Children who go Missing from Home or Care

The term ‘looked after child' is defined in the 2014 statutory guidance as a child who is looked after by a local authority by reason of a care order, or being accommodated under section 20 of the Children Act.  Unless the child is subject to care order accommodation must be provided for a continuous period of 24 hours in order for the child to become looked after.

There are a number of ways in which a local authority may arrange for a looked after child to be accommodated. These include a placement with a parent or other person with parental responsibility for the child, placing the child foster parents, or placing the child in a residential children’s home or other residential setting such as a school or secure unit. 

Children who are looked after should have information about, and easy access to, help lines and support services including emergency accommodation. Support should also be made available to families to help them understand why the child has run away and how they can support them on their return.

It is important that emergency accommodation can be accessed directly at any time of the day or night. Bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation is not an appropriate place for any child or young person under the age of 18 and should not be used.

If a missing child is not already subject to a care order, the court may make an interim care order if it is satisfied the threshold for making a care or supervision order is met.  When deciding whether to make an order the court must have regard to the welfare checklist set out in section 1 of the Children Act 1989. The court must also consider the human rights of the child and whether it is necessary and proportionate to make such an order.

The court may make an emergency protection order under section 44 of the Children Act 1989 if satisfied that there is reasonable cause to believe that the child is likely to suffer significant harm if they are not removed to accommodation provided by a local authority or other applicant, or if they do not remain in accommodation in which they are then being accommodated.

An emergency protection must be made for no longer than eight days.  The order may be extended once for a period not exceeding seven days.

The court may include a provision in the emergency protection requiring a person to disclose, if asked to do so, any information that may have as to the child’s whereabouts.

If a court makes an emergency protection order or care order, the local authority named in the order shares parental responsibility for the child. If the court makes a care order, the local authority named in the order has the power to determine the extent to which the child’s parents or any other person with parental responsibility may meet their parental responsibility for the child.  The local authority may delegate the exercise of its parental responsibility.

Under Section 46 (1) of the Children Act 1989 where a constable has reasonable cause to believe that a child would otherwise be likely to suffer significant harm, they may:

1. Remove the child to suitable accommodation and keep him there; or
2. Take such steps as are reasonable to ensure that the child’s removal from any hospital, or other place, in which he is then being accommodated is prevented.

Should it be necessary to take the child into police protection, the child must be moved as soon as into local authority accommodation. The local authority should consider what type of accommodation is appropriate in each individual case. It is important that young people are not placed in accommodation that leaves them vulnerable to exploitation or trafficking.

No child may be kept in police protection for more than 72 hours.

The Court may a recovery order under Section 50 of the Children Act 1989 if a child who is the subject of a care order or emergency protection order:

1. Has been unlawfully taken away or is being unlawfully kept away from the responsible person; or
2. Has run away or is staying away from the responsible person; or
3. Is missing.

A recovery order operates as direction to any person who is in a position to do so to produce the child on request to any authorised person.  It authorises the removal of the child by any authorised person.

A recovery order may only be made if the child is subject to a care order or an emergency protection order.  If a child who is voluntarily accommodated goes missing, an interim care order or emergency protection order must be made before the court makes a recovery order.

A recovery order authorises a police constable to enter any premises specified in the order and search for the child using reasonable force.  A recovery order also requires any person who has information as to the child’s whereabouts to disclose that information, if asked to do so, to a police constable.

The court may issue a warrant authorising a police constable to use reasonable force in the exercise of an emergency protection order.

Section 17 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 authorises a police constable with powers to enter and search premises in certain circumstances, notably, with regard to this guidance, for the purposes of saving life and limb, or to arrest without warrant a person who has committed an indictable offence or certain other listed offences under the section.

Section 24 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 authorises a police constable to arrest without a warrant (‘summary arrest’) anyone they have reasonable grounds for suspecting is about to commit an offence, is committing an offence or has committed an offence and the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that it is necessary to arrest the person for a specified reason set out in section (24(5)).  For the purposes of this guidance the specified reasons in section 24(5) include (d) the need to protect a child or other vulnerable person from the person in question.

Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 requires public bodies including a local authority, local policing body and chief officer of police to make arrangements for ensuring that their functions are discharged having regard to the need to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Section 16E of the Children Act 2004 requires the safeguarding partners (the local authority, NHS integrated care board and chief officer of a police force of the area) to make arrangements to work together in exercising their functions, so far as the functions are exercised for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the area.  These arrangements must include arrangements for the safeguarding partners to work together to identify and respond to the needs of children in the area.

The Cumbria Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (CSCP) has been established by the statutory safeguarding partners in Cumbria.[1]

_{[1] Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership: Cumbria County Council}

Missing

The police definition of 'missing' is:

Anyone whose whereabouts cannot be established and where the circumstances are out of character or the context suggests the person may be subject of crime or at risk of harm to themselves or another.

In adopting the above definition Cumbria Police seek to ensure that appropriate action is taken on each and every occasion. There is the potential to misidentify a vulnerable missing person if they are not recorded correctly, and as such Cumbria Police does not recognise the category of absent.

The Police will carry out a 'Safe and Well' check with a 'missing' child who returns.

Risk Assessment

The police will prioritise all incidents of missing children as medium or high risk.

In order to assist in the process of risk management and to ensure that resources are deployed effectively, Cumbria Police has adopted the following categories of risk, which are set out in the risk assessment table below. The process of risk assessment is dynamic and is designed to assist in the escalation / de-escalation of response where appropriate and requires constant review.

Every person who falls within Cumbria Police’s definition of a missing person will be recorded on the Police information ‘Missing Person’ system, by a Police Officer.

All child missing person reports are reviewed in the Safeguarding Hub by a detective. This is not a contact into the Safeguarding Hub (SGH).

If the child is open to a social worker within Cumbria the police will share the report with the allocated social worker via secure email.

If the child is open to a social worker from outside of Cumbria the report is shared with the Safeguarding Hub triage inbox which is monitored by business support team who will forward the report onto the relevant local authority.

For children not open to a social worker, the Safeguarding hub detective will review the incident and consider if a multi-agency discussion within the safeguarding hub is required.

Missing reports are also shared with the Missing Exploited and Trafficked Coordinators (METCO) when Stage 1 and Stage 2 triggers are met. The METCO will also receive MFH reports when there are additional vulnerabilities highlighted by the Safeguarding hub.

Where a pattern of absence or other information suggesting there may be a safeguarding risk to a child or young person under the age of 18, this must be brought to the attention of the CCR Insp. The CMR PC must ensure that the appropriate information is shared with partner agencies – this will be by telephoning either Cumberland or Westmorland and Furness Children Services and informing them, they may have additional information which will inform the risk assessment. This must be undertaken 24hours a day and out of hours telephone numbers should be used to contact the Emergency Duty Team – 0333 373 2724. The Safeguarding Help Desk in the CCR can assist with this.

Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council must ensure that all incidents where children go missing are appropriately risk assessed and should record all incidents of children who are looked after and are missing or away from placement without authorisation.

Even with strong systems and services that minimise the likelihood of young people running away, some young people will still feel that they have to run away. In all circumstances, Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures should be followed. If there is concern that the child may be at risk if returned home, the child should be referred to children's social care to assess their needs and make appropriate arrangements for their accommodation.

The local authority should consult with the police regarding what action should be taken to share information about a missing child who is looked after, subject to a child protection plan or a child in need. This should include an assessment of whether to release information to the media. The local authority should also notify other local authorities according to degree of concern. Consideration should also be given to whether the child or their family has links to other areas in the United Kingdom.

On receipt of a notification from another local authority, a flag should be added to the electronic record system for children's social care and consideration should be given to notifying health and other relevant partners.

The Department of Education Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care (January 2014) states the following:

71. Looked after children who go missing, or who are away from placement without authorisation, can be at increased risk of sexual or other forms of exploitation or of involvement in drugs, gangs, criminal activity, or trafficking. Particular attention should be paid to repeat episodes. Data on these episodes should be analysed regularly to map problems and patterns. Regular reports on this data should be provided to council members and the [safeguarding Children Partnership].
72. Data for children missing or away from placement without authorisation should be reported to the Department for Education by the responsible authority through their annual data returns on looked after children.

Local authorities collect information about children missing from education and educational establishments and about children who access other local authority services, such as youth services and children who are looked after.

As the guidance says, early and effective sharing of information between professionals and local agencies is essential for the identification of patterns of risky behaviour. This may be used to identify areas of concern for an individual child, or to identify 'hotspots' of activity in a local area.

Local authorities should collect data on children reported missing from care including repeat episodes of missing from care, unauthorised absences from care placements, and other relevant data and should regularly analyse this in order to map problems and patterns. This should include identifying patterns of sexual and other exploitation.

Good practice suggests that the following data should be collected and analysed by a multi professional group:

• Demographics of all children who are missing, absent or away from placement without authorisation;
• Associates of the above;
• The legal status of the children;
• Episodes, and the length of episode by child;
• Numbers and themes from safe and well checks;
• Numbers and themes from return interviews;
• Cross-match data with local information about gangs, CE lists, home educated and missing from education lists, including information about children who go missing for part of the school day;
• Consideration should be given to analysing where the child is found as this information could help identify links between missing children and criminal groups.
• Analyse data by establishment and geographical area.

Data about children and young people who go missing from home, education or care should be included in regular reports to Council members, especially to the Lead Member for Children's Services and in regular reports by the local authority to the Safeguarding Children Partnership.

On 1 April 2013 regulations came into force requiring Ofsted to provide details of the locations of children's homes to local police forces to support the police in their strategic and operational approach to safeguarding children (particularly in relation to sexual exploitation and trafficking). This duty is in addition to the existing obligation for Ofsted to disclose this information to local authorities. A protocol published alongside the regulations sets out the responsibilities of the public authorities to use information about the location of children's homes only for the purposes for which it was disclosed, and to share it onward only where this is compatible with safeguarding children and promoting their welfare.

It should be noted that if disclosure of this information to police services does not happen automatically, and police services will need to request to receive this information on an on-going basis.

Department for Education: Joint protocol: children's homes - procedure for disclosing names and addresses (2013).

Healthcare professionals have a key role in identifying and reporting children who may be missing from care, home, and school.  

• Missing children access a number of services provided by a range of health providers, for example:
• Urgent Care Units;
• Accident and Emergency Departments;
• Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinics (GUM) / sexual health clinics;
• Community Sexual Health Services; and
• Pharmacy Services.

Health professionals should have an understanding of the vulnerabilities and risks associated with children that go missing. Staff working in health settings should be aware of their professional responsibilities and the responses undertaken by the multi-agency partnership. Risks include sexual exploitation, trafficking, forced marriage and female genital mutilation. Radicalisation, also a risk factor for vulnerable young people, is managed via the national 'Prevent' strategy.

All health providers should provide a comprehensive service for Cared For Children. A Designated Nurse and Doctor for Cared For Children are located in each Integrated Care Board (ICB).  They are statutory appointments and are responsible for the commissioning and delivery of appropriate healthcare, assessments and services. Designated health professionals for Cared For Children should share relevant information and intelligence relating to high-risk individuals or emerging themes and patterns indicative of organised and targeted abuse, to the NHS Patch Safeguarding Children Forum. They should also ensure that all health staff within their locality know how to identify, report and respond to a child who is missing from care.

When a 16 or 17-year-old runs away or goes missing they are no less vulnerable than younger children and are equally at risk of exploitation or involvement with gangs.

There should be a balanced approach to reporting a 16–17-year-old as missing, consideration to their age, stage of development and identified vulnerabilities should be considered.

As 16 and 17-year-olds have greater independence from their parents and carers and can choose to leave home, it may be necessary to involve other services such as housing officers in the assessment of their needs. When dealing with 16 -17-year-olds who are missing from home and there are concerns regarding homelessness it is essential to be aware of and follow the Joint Protocol for Homeless 16-17 Young People for either Cumberland Council or Westmorland and Furness Council.

Some groups of children, including those looked after in the care system, are disproportionately likely to be reported missing. Cared For Children are twenty times more likely to be reported missing than the national average (Missing People). In some cases, this is because Cared For Children may be at increased risk of harm. However, there are also concerns that sometimes they are being reported as missing inappropriately. There should be exploration of the individual child’s care plan and placement provision. If the child is in semi-supported accommodation and has missed their agreed curfew or chose to stay out, there should be assessment of risk/need prior to reporting unless danger to them has been identified. Research has found that overreporting children as missing can lead to criminalisation, can damage children’s perceptions of the police, and can harm children’s relationships with their carers. There should be consideration as to whether the child peers (outside of the care system) would be reported.

Practitioners must consider Child Exploitation risk as a trigger for reporting a child as MFH this should be considered based on risk not the providers internal policy for reporting.

When a 16 -17-year-old presents as homeless, local authority children's services must assess their needs as for any other child. Where this assessment concludes that the young person is a child in need and requires accommodation under section 20 of the Children Act 1989, they will become a looked after child if accommodation is provided by or on behalf of the local authority for a continuous more than 24 hours. 

When a young person who is entitled to accommodation under section 20 indicates they do not wish to be accommodated, the local authority must comply with the guidance in Prevention of homelessness and provision of accommodation for 16- and 17-year-old young people who may be homeless and/or require accommodation (October 2018)[1] before deciding if the young person’s wishes should be treated as conclusive.

The accommodation provided must be suitable, risk assessed and meet the full range of the young person's needs. The sustainability of the placement must be considered. Young people who have run away and are at risk of homelessness may be placed in supported accommodation, with the provision of specialist support. For example, a specialist service might be provided for those who have been sexually exploited, or at risk of sexual exploitation.

_{[1] Provision of accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds who may be homeless and/or require accommodation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)}

Some looked after children may be unaccompanied asylum-seeking children or other migrant children. Some children in this group may have been trafficked into the UK and may remain under the influence of their traffickers even while they are looked after. Trafficked children are at high risk of going missing, with most going missing within one week of becoming looked after and many within 48 hours. Unaccompanied migrant or asylum-seeking children, who go missing immediately after becoming looked after, should be treated as children who may be victims of trafficking. Children, who have been trafficked, may be exploited for sexual purposes and the link to sexual exploitation should be addressed in conjunction with Children from Abroad, including Victims of Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Exploitation.

The assessment of need to inform the care plan will be particularly critical in these circumstances and should be done immediately as the window for intervention is very narrow. The assessment must seek to establish:

• Relevant details about the child's background before they came to the UK;
• An understanding of the reasons why the child came to the UK; and
• An analysis of the child's vulnerability to remaining under the influence of traffickers.

In conducting this assessment, it will be necessary for the local authority to work in close co-operation with the NCA Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit and immigration staff who will be familiar with patterns of trafficking into the UK. Immigration staff should be able to advice on whether information about the individual child suggests that they fit the profile of a potentially trafficked child.

Provision may need to be made for the child to be in a safe place before any assessment takes place and for the possibility that they may not be able to disclose full information about their circumstances immediately. The location of the child should not be divulged to any enquirers until their identity and relationship with the child has been established, if necessary, with the help of police and immigration services. In these situations, the roles and responsibilities of care providers must be fully understood and recorded in the placement plan. Proportionate safety measures that keep the child safe and take into account their best interests should also be put in place to safeguard the child from going missing from care or from being re-trafficked.

It will be essential that the local authority continues to share information with the police and immigration staff, concerning potential crimes against the child, the risk to other children, or other relevant immigration matters.

Safeguarding Children Who May Have Been Trafficked: Practice Guidance (2011) contains practical guidance for agencies which are likely to encounter, or have referred to them, children and young people who may have been trafficked. Where it is suspected that a child has been trafficked, they should be referred by the local authority into the UK's victim identification framework, the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

There are a number of voluntary agencies who provide guidance and advice including:

• Unseen UK;
• ECPAT - Every Child Protected Against Trafficking.

Grooming is when someone builds an emotional connection with a child to gain their trust for the purposes of sexual abuse or exploitation. Children and young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know - for example a family member, friend or professional. Groomers may be male or female. They could be any age. Many children and young people do not understand that they have been groomed, or that they have been abused.

Children can be groomed for the purpose of sexual abuse as well as other forms of exploitation including involvement in criminal and extremist activity. Children who are missing are more vulnerable to being groomed and may also go missing as a result of being groomed.

Children and young people can suffer harm when exposed to extremist ideology. This harm can range from a child adopting or complying with extreme views which limit their social interaction and full engagement with their education, to children being groomed for involvement in violent attacks.

Children can by exposed to harmful, extremist ideology in the immediate or extended family, or relatives/family friends who live outside the family home but have influence over the child's life. Older children or young people might self-radicalise over the internet or through the influence of their peer network – in this instance their parents might not know about this or feel powerless to stop their child's radicalisation.

Going missing is a risk factor in relation to radicalisation:

• A child may go missing because they have already been radicalised;
• A child's risk of being radicalised might increase because they are missing and are spending time with people who may seek to involve them in radical/extreme activities. The risk is heightened whilst they are missing, because the protective factors of family or care are not available to them.

Professionals should always assess whether a child who has gone missing is at risk of radicalisation.

Child exploitation is complex and often cannot be categorised into one definition for many children and young people there will be crossover of the different definitions. The below definitions have been taken from the National Working group:

• Child Sexual Exploitation - Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.
• Criminal Exploitation - Child Criminal Exploitation is common in county lines and occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. Child Criminal Exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.
• County Lines Exploitation - County lines is a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas within the UK, using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of “deal line”. They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons.

Involvement in exploitative relationships is characterised by the child's or young person's limited availability of choice as a result of their social, economic or emotional vulnerability.

A common feature of child exploitation is that the child or young person does not recognise the coercive nature of the relationship and does not see themselves as a victim of exploitation.

Going missing is a significant risk factor in relation to exploitation:

• A child may go missing because they are being exploited;
• A child's risk of being exploited might increase because they are missing and are spending time with people who may seek to involve them in exploitation. The risk is heightened whilst they are missing because the protective factors of family or care are not available to them.

Because there is such a strong link between children going missing and risk of exploitation, professionals should always assess whether a child who has gone missing is being exploited or at risk of being exploited.

From the age of 16 cared for young people are referred to as care experienced, however, it is important to note that local authorities have very similar duties and responsibilities towards 16- and 17-year-old care experienced as they do to children in care and for the purposes of this guidance, the response to a missing care experienced age 16 - and 17-year-old should be the same.

Local authorities continue to have a range of responsibilities towards children leaving care until the young person's 25th birthday. It is good practice to follow the guidance set out below whilst a young person remains 'leaving care'.

Care experienced, particularly 16- and 17-year-olds, are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and may go missing from their home or accommodation. Local authorities must ensure that relevant children are provided with "suitable accommodation" as defined in Section 23B(10) of the Children Act 1989 and regulation 9(2) and schedule 2 of the Care Experienced (England) Regulations, 

In particular young people should feel safe in their accommodation and the areas where it is located. Local authorities should ensure that pathway plans set out where a young person may be vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking or going missing, and put in place support services to minimise this risk.

When a child is placed out of their local authority area, the responsible authority must make sure that the child has access to the services they need in advance of placement. Notification of the placement must be made to the host authority and other specified services.

If children placed out of their local authority area go missing this protocol should be followed, in addition to complying with other processes that are specified in the policy of the host local authority. It is possible that the child will return to the area of the responsible authority so it is essential that liaison between the police and professionals in both authorities is well managed and coordinated. A notification process for missing episodes should be agreed between responsible and host local authorities as a part of the care plan and the placement plan.

Sometimes a looked after child may be away from their home or placement without authorisation. While they are not missing, they may still be in situations that could put them at risk (e.g. they may be at the house of friends where there are concerns about risks of exploitation). Their carer or social worker should take reasonable steps to ascertain the wellbeing of the child including, when appropriate, visiting the location. However, if there is a concern the child may be at significant risk of harm to themselves or to others then police should also be notified in order that appropriate safeguarding measures can be taken. This should not be confused with reporting a child missing.

Local authorities have a duty to place a child who is looked after in the most appropriate placement to safeguard the child and minimise the risk of the child going missing. The care plan and the placement plan should include details of the arrangements that will need to be in place to keep the child safe and minimise the risk of the child going missing from their care placement.

Remember:

• The Care Plan – should include strategies to avoid a child going missing. It should also include strategies to reduce the duration and risks associated if the child does go missing;
• The Placement Plan – should include strategies for preventing the child from going missing;
• The social worker should Provide the child with advice about an independent advocate and take the child’s views into account (see Cumbria Coming into Care Guide);
• Statutory reviews should consider any missing episodes and revise strategies to prevent repeat missing incidents and the care plan should be revised accordingly.

Where a child already has an established pattern of going missing, the Care Plan should include a strategy to keep the child safe and minimising the likelihood of the child going missing in the future. This should be discussed and agreed as far as possible with the child and with the child's carers and should include detailed information about the responsibilities of all services, the child's parents and other adults involved in the family network.

When a child who is placed in Cumbria by another local authority is identified as being at risk of exploitation or going missing, the provider with which the child is placed must notify Cumbria Police utilising the Philomena Protocol.

The Philomena Protocol is a Police initiative to help locate and safely return a young person as quickly as possible when they are missing. The basis of the scheme is for vital information about the young person to be shared with the police should there be a known risk of them having a missing episode or being at risk of exploitation. This information is recorded on police systems and is used to locate the child safely and quickly.

Completed Philomena Protocol forms should be emailed to RegisteredProvision&PoliceMOU@cumbria.police.uk

Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) should be informed about missing episodes, and they should address these in statutory reviews. The police trigger plan and child’s care plan should be updated after a missing incident and should be regularly reviewed.

Designated health professionals for Cared For Children should be informed of children missing from care who are deemed to be 'high risk'. They should be included in any multiagency strategy meetings or activity to manage the child's retrieval and any subsequent health needs. Governance structure and processes to be clarified.

Designated education professionals should be informed and included in the review process.

Whenever the whereabouts of a child looked after are not known, the foster carer or the manager on duty in the children's home is responsible for carrying out preliminary checks to see if the child can be located. For example, if a child was supposed to have returned home from school but has not arrived within the normal journey time, checks could include finding out if there are transport delays, phone calls to the child, phone calls to the school to see if the child has been delayed etc. If these initial checks do not succeed in locating the child or there are still concerns that, despite contact being made with the child they are at risk, the individuals and agencies listed below should be informed.

It is clearly important that a deadline is set at the outset of these initial checks so that they are completed within a reasonable timeframe. What timeframe is reasonable should be based on an assessment of the risks relating to the individual child. In some cases, there might be particular reasons to be worried for the child's safety immediately and the individuals' agencies detailed below should be contacted straight away – this in conjunction with on-going attempts to contact the child and find out why they aren't where they are supposed to be.

The individuals and agencies who should be contacted when a child is missing:

• The local police;
• The authority responsible for the child's placement – if they have not already been notified prior to the police being informed; and
• The parents and any other person with parental responsibility, unless it is not reasonably practicable or to do so, or would be inconsistent with the child's welfare;
• The Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO).

As a minimum requirement for all missing reports to the police should include the following information: 

• The child's name/s; date of birth; status; responsible authority;
• Where and when they went missing;
• Who, if anyone, they went missing with;
• What was the child wearing plus any belongings such as bags, phone etc.;
• Description and recent photo;
• Medical history, if relevant;
• Time and location last seen;
• Circumstances or events around going missing;
• Details of family, friends and associates;
• Updated risk assessment.

A child going missing can be a warning sign of a range of serious risks. Identifying patterns of missing episodes can help to recognise ongoing risks to children, and it is important therefore that professionals and carers prioritise their response to missing and know when and how to report an incident to the police.

Foster carers and staff acting in a parenting role in care homes should undertake all reasonable enquiries to establish the whereabouts of the child or young person. Where the location of the child is known and there are no immediate safeguarding concerns, careful consideration must be given as to the most appropriate response if the child then refuses to return home. The decision to report the child missing to the Police for example may lead to unnecessary Police contact. This could have an adverse impact on the child. Agencies should ensure that the most appropriate course of action is agreed in the child's safety plan prior to any missing episode.

Before a child is reported missing parents/carers will be expected to undertake the following basic measures to try to locate the missing child if considered safe to do so and there are no concerns of immediate harm:

• Search bedroom/accommodation/ outbuildings/vehicles;
• Contact known friends and relatives where child may be;
• Visit locations that the child is known to frequent if it is possible;
• Check social media;
• Speak to other young people in the house;

If it comes to the attention of any agency that a child is missing, they must advise the carer of their need to report this matter to the Police. Every agency has a duty to inform the Police that a child is missing.

The consent of the person with parental responsibility will be sought for a photograph to be used in any subsequent missing person investigation. If possible, the consent of the child should be gained.

The carer/s should take all reasonable steps, to secure the safe and speedy return of the child based on their own knowledge of the child and the information in the child's placement plan. If there is suspected risk of harm to the child the carer/s should liaise immediately with the police.

When children that are looked after are placed out of area, as part of the plan with the host authority it should be specified that all Police reports in regard to missing episodes must be shared with the appropriate council’s Safeguarding Hub. In addition, if any missing or found reports are received by the social workers these need to be sent onto the Safeguarding Hub as soon as possible. Until the Police missing reports are received within the Hub a return home interview cannot be requested or an out of county missing form completed by carers is sent to the local social work team.

Following initial discussions between the allocated children's social care worker and the police, they should agree an immediate strategy for locating the child and an action plan. This to include a range of actions to locate and ensure the safe return of the child, including:

• Arrangements for attempts to be made to contact the child on a daily basis by, for example, calling their mobile phone or the phones of friends or relatives that they may be with;
• The Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) should also try and contact the child;
• Visiting their parents' address/es and of any friends or relatives with whom they may be staying;

Once a child has been reported missing there must be a strategy meeting or stage one missing meeting if the child is not located within 24 hours.  If there has not been a strategy meeting within 24 hours there must a strategy meeting within 48 hours.

• The Assistant Director, Emergency Duty Team and the relevant area based Senior Manager should be notified via a need to know report (see Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Children's Services Procedures Manual, Need to Know Policy and Procedure (Internal Notifications)) after 48 hours of the child going missing. They will notify the Lead Member and Corporate Parenting Board within seven days of the child going missing or sooner should this be deemed necessary;
• Any publicity will be led by the Police, the use of Child Abduction Notices (CAWN’s) etc will be agreed upon discussion with the team manager. recovery orders may be used where the child is the subject of a care order;
• During the investigation to find the missing child, regular liaison and communication should take place between the police, the responsible local authority children's social care services and the host authority (if an out of area placement) and any other agencies involved;
• The authority responsible for the child should ensure that plans are in place to respond promptly once the child is found and for determining if the placement remains appropriate and arrange for a return home interview to be completed.

When the child has been located, carers/parents should promptly inform the child's social worker and the independent reviewing officer that the child has returned. Arrangements should have been made for Safe and Well checks and Independent Return Review interviews.

The purpose of a safe and well is to check for any indications that the child has suffered harm, where and with whom they have been, and to give them an opportunity to disclose any offending by or against them.

When a child is located after a missing episode, a safe and well check must be completed. These will be carried out by the Police within Cumbria. This involves a police officer seeing the child and speaking to them to ensure they are safe and to ascertain the reasons behind the missing episode. Officers should have an investigative mindset when trying to establish why the person has gone missing and consider any links to exploitation. Conversations should include what measures can be put in place to prevent further missing episodes. The information gathered from safe and well check is documented on the missing report with the Safeguarding Hub and a RHI will be initiated.  

If a child is located/placed in a different force area, then the Police in the area where the child is located will conduct the safe and well check. A copy of this can be requested by the lead professional.

Where there are identified Child Exploitation risks police will submit a safeguarding report to appropriate Safeguarding Hub for consideration. 

The Return Home Interview is an in-depth interview and should be carried out by an independent professional (e.g. a social worker, teacher, health professional or police officer)

If the child is not open to Children's Social Care, either Cumberland Safeguarding Hub or Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Hub (depending on where the child lives) will trigger the return home interview.

The person conducting the interview should usually be independent of the child's placement and of the responsible authority.  Children sometimes need to build up trust with a person before they will discuss in depth the reasons why they went missing.

The child should be seen on their own unless they specifically request to have someone with them. The child should be offered the option of speaking to an independent representative or advocate. 

In Cumbria, the allocation for return interviews is as follows:

• If the child is not open to Children’s Social Care, then the return interview is undertaken by Children’s Services Complex Safeguarding Team;
• For children who are open to Children’s Social Care who live within either Cumberland or Westmorland and Furness (Cared For Children, CP, CIN, Open Referral) and for children who are looked after by either Cumberland or Westmorland and Furness Children’s Services but are placed outside of the county, the Complex Safeguarding Team will undertake return to home interviews. Where children are open to social care the IRO should be informed;
• For Cared For Children placed within Cumbria by another authority, it is the placing authorities’ responsibility to facilitate the return interview.

The interview must be completed within 72 hours of the child returning home (in a neutral place where they feel safe).

Where the child is not open to a social worker, the worker who completed the return home interview in conjunction with their manager will:

• Where there are safeguarding concerns identified in the RHI, submit a single contact form [SCF] to the appropriate Safeguarding Hub explaining their concerns;
• When the child is open to a social worker the RHI will be considered by the social worker and their manager, safety planning and Stage one or Stage two missing meetings will take place where appropriate;
• On completion of the RHI where the worker considers that the child and or family, will benefit from an Early Help Assessment this must be referred back to the Early Help Officer within the Safeguarding Hub. This must be with consent of the family. If there is already an early help plan in place then the worker will email the appropriate Early Help mailbox for notification purposes or complete an early help referral form.

Once the return home interview has been undertaken the Return interview form must be completed and returned to Cumbria safeguarding hub for the police representative to review and finalise the Police missing report.

Where CE is suspected or identified in the return home interview the CE checklist must be completed.

This information will then be used to inform any planning or actions by the social worker and be used to consider whether the CERAR process is.

Where children refuse to engage with the interview, parents and/or carers should be offered the opportunity to provide any relevant information and intelligence they may be aware of. This should help to prevent further instances of the child experiencing a missing from home episode and identify early the support needed for them.

When there is refusal from parents/care giver to consent to the Return Home Interview this should trigger professional curiosity as to why there is refusal and engagement with services that are trying to safeguard their child. It may be that further assessment of this is required and consideration to a safeguarding referral into the safeguarding hub.

If the child is Fraser Competent, a RHI can be organised directly with the child, this should be explored with the child if there are familial barriers for the RHI to take place.

Irrespective of the nature of the plan the child is on the following should take place if the child has had repeat missing episodes.

Where a child has been missing for 3 episodes within a 90-day rolling period a ‘Stage One missing’ meeting must be held. If at this stage the child has not been referred to the Safeguarding Hub as a result of repeat episodes, this MUST be referred immediately and any risks of Child Exploitation considered. This meeting is crucial in avoiding escalation and must, therefore, be give high priority by all concerned. It must be held within 10 working days of the last episode.  The meeting should be chaired by a Children’s Services Team Manager, Advanced Practitioner or a designated Practitioner from the Complex Safeguarding Team.

Attendees should include:

• Child;
• Social Worker or relevant lead professionals;
• Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO);
• Child Exploitation Intervention Worker;
• Police Local Missing, Exploitation, Trafficked Coordinators (METCO’s);
• Parents and/or carers, Residential worker or foster carer;
• Fostering Social Worker (where relevant);
• The person who carried out the Return Home Interview;
• The designated health professionals for Looked After Children (where relevant);
• Inclusion Officer for Cared For Children (where relevant);
• Other relevant professionals (Health, Education, YOS etc.).

The Missing from Home Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan will form the basis of discussion at the meeting.  This document should be the basis for any ongoing review.

Working together to Safeguard Children states that:

Whenever there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm there should be a strategy discussion involving local authority children’s social care (including the residential or fostering service, if the child is looked-after), the police, health and other bodies such as the referring agency.

Professional judgement should be applied and consideration for whether a stage one meeting is required where one or more of the below applies,

• Child is under the age of 12
• Child has a high-risk flag for CE
• Child has significant learning needs/disability
• Children with significant mental health issues
• Missing for over a 24-hour period
• Injured during a MFH episode
• Victim of a crime

There should be a clear rationale recorded by the team manager when a decision is made not to progress to a stage one meeting.

See Missing from Home Stage One Meeting Form.

A ‘Stage Two Missing’ meeting must be held when there have been 5 missing episodes in 90 days from the first missing episode or where there is ongoing complex risk in relation to further missing episodes this can be requested by any agency involved with the child where there is an escalation in concern. 

Representatives from each organisation and interested parties must prioritise and be present. The meeting should be chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer or a Children's Services ‘Service Manager’. Attendees are as in Stage one meeting plus the relevant Team Manager.

This meeting should not only seek to ensure reduced further episodes and reduce any apparent risk factors to the child but should also quality assure compliance with the protocol and efficacy of the Stage One Intervention Meeting and return interviews.

The stage two meeting should decide on the review process parameters to enable the multi-agency team around the child to assess the effectiveness of the Risk Management plan. This plan should be shared with invited partners.

Where request for a stage two meeting is refused the CSCP Escalation Policy should be followed.

See Missing from Home Stage Two Risk Assessment and Risk Management Form.

If a child continues to be reported missing beyond this level the relevant Service Manager must consider the case and direct further intervention. Further strategies should be managed by the Service Manager until the risk to the child has been reduced and/or the missing episodes have been reduced or ceased. If there is no reduction in the missing episodes, the Service Manager must take the responsibility for escalating the case up the management hierarchy.

When the local authorities and Cumbria Police analyse trends and patterns in relation to children, who run away or go missing from home, particular attention should be paid to repeat 'missing episodes.  Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils and Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership need to be alert to the risk of sexual exploitation or involvement in drugs, gangs or criminal activity such as trafficking and to be aware of local "hot spots" as well as concerns about any individuals, who children go missing to be with.

Cumberland Council, Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership should also consider the 'hidden missing', who are children who have not been reported missing to the police but have come to an agency's attention after accessing other services. There may also be trafficked children who have not previously come to the attention of children's services or the police. Research demonstrates that children from Black and minority ethnic groups, and children that go missing from education are less likely to be reported as missing. Local authorities and the police should be proactive in places where they believe under reporting may be more likely because of the relationships some communities, or individuals, have with the statutory sector.

Children missing from home are subject to risks and vulnerabilities similar to those for children who are looked after. NHS designated and named professionals hold a statutory role with regards to safeguarding in the local health community and must be included in the information sharing and management processes being put in place for children deemed to be at high risk.

The police will respond to all notifications of children categorised as 'missing' as medium or high risk in accordance with this guidance.

The information required by the police to assist in locating and returning the child to a safe environment is as follows:

• The child's name/s; date of birth; status; responsible authority;
• Where and when they went missing;
• Who, if anyone, they went missing with;
• What the child was wearing plus any belongings they had with them such as bags, phone etc;
• Description and recent photo;
• Medical history, if relevant;
• Time and location last seen;
• Circumstances or events around going missing;
• Details of family, friends and associates.

A child going missing can be a warning sign of a range of serious risks. Identifying patterns of missing episodes can help to recognise ongoing risks to children, and it is important therefore that professionals and carers prioritise their response to missing and know when and how to report an incident to the police.

Parents and carers should undertake all reasonable enquiries to establish the whereabouts of the child or young person. Where the location of the child is known and there are no immediate safeguarding concerns, careful consideration must be given as to the most appropriate response if the child then refuses to return home. The decision to report the child missing to the Police for example may lead to unnecessary Police contact. This could have an adverse impact on the child. Agencies should ensure that the most appropriate course of action is agreed in the child's safety plan prior to any missing episode.

Before a child is reported missing parents/carers will be expected to undertake the following basic measures to try to locate the missing child if considered safe to do so and there are no concerns of immediate harm:

• Search bedroom/accommodation/outbuildings/vehicles;
• Contact known friends and relatives where child may be;
• Visit locations that the child is known to frequent if it is possible;
• Check social media;
• Speak to other young people in the house;
• If it comes to the attention of any agency that a child is missing, they must advise the parent/carer of their need to report this matter to the Police;
• Every agency has a duty to inform the Police that a child is missing if parents have failed to do so;
• The consent of the person with parental responsibility will be sought for a photograph to be used in any subsequent missing person investigation. If possible, the consent of the child should be gained.

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 states that child protection procedures must be initiated whenever there are concerns that a child who is missing may be suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. See Referrals Procedure.

A risk assessment should be completed in line with this protocol and action by the police will include:

• An active and measured response by police and other agencies in order to trace the missing child and support the person reporting;
• A proactive investigation and search in accordance with the circumstances to locate the missing child as soon as possible;
• Family support should be put in place;
• The UK Missing Persons Bureau should be notified of the case;
• CEOP and children's social care services should be notified.

Where the child is known to children's social care services or meets the criteria for referral to children's social care services, the Local Authority will ensure that an assessment takes place and there are a range of service options available to address the child's needs following the safe and well check and independent return review interview.

Young people who have been reported missing and are at risk of homelessness may be placed in supported accommodation, with the provision of specialist support, for example, for those who may have been sexually exploited.

When a child is located after a missing episode, a safe and well check must be completed. These will be carried out by the Police within Cumbria. This involves a police officer seeing the child and speaking to them to ensure they are safe and to ascertain the reasons behind the missing episode Officers should have an investigative mindset when trying to establish why the person has gone missing and any consider any links to exploitation. Conversations should include what measures can be put in place to prevent further missing episodes.  The information gathered from safe and well check is documented on the missing report (MISPER) and should include the voice of the child. It should be used to inform RHI. The information from the safe and well check will go directly to the child’s allocated social worker if the child is open to social care. If the child is not open to Children Services, the MISPER report is shared with business support who will arrange a return home interview. 

If a child is located in a different force area, then the Police in the area where the child is located will conduct the safe and well check. A copy of this can be requested by the lead professional.

Where there are identified Child Exploitation risks police will submit a safeguarding report to appropriate Safeguarding Hub for consideration.

The Return Home Interview is an in-depth interview and should be carried out by an independent professional (e.g. a social worker, teacher, health professional or police officer). Children sometimes need to build up trust with a person before they will discuss in depth the reasons why they went missing.

The police should make a referral to the children's social care services to ensure that a return review interview takes place. Contact should be made with the child and a Return Home Interview should be offered and provided within 72 hours of the child being located or returning from absence, preferably in a neutral place where they feel safe. Delays in return interviews may mean a loss of important information or evidence.

The interview and actions that follow from it should:

• Identify and deal with any harm the child has suffered – including harm that might not have already been disclosed as part of the 'Safe and Well check'– either before they ran away or whilst missing;
• Understand and try to address the reasons why the child went missing;
• Help the child feel 'safe' and understand that they have options, to prevent repeat instances of them going missing;
• Understand what the child would like to see happen next whether short term and/or long term;
• Gather the parents' or carers' views of the circumstances, if appropriate;
• Provide the child with information on how to stay safe if they go missing again, including helpline numbers.

It is especially important that the Return Home Interview takes place when a child:

• Has been reported missing on two or more occasions;
• Is frequently absent without parental agreement;
• Has been hurt or harmed while they have been missing;
• Is at known or suspected risk of sexual exploitation or trafficking;
• Is at known or suspected risk of involvement in criminal activity or drugs;
• Has contact with persons posing risk to children; and/or
• Has been engaged (or is believed to have engaged) in criminal activities during their absence.

Following the safe and well check and Return Home Interview, the local authority children's services, police and voluntary services should assess the child's needs and work together:

• To build up a comprehensive picture of why the child went missing;
• What happened while they were missing;
• Who they were missing with and where they were found; and
• What support they require upon returning home

Where children refuse to engage with the interview, parents should be offered the opportunity to provide any relevant information and intelligence they may be aware of. This should help to prevent further instances of the child running away and identify early the support needed for them.

Information about local help lines and agencies working with runaways should be provided to the child and family.

This section applies to children who are 'subject to restriction'. i.e. who have:

• Proceeded through immigration control without obtaining leave to enter; or
• Left the border control area Border Force accommodation without permission; or
• Been granted temporary admission; or
• Been granted temporary release or bail; or
• Released on a restriction order; or
• Served with a 'notice of liability to deport' or is the dependant of a foreign national offender whose status in the UK is under consideration by criminal casework – these dependants could be British Citizens or have extant leave.

The Home Office must make a missing person’s referral to the police, the UK Missing Person Bureau and the local authority children's social care in a number of circumstances including:

• When a child 'subject to restriction' is identified as having run away from their parents;
• Where they are looked after and have gone missing from their placement;
• Where they are being hidden by their parents and where there is concern for the child's safety because they are being hidden by, or have gone missing with, their family.

A copy of the missing persons notification form must be faxed or emailed to the children’s services duty desk and the UK MPB.

If the Home Office believes a child is being coerced to abscond or go missing, this must be reported as a concern that the child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm to the local police and children's social care services.

Notifications will also be made where a missing child is found by the Home Office. See Children who run away or go missing from home or care (GOV.UK).

The local authority and health are responsible for:

• Reporting any missing child who is in their care to the police;
• Notifying the Home Office when a child is reported missing to the police or is found.

The police are responsible for:

• Investigating all children reported missing by the Home Office - following receipt of a missing person's notification;
• Conducting joint investigations with the Home Office where necessary;
• Circulating a missing child on the Police National Computer (PNC).

The local authority will also notify the Home Office Evidence and Enquiry Unit when a child in their care goes missing or when a missing child returns or is found. The Home Office must maintain regular weekly contact with the local authority and the police until the child is found and record all contact with the police and local authority.

Found by Home Office

The local police and local authority must be informed immediately.

In consultation with the local police and local authority children's social care, a decision will be made as to where the child is to be taken, if they are not to be left at the address where they are encountered.  The Home Office must follow up enquires with the local police and children/adult services in order to identify if there are any safeguarding issues.

Found by the police or local authority

Contact the relevant Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Team