missing from home process - proceduresonline.com · 2020. 4. 23. · version 1.2 feb 2018 p a g e |...

Missing from Home Process

Where a Lancashire child absconds from their home, placement, or school and routine checks

have failed to find them, they should be reported as absent or missing.

Below are the processes and recording requirements to ensure the authority complies with its

safeguarding and statutory duties.

1 Residential Care Homes page 2

2 Customer Access Service (CAS) / EDT

2.1 Missing or absent child page 3

2.2 Child found page 4

3 Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) page 5

4 Allocated Case Workers - Children's Social Care Teams

4.1 Absent from placement notifications page 6

4.2 Additional Required Actions page 7

5 Exploitation Hub (Central pilot) page 8

5.1 Missing Intervention Meetings page 9

5.2 Common issues page 13

6 LCS Recording Guides

6.1 Residential staff report child absent from placement page 14

6.2 Residential staff report return of absent child page 15

6.3 Exploitation hub – completion of return home interviews page 16

7 Appendix – Policy for LCC Children's Homes

Version 1.2 Feb 2018 P a g e | 2

Residential Care Homes

Child is absent

without authorisation

(in a known location)

Child is missing from placement

(unknown location)

Report to Contact Team / EDT Report to Police

Record in a case note on LCS, case

note type of

'Residential – missing from home'

with details of checks made, police log

no. and possible next actions

Residential care homes

must follow the missing

processes from the child's

placement plan, or the

homes generic policy in

respect to actions to take

when a child is absent

Child returns from

absence without

authorisation

Child returns from missing from placement

Report to Contact Team / EDT Report to Police

Record in a case note on LCS, case note type of

'Residential – missing from home'

with any pertinent information regarding their physical state,

where they have been, what they have been doing, and if

they have been at any risk.


Customer Access Service (CAS) / EDT

Missing or absent child

NB. The missing episode is to be sent to the CSE CENTRAL DUTY TRAY

on LCS – NOT THE ALLOCATED WORKER

YES Is the child

open to

Central?

CAS allocate

contact and missing

episode to MASH

locality team

YES

Allocate missing

episode to CSE

Central Duty Tray

Allocate missing

episode to

'Allocated Case

Worker'

NO

Is child record open

to CSC?

Missing from home

Sleuth report

received from

Lancashire Police

Residential staff

report of looked after

child missing from

placement

Is the child

on LCS?

YES NO

Add child record to

LCS, contact and

missing episode

with;

Missing details

Police log

number

Times and date

Add missing from

placement episode to

LCS with;

Missing details

Times and date

Add contact

to LCS

NO

Add missing episode to LCS with;

Missing details

Police log number

Times and date

Check Impulse link

for school.

If no linked record

found on Impulse

use the 'Report

record not on

Impulse' button to

notify CME team.

See LCS recording

guide – residential

report of absent child


Child reported as found / returned

Cancelled missing

from home Sleuth

report received from

Lancashire Police

Residential staff

report of looked after

child returned to

placement

See LCS recording

guide – residential

report of return of

absent child

Complete missing episode on LCS with;

Time and date found

End reason

Any details provided to be saved

in Outcomes box

Is the child

open to

Central?

NO YES

Allocate missing

episode to CSE

Central Duty Tray

Create a blank RHi

form in the missing

episode and allocate

missing episode and

form to the 'Allocated

Case Worker'

MASH - Allocation of Missing from Home Episode and Return Home

Interview Form

YES

MASH

CAS allocate to

MASH locality

team

YES

Allocate to CSE

Central Duty Tray

on LCS

Allocate to

'Allocated

Case Worker'

MASH team

determine

CoN level

Level 3/4 Allocate to the

Children's Society

for return home

interview

Is there

evidence of

CSE? Return home interview

document completed

Completed

document sent to

Police missing from

home co-ordinator

and MASH

YES NO

Allocate to CSE team for

C&F and return home

interview through Central

Duty tray on LCS

NO

Allocate to Assessment

team for C&F and return

home interview, and add

referral to CSE team for

assessment

Allocate to

Assessment team

for C&F and return

home interview

Central case?

YES

Central case?

NO

NO

Level 1/2

NO

YES

Allocate to

Assessment team

for C&F, and

allocate CSE

Duty tray for

return home

interview

CAS

Is child record

open to CSC?

MASH to;

review document and Recommendations and Outcomes on form,

upload to missing from home episode, and

finalise task on LCS On 3rd missing episode MASH PM to consider referral to:

level 2 services (CFWS), or

level 3/4 assessment

CAS Is the child

open to Central?


ALLOCATED CASE WORKER

Absent from placement notifications

Where Lancashire looked after children are absent from their placement without authorisation this

can be reported and recorded as;

A missing from home event – where the child's location is not known

Absent from placement without authorisation – where the child's location is known

Residential care homes will record a case note (case note type of 'Residential – missing from

home') when a child has absconded and should inform CAS or EDT.

CAS & EDT will create a missing episode on LCS, but use the Absent from placement without

authorisation type, and notify the locality team through the allocated case worker and their

Practice Manager.

Practice Managers should discuss with the allocated worker whether there are there safeguarding

concerns regarding;

the current location of the child,

their pattern of absences,

their recent behaviour, or

other concerns about the child

Where concerns are present the Practice Manager should update the status of the missing

episode to Missing.

Open the missing episode from the

Additional page and select Update

Episode Status


Once the child has returned to placement the details will be added by CAS/EDT and this will then

generate a mandatory return home interview for the child.

Additional Required Actions

If a child declines a return home interview, then a Social Worker will be required to see

the child within 48 hours of the refusal.

Where the Child in our Care teams are aware of arrangements in place for children

placed outside Lancashire to have Return Home interviews completed by another

agency / authority the Exploitation Hub must be informed of this arrangement.

The Exploitation Hub will then ensure the Return Home interview is completed and the

documentation obtained and recorded on LCS.

Put Status to Missing, record the date and

time at which this decision has been made,

and add notes regarding the decision.


Exploitation Hub (Central pilot) Children linked to the Central locality Social Care teams will have their return home interviews completed by specialised workers in the Exploitation Hub.

These workers are closely linked to the Police MfH Co-ordinators and will attend the MfH Panel discussions in order to report their findings and recommendations.

ISSUE Practice Manager

Team Manager

Senior Manager

Head of Service

Other

To chair a stage one missing from home meeting (stage 1 = 5 episodes of missing) * To chair a stage two missing from home meeting (stage 2 = 9 episodes of missing) IRO (senior manager

/HoS must be advised) To chair stage 3 continued absence strategy meeting (complex, high risk missing from home)

* HoS to be advised

Missing Person episode

allocated to CSE Central

Duty tray

Allocate task

to existing

worker

where

appropriate

Is the child open

to a Central CSE

team Support

worker?

YES NO Allocate task to

MfH Support

worker

Email and text worker to inform of allocation

including contact detail Check to ensure case is not CLA placed out of Lancashire

with RHi process in place

Support worker to contact child, parent/carer,

and school and complete return home

interview document within 3 working days

LCS updated and

episode closed

Where episode is the 5th, or 9th within a 90 day period the allocated worker and

appropriate manager are advised that a missing intervention meeting is required

See LCS recording

guide – return home

interview recording


Any referrals where a child or young

person is deemed at significant risk of

harm should not wait for a Panel

discussion, but should be dealt with

under current Child Protection

processes. If a child is missing for 48

hours or longer a Strategy Meeting

under Section 47 should be arranged

Missing Intervention Meetings

5 missing episodes within a 90

day period

Stage 1 missing intervention

meeting required

Within 4

days of the

5th

episode

9 missing episodes within a 90

day period

Stage 2 missing intervention

meeting required

Within 4

days of the

9th

episode

Stage 3 missing strategy meeting

required

Any subsequent

missing episode

after stage 2 will

qualify for a stage 3

strategy meeting

All interventions meetings to be chaired by Children's Services Manager and attendees should

include; • Child* • Team Manager • Social Worker or relevant lead professional • Local Police Missing Person Coordinator and champion (Chief Inspector) • Parent and or carer, residential unit manager or fostering manager • Person who conducted return interview if different to above • Other relevant professionals (For example Health, Education, Youth Offending Teams)

* Discussion should take place between the chair and the child’s Social Worker or relevant lead professional about whether it is appropriate for them to attend.

Other reasons to initiate or escalate interventions: • Any case where the risks involved in even a single future-missing episode is very high • Cases where it has been identified that immediate action is necessary to ensure the well-being of the

child

Minutes and action plan to be

sent to attendees, IRO where

applicable, and Children's

Services Lead Manager

Minutes and action plan to be

sent to attendees, IRO where

applicable, and Children's

Services Lead Manager

Quality assure compliance

and efficiency of Stage 1 & 2

Continued missing's to be raised to Senior Manager for case

review and to direct further intervention


After five episodes within a 90-day rolling period: This is the first stage intervention meeting.

This level of intervention meeting is the crucial stage in avoiding serious escalation and must,

therefore, be given high priority by all concerned. Within four working days of the last episode

(reaching the threshold level) these meetings MUST be held and representatives from each

organisation or interested party must be present. The meeting should be chaired by a Children’s

Services Team Manager, attendees should include:

• Child*

• Social Worker or relevant lead professional

• Local Police Missing Person Coordinator

• Parent and or carer, residential worker or foster carer

• Fostering Social Worker

• Person who conducted return interview if different to above

• Other relevant professionals (For example Health,

Education, Youth Offending Teams)

* Discussion should take place between the chair and the child’s Social Worker or relevant lead

professional about whether it is appropriate for them to attend.

This meeting should try to identify any ‘push’ or ‘pull’ factor in the case and any other voluntary or

statutory agency, which has an interest, or may take an interest, in the missing child’s welfare and

circumstances. In the case of ‘pull’ factors it may be necessary to target those in the community who

harbour the missing child or exploit them with regard to crime, sex or drugs. The meeting should be

minuted and MUST produce a clear action plan, including timescales for action, named lead

professionals, risk/ contingency planning and regular review dates. The notes of the meeting should

be copied to all professionals invited. In addition, copies should be sent to the child’s allocated IRO,

where the child is looked after, and the Children’s Services Lead Manager.

After nine episodes within a 90-day rolling period: This is the second stage intervention meeting.

Within four working days of the last episode (reaching the threshold level) these meetings MUST be

held and representatives from each organisation or interested party must be present. The meeting

should be chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer and/or a Children’s Services Senior

Manager, attendees should include:

• Child*

• Team Manager


• Local Police Missing Person Coordinator and champion (Chief Inspector)

• Parent and or carer, residential unit manager or fostering manager







Any subsequent missing episode after stage 2 will qualify for a stage 3 strategy meeting:

This is the third stage intervention meeting.

Within four working days of reaching the threshold level these meetings MUST be held and

representatives from each organisation or interested party must be present. The meeting should be

chaired by a Children’s Services Senior Manager and the Head of Service informed, attendees

should include:

• Child*

• Team Manager


• Local Police Missing Person Coordinator and champion (Chief Inspector)

• Parent and or carer, residential unit manager or fostering manager






Meetings at this level should be rare provided that this protocol has been followed with regard to the

1st and 2nd stage intervention meetings and return interviews. The meeting should be minuted and

MUST produce a clear action plan, including timescales for action, named lead professionals,

risk/contingency planning and regular review dates. The notes of the meeting should be copied to

all professionals invited. In addition, copies should be sent to the child’s allocated IRO, where the

child is looked after, and the Children’s Services Lead Manager. In addition to seeking to reduce

future missing episodes and reduce any apparent risks to the child, this meeting should also quality

assure compliance with the protocols and the efficacy of the 1st and 2nd stage intervention meetings

and return interviews.

The chair of the meeting will forward the notes to the relevant Children’s Services Manager. If the

child continues to be reported missing beyond this level the Senior Manager for the area must

consider the case and direct further intervention. Further strategies should continue to be managed

by the Senior Manager until the risks to the child have reduced and/ or the missing episodes have

been reduced or ceased. If there is no reduction in the missing episodes the senior manager must

take responsibility for escalating the case up the management hierarchy.

It should be noted, however, that the volume of missing episodes is not the only reason to launch

an intervention or to escalate the level of intervention. The following are examples of other reasons

to initiate or escalate interventions:

• Any case where the risks involved in even a single future-missing episode is very high

• Cases where it has been identified that immediate action is necessary to ensure the wellbeing of

the child

It should be noted that if any one agency or professional has increased or serious concerns for a

child’s well-being or safety then they may call a multi-agency strategy meeting at any time,

regardless of the number of missing episodes.


A record shall be made of all interventions on the SLEUTH missing person ‘intervention’ system by the Police Missing Person Coordinator.

When it is believed that an adult is adversely involved with a child going missing the Local Authority will invoke safeguarding procedures and the Police may consider using enforcement tactics such as the harbouring and/or abduction legislation. [Section 2 Child Abduction Act 1984 or Section 49 Children’s Act 1989 (See supporting documents for specimen statements and notices)]

Alternatively the Local Authority and/or parents, supported by the Police, may decide to institute civil

proceedings to obtain an injunction preventing any particular adult having any contact with a named

child.

If a child or young person placed in Lancashire by another responsible authority has 5 missing reports in less than 90 days and there is no evidence the child is at risk of significant harm, then the responsible authorities’ social worker shall be contacted to establish what action is being taken to assess and respond to presenting risks. This judgement should take into account the number and seriousness of previous missing episodes. If there is no response within three days then the Missing Panel Coordinator will email the responsible authorities’ Team Manager to clearly record that Lancashire CSC has no further involvement and that the responsible authority is required to respond. Where a child placed in Lancashire by another responsible authority has gone missing nine times in a 90 day period or where there are concerns that a child has been inappropriately placed, the Assistant Director in the responsible local authority will be informed in writing and asked to ensure that all appropriate measures are in place for the future care and safety of that child. Formal written details will be required so that the child’s electronic social care record can be updated. A copy of this letter will be forwarded to the police missing from home coordinator. It should be noted, however, that the number of incidents is not the only reason to launch an intervention or to escalate the level of intervention. The following are both examples of other reasons to launch or escalate interventions:

Any case where the risks involved in even a single future-missing episode is very high.

Cases where it has been identified that immediate action is necessary to ensure the wellbeing of the person.

A quick succession of missing episodes eradicating the need for 90 days to elapse. Meetings at this level should be rare provided that this protocol has been followed with regard to

earlier intervention meetings and return interviews. In addition to seeking to reduce future missing

episodes and reduce any apparent risks to the young person/child, this meeting should also quality

assure compliance with the protocols and the efficacy of earlier intervention meetings and return

interviews.

Any referrals where a child or young person is deemed at significant risk of harm should not wait for

a Panel discussion, but should be dealt with under current Child Protection processes. If a child is

missing for 48 hours or longer a Strategy Meeting under Section 47 should be arranged.


Common Issues

Missing episode has been finalised prior to work being completed

Where a missing episode has been allocated to a support worker for the return home interview but the task has been finalised before the return home interview information has been uploaded and updated then this will need to be reopened.

To do this log into Core business systems management service using your network details and go to Projects, Children's Social Care & Finance, and New Issue.

Option to finalise the missing episode is crossed out

This will be because the missing episode task has been allocated to another worker by mistake.

Under the Involvements page, scroll down to the Current Tasks for this child section. Here you will see who has been allocated the task and they should be contacted to reallocate this task.

If the worker is not available to reallocate their task then this request can go to their manager,

or the Core business systems management service to be reallocated.

https://core-systems-management.ad.lancscc.net/login?back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcore-systems-management.ad.lancscc.net%2F

https://core-systems-management.ad.lancscc.net/login?back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcore-systems-management.ad.lancscc.net%2F

LCS Recording guides

Residential staff report of looked after child missing from placement

Add new missing episode

o Missing status as Away from placement without authorisation

o Episode Start date as now

o Missing Reasons as MR9 Reason Unknown

o Primary Missing reason as MR9 Reason Unknown

o Record Location missing from

Notify Case Worker's Supervisor

There is no need to record Risks or Missing Reasons as this will be determined at the return home interview.


Residential staff report return of looked after child missing from placement

Complete Found section on missing episode

o Episode end date as time child returned to placement

o End reason as Returned

o Return interview offered as Not Applicable

Exploitation Hub - Missing from Home Return Interview

Process on LCS

Where a child who is an open case for Central Locality has been reported missing and

subsequently found the Contact Assessment Team (CAS) or Emergency Duty Team (EDT) will

record the date, time and details supplied and then allocate the missing person episode on LCS to

the CSE Duty tray.

A manager will then allocate this task to an appropriate Support Worker to complete a return home

interview within 3 working days. The task will appear in the workers LCS tray and they should be

notified via email / SMS text message.

Task appears in tray – selecting this task will open the missing episode in order to review

the details.

Any failed visits must be recorded in an LCS case note to evidence the actions taken towards

meeting the return home interview requirements.

Where a child or parent/carer declines the return home interview this needs to be detailed on the

return home document.


Once the return home document is completed then the LCS record needs to be completed

and finalised;

Go to Actions at the bottom of the page

Amend the Status by selecting the last entry in the Status History

Under Missing Reasons remove the existing select of MR9 - Reason Unknown and select ALL relevant reasons disclosed during the return home interview process.

Select the appropriate Primary Missing Reason from the drop down list (only options selected in the Missing Reasons above will be available).

If the reason for a child to go missing is not within the tick box options please select MR8 – Any other reason known and then free type in Notes

Select Update Missing Person Record


Complete the Risks section based on the information recorded in the return home document

Enter a note in the Additional Information box to state "Return Home Interview form uploaded to Documents within the Missing episode"

Select update button (top left)

Go to the Found page and complete the Return Interview section and add any notes as

appropriate

Check the Forms section of the missing episode – if a draft Missing Person Return

Interview form is present then open this and Cancel the form


Enter a cancellation reason as " Return Home Interview form uploaded to Documents within the Missing episode" and Confirm Cancellation

Go to the Documents page and select Create/Attach Document

Select Category of missing

Select Type of Missing from home return interview – pilot

Enter Date of the return home interview

Ensure allocated worker is present in Notifications

Select Finish – this will open a new page


From the page below select Upload Document: Browse and find your saved completed

return home interview document.

The Upload Document: Browse link will change to Document Uploaded OK!

Reassign the Missing Episode task to the Missing from Home Lead/PM for management

oversight

Missing from Home Lead/PM to review missing episode and Return Home interview

document and request changes if required. Once information is quality assured then

Missing from Home Lead/PM to;

Select Complete Document and OK

Return to the missing episode page and select Finalise Missing Person Record


Select OK, review details and select Update

The episode will then display as Finalised


NB: If reviewing missing episodes, all uploaded return interviews documents can be seen as a list

by going to any finalised missing episode


Policy for LCC Children's Homes

Introduction

This policy sets out the arrangements in respect of young people who go missing from care at (insert name of Children's

Home) and should be read in conjunction with –

Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care (DfE 2014)

Children and young people who run away or go missing from home or care (Pan-Lancashire Joint Protocol

September 2014)

The Children's Home Regulations and Quality Standards (2015; specifically regulation 12 and 9.23 – 9.32 of The

Guide to the Children's Home Regulations)

Overview

Staff in Children's Homes have a key role to play in safeguarding young people from risks associated with going missing

in the following areas –

- Support and Prevention

- Responding to Incidents

- Multi-Agency Working

- Actions on Return and Risk Management

- Monitoring and Escalation

Support and Prevention

Good quality residential child care is built on developing effective supportive relationships with young people. This

enables young people to discuss any concerns they may have about their safety within or outside of the home and to

participate in and understand plans to keep them safe. All young people will be given information at admission about

sources of support and advice and will thereafter be supported by a named keyworker who will undertake regular

planned work with the young person.

All young people living at the Children's Home must have a Placement Plan and Care Plan. Where it is identified that

the young person may go missing these plans should address actions to reduce risk of harm and known risk factors

linked to gong missing.

Children's Homes will keep on file a recent photograph of a young person to be used if needed within a missing person

investigation. The decision to use photographs or Child Rescue Alerts within a missing person enquiry sits with the

Police, in conjunction with CSC as appropriate.


Responding to Incidents

Staff in Children's Homes should have a clear understanding of the categories used in respect of missing young people

and how these relate to the young people placed at the home. (7.2 to 7.4 of Pan Lancs Protocol)

Young people who are known to be at risk of going missing must have an Individual Risk Assessment and this must

inform judgements about how staff should respond. Staff should undertake initial checks prior to reporting a young

person to the Police under MfH protocol unless their Risk Assessment (or dynamic professional judgement) indicates

otherwise. This will typically include –

Ringing / or send a text message to the young person on their mobile.

Search bedrooms/accommodation/outbuildings/vehicles

Contact known friends / relatives where the young person may be

Visit locations that the young person is known to frequent if it is possible

Also social media is a good tool to check where possible.

Contact local hospitals where applicable

The following is an overview of the categories applied – (see Pan-Lancashire Protocol)

- Unauthorised Absence – This is a Local Authority term, not a Police category and therefore denotes a

judgement on the part of residential staff that the young person is not judged to be at risk of harm. This

judgement will typically reflect young people who are late home / testing boundaries and therefore will not

be reported to the Police. Staff should still make all reasonable efforts to communicate with the young person

and secure their return to the home. Children's Homes must monitor and respond to patterns of emerging

unauthorised absence episodes as length of absence does not correlate to risk.

- Missing Person – Staff should report a young person to the Police as 'missing' where the young person is away

from the home in circumstances that give rise to concern for the welfare of the young person, or public safety.

This should be completed by telephone with an overview of the presenting risks leading to a missing report

being provided and a Police log number retained by the staff member. Unless a young person's Risk

Assessment indicates the need for an immediate missing report staff will have taken prior steps to

communicate with / locate the young person based on known relationships or intelligence gained. These

actions must continue after a missing report to the Police, in conjunction with the Police and taking account

of any known risk factors.

- Absent – This is a Police decision and so a young person cannot be reported to the Police as 'absent'. This

judgement is based on a decision that a young person does not at that time sit within the 'missing' category

and therefore no active deployment will be made to locate the young person. This will be reviewed as

necessary as an absent episode goes on. Where staff feel that the presenting circumstances and risk factors

constitute a judgement of 'missing' this should be communicated to the Police and recorded on the LCS case

note. On the same basis the former practice of local Police accepting reports of young people who are missing

'cause for concern' should not be used as this is inconsistent with the statutory guidance and local protocol.

- Away from placement without authorisation – this applies where a young person is away from the home at

a known and fixed location but that location gives rise to concerns for their welfare. This may be a young

person who is staying with friends or extended family at a house where sexual exploitation may be a risk. As

with the above categories efforts to return the young person must be made unless it is judged unsafe to do


so. This category does not denote a 'missing person' however a formal request to the Police may be required

to seek assistance to return the young person. It is acknowledged that young people can move between 'away

from placement without authorisation' and 'missing' and ongoing dialogue with the Police and Children's Social

Care will be required in such scenarios. Young people judged to be within this category should be reported to

the Police under the MfH Protocol and therefore subject of risk assessment as to the actions required.

- Absconder - An Absconder is a young person who is absent from the placement without permission and who

is subject to an order or requirement resulting from the criminal justice process (e.g. remands, curfews,

tagging, conditions of residence, other bail conditions, PACE detention or ASBO’s), or a secure order made in

either civil or criminal proceedings. A young person in this category must be reported to the Police without

delay.

Recording –

From the point you notify the Police under MfH Protocol you should –

1. Open an LCS case note using the 'Residential – Missing from Home' case note type.

2. Record the time and date / headline circumstances within which YP went missing, the Police Log Number and

SU number. Record the specific category under which you have reported to the Police ('Missing' or 'Away from

Placement without Authorisation'). Do not finalise the case note.

3. If you are seeking direct assistance from EDT to locate / return the young person telephone contact will be

required. Do not copy EDT into the above case note as this will trigger multiple update alerts to EDT.

4. Use the one case note above ('Residential – Missing from Home') to record all actions / contact to locate the

YP until they are back at the home.

5. Once the young person is returned (and you have agreement with Police to conclude the episode, where

applicable) update the single case note and send by email to Customer Services via

[email protected] (copy SW) advising of return (Date / Time / Circumstances).

6. Where the young person is categorised by the Police as a missing person they will create a SLEUTH report and

send this to Customer Services for the episode to be created.

7. Any young person who has been missing from home for 24 hours must also be reported directly to the

Residential Manager / Senior Res Manager and FARY Head of Service. Daily actions to contact and locate the

young person must be agreed between CSC, Police and Residential staff.

The Return Home Interview will be created on LCS by the Customer Services Team and assigned to a Social Worker's

Work Tray. Children's home staff should undertake and record a formal debrief with a young person who is regularly

away from the home in circumstances that fall within unauthorised absence and should seek external input to this

process if they feel that 'push factors' may be contributing to this pattern. The allocated social worker must be directly

notified of the episode by phone (duty Social Worker / Manager in their absence) on the first working day after the

return (and a case note recorded to that effect) in order to undertake the Return Home Interview

Multi-Agency Working

mailto:[email protected]


Effective practice in this area is underpinned by good working relationships with key partners. Children's Homes will

ensure that good links are established with the local Police, Police Missing Coordinator and CSE Team. Young people

who go missing can be at risk of sexual exploitation and therefore require assessment and intervention via a MACSE

plan. Good communication with education providers and the Virtual School Service is important to ensure clear lines

of accountability and information sharing, and to address any deficits in education provision or planning linked to

missing episodes.

The key professionals contact details for {insert name of home} are –

Insert key details here.

Actions on Return and Risk Management

A young person returning to the home may have been exposed to harm, or been the victim of a criminal activity and

therefore should be treated sensitively and supportively, as outlined below. This supports efforts to understand where

they have been and what support may be needed to prevent future risk.

o Are you ok?

o Did you come to any harm?

o Do you need to talk and if so who would you like to talk to?

o Staff to remind the young person that they here for them to talk to and when they feel ready to talk, the

young person can approach them at any time

o Are you hungry / thirsty?

A Return Home Interview will be requested, via the above process, and must be offered to the young person within 72

hours of their return. Any information gained within this must be shared with the home to inform future planning /

support.

The Individual Risk Assessment on LCS should be reviewed and updated to ensure it takes account of all emerging

information about risks associated with going missing episodes and actions staff should take in response.

Monitoring and Escalation

The Registered Manager should review within their monthly monitoring any missing episodes and the response made.

This should identify any deficits, gaps in information or training or updates to action plans required. The Regulation

44 Visitor should regularly analyse practice in respect of young people who go missing and include their findings within

their evaluation of the effectiveness of the home.