conversations today. You may have been worried and angry, and now relieved, but show only empathy and openness ie “I am so glad you are back, you look a bit cold”.
– Offer something to eat or drink on return, to reduce any stress/fear or shame they may feel. Suggest a warm bath/shower/bed – make them feel comfortable and safe. Discreetly observe how they present – physically and their mood/emotional state ( as clues as to what may have occurred)
– The following day casually talk about the incident, and try to establish where, why, and with whom the child/YP was (which may help in any future missing episodes) . Don’t make assumptions about the reasons -each person is unique and will be facing different challenges, so listen carefully to the child/YP and seek to understand from their perspective. Don’t concentrate on the inconvenience they caused, or the impact on you, but do help them to understand the risks they ran. Going missing should not necessarily be viewed as behaviour which needs to be punished- it may be how children/YPscope when they can’t ask for help, so sanctions may not be the best response. Talk with other professionals about how to support the child/YP to minimise further episodes.
– Communicate with professionals regularly and keep them up to date with the situation – every change of situation, new information and/or new day – even when this is out of office hoursand follow the advice given.
– Record the situation on a daily basis in your logs.
Try not to panic, stay calm , follow procedures, keep in close contact with other professionals , and welcome back the child/YP warmly – demonstrate you really care.