The Runaway and Missing From Home and Care Protocol 2019 to 2022
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The Runaway and Missing
From
Home and Care Protocol
2019 to 2022
V2 October 2019
Page | 1The Runaway and Missing from Home and Care Protocol (RMFHC)
Contents
4. Definitions Used in the RMFHC Protocol
5. Introduction
6. Role and Purpose of the RMFHC
8. Scope of the RMFHC Protocol
8. Aims and Objectives
9. Roles and Responsibilities
9. East Riding Safeguarding Children Partnership (ERSCP) - Missing Strategic and
Operational Groups
9. Children and Young People’s Support and Safeguarding Services (CYPSS)
10. Looked After Services
11. Prevent and Education Team (PET)
12. Social Worker/Lead Professional
13. P o l i c e
14. High Risk Cases
15. Safe and Well Checks
15. Responsibility of Parent/Carers
16. Foster Carer’s
16. Children’s Residential Home Staff Responsibilities
17. Independent Safeguarding and Reviewing Service
17. Health Services
17. Education
18. Emergency Duty Team (EHASH OUT OF HOURS)
18. Voluntary Sector
18. Commissioned Placements
18. Out of Area Placements
19. Advocacy Service
19. Media Coverage
19. Data Analysis
19. Vulnerable Groups
19. Care Leavers
20. Unborn Baby Missing Procedure
20. Child Sexual and Criminal Exploitation
20. Trafficked Children
21. Those at Risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
21. Forced Marriage and Honour Based Abuse
Page | 2Appendix A. Push Pull Factors
Appendix B. ERSCP Contextual Safeguarding Strategic Group ToR
Appendix C (1). ERSCP Contextual Safeguarding Operational Group ToR
Appendix C (2). ERSCP Missing Pre-Operational Group ToR
Appendix D. Child Looked After (CLA) Missing Action Plan
Appendix E. Notification of Missing Child form
Appendix F. Safeguarding Missing Alert for Child Protection cases Pro-forma
Appendix G. Social Worker Analysis of Return Interview form
Appendix H. Missing Person Independent Return Home Interview form
Appendix I. DUST – Young Person Drug Screening Process and Tool
Appendix J. RIT – CE (CSE/CCE) Risk Indicator Tool
Appendix K. Flow Chart Police
Appendix L. Partnership Information Form (PIF) – CSE/CCE/Missing
Appendix M. Flow Chart – East Riding of Yorkshire Council (Responsible Authority)
Appendix N. Flow Chart Missing Children Return Home Interview (RHI)
Appendix O. Incident Report Form
Appendix P. Missing Person Report for Children’s Homes
Appendix Q. Flow Chart for Children’s Homes – Missing Debrief
Appendix R. Flow Chart – Children’s Homes or Foster Placement
Appendix S. Flow Chart – Out of Area Placement (Host Authority)
Appendix T. Missing - Health Contact Details
Appendix U. Notification of Missing Child (48hrs) to Health and ERSCP
Appendix V. Update of Missing Child (48hrs) to Health and ERSCP
Appendix W. Abbreviations used in the RMFHC protocol
Page | 3Definitions Used in the RMFHC Protocol
The following definitions/terms below are used throughout this RMFHC
protocol:
Child: A child or young person who has not reached their 18th birthday. The protocol will
use young person to refer to older children who often do not see themselves as ‘children’.
Care leaver: An eligible, relevant or former relevant child as defined by the Children
Act 1989.
Young runaway: a child who has run away from their home or care placement, or
feels they have been forced or lured to leave.
Missing child/person: A nyo ne w ho se w he re abo ut s cannot b e
established and where the circumstances are out of character or the context
suggests the person may be subject of harm to themselves or another (as defined
by the Association of Chief Police Officer, ACPO 2013 guidance).
Child looked after: 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 1989.
Carer: For the purpose of this protocol, this term refers to both foster carers and
children’s home staff.
Responsible local authority: the local authority that is responsible for a looked after
child’s care and care planning.
Host local authority: the local authority in which a looked after child is placed when
placed out of the responsible local authority’s area.
Missing from care: a looked after child who is not at their placement or the place
they are expected to be (e.g. school) and their whereabouts is not known. This
should be reported to the police as missing and record of this should be made.
Absconder : A n ab sco nder i s a child or yo ung p er so n who i s unlawfully
at large.
Safe and Well Check: Safe and Well checks are carried out by the police as soon as
possible after a child, reported as missing, has been found. Their purpose 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.
Independent Return Home Interview: When a child is found, they must be
offered an Independent Return Home Interview. Independent Return Interviews
provide an opportunity to uncover information that could help to protect
children/young people from harm.
Page | 41. Introduction
1.1 It is a key duty of East Riding Safeguarding Children Partnership to safeguard and
promote the welfare of children and young people. This will be achieved by
working in partnership with professionals and agencies effectively. When a child
or young person runs away or goes missing from home or care, he/she is at risk. It
is the responsibility of East Riding of Yorkshire Council to protect children and young
people, whether they go missing from their family home or local authority care.
1.2 The exact figure of children and young people who run away or go missing each
year is unknown. The Children’s Society (2019) suggested an estimated national figure
of 100,000 children and young people. Locally, between April 2018 and March 2019
there were 1099 recorded instances of a child or young person running away or
going missing events involving a total of 265 children and young people.
1.3 The reasons a child or young person runs away or goes missing are variable. These
reasons are often referred to as push or pull factors (Appendix A). A child or young
person can be ‘pushed’ from something, including (but not limited to) abuse,
neglect, family conflict and bullying. Alternatively, a child or young person can be
‘pulled’ towards something, for example, those who wish to groom children or young
people for the purpose of sexual or criminal exploitation (see Appendix A). Whatever
the reason, a child or young person who is running away or goes missing is an
indicator that the child or young person is in danger.
1.4 East Riding Safeguarding Children Partnership (ERSCP) recognize that all children
and young people that run away or go missing from home or care are at risk. Those
children and young people who are looked after by the Local Authority are
particularly vulnerable. Research indicates that looked after children (CLA) are
not effectively safeguarded. The Joint All Party Parliamentary Group, (APPG)
Inquiry (2012) and the Office of Children’s Commissioner’s inquiry into Child Sexual
Exploitation in Gangs and Groups (2012) identified the following issues:
Children in residential care are at particular risk of going missing and
vulnerable to sexual exploitation; and
Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships have an important role to play in
monitoring and interrogating data in relation to children who go missing
1.5 Ofsted (2013) found that local authorities’ work in relation to children missing from
home and care raised a number of concerns:
Risk management plans for looked after children are not being developed or
implemented
Placement instability was a key factor for looked after children who go missing
Reports regarding looked after children going missing from their placement
were not routinely provided to senior managers in local authorities; and
Safe and Well checks and Independent Return Interviews were not taking place.
1.6 The guidance issued in January 2014 under Section 7 of the Local Social
Services Act 1970, requires local authorities in exercising their social services functions
to act under the general guidance of the Secretary of State. They must therefore,
comply with the guidance when exercising these functions, unless circumstances
indicate exceptional reasons that justify a variation. Recent research on children
who run away or go missing from home or care has been considered alongside
statutory guidance in order to develop an effective response for those children and
young people who go missing within the East Riding.
Outline of the Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) Protocol
Page | 51.7 The RMFHC protocol will address the following:
Purpose of the RMFHC Protocol
Scope of the protocol
Main aims & objectives
Specific roles and responsibilities for services working with
children/young people
Role and Purpose of the RMFHC Protocol
1.8 This RMFHC protocol has been developed in response to the revised statutory
guidance by the Department for Education (2014) statutory guidance on children
who run away or go missing from home or care. It supersedes the previous local
practice guidance ERSCP (2018) The Runaway and Missing from Home and Care
Protocol. The ERSCP multi – agency partners are collectively responsible for
reviewing the protocol to ensure it remains fit for purpose and relevant.
1.9 The RMFHC protocol should be implemented by all services working with
children/young people and read by individual practitioners and managers.
1.10 The overall purpose of the RMFHC is to guide and direct services response to ensure
that children/young people who go missing are safeguarded.
1.11 The RMFHC protocol needs to be read in conjunction with:
Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care
(2014)
www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-who-run-away-orgo-missing-from-
home-or-care
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)
www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-
children
The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 2 on care planning,
placement and case review (2015)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-act-1989-care-planning-
placement-and-case-review
The National Minimum Standards in Residential Children Homes and Fostering
Agencies (2011) and subsequent amendments www.minimumstandards.org/
The Missing Children and Adults strategy (2011)
www.gov.uk/government/publications/missing-children-and-adults-strategy
ACPO Interim Guidance on the Management, Recording and Investigation of Missing
Persons (2013) www.acpo.police.uk
Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation (2009)
www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-children-young-peoplefrom-
sexual-exploitation-supplementary-guidance
The Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation Action Plan (2011)
www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-child-sexual-exploitationaction-plan
Child sexual exploitation: Definition and a guide for practitioners, local leaders and
decision makers working to protect children from child sexual exploitation DoE 2017
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/fi
le/591903/CSEGuidanceCoreDocument13.02.2017.pdf
Page | 6East Riding of Yorkshire Council Local Authority Child Sexual Exploitation Procedures
and Practice Guidance
http://ERSCP.org.uk/professionals-andvolunteers/child-sexual-exploitation/
Children Missing Education (CME) Guidance & Procedure For Educational
Establishments & Other Agencies www.ERSCP.org.uk/professionals-and-
volunteers/missing-children/
Children's Homes Regulations 2001
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3967/contents/made
The Children’s Homes (Amendment) Regulations 2011
The Children’s Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous Amendments)
(England) Regulations 2013
Fostering Services Regulations 2002
Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005
The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011
Child sexual exploitation and children missing from home, care or education Ofsted
2016
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsted-inspections-child-
sexual-exploitation-and-missing-children
Making Connections – Understanding how local agencies can better keep missing
children safe; The Children’s Society (2017)
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/resources-and-
publications/making-connections-understanding-how-local-agencies-can-better
Child Exploitation Disruption Tool Kit Home Office 2019
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-exploitation-disruption-
toolkit
What to do if Your Child Goes Missing – Practical Advice for Parents and Carers;
The Children’s Society 2013
https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/resources-and-
publications/publications-library/what-do-if-your-child-goes-missing
1.12 When a child or young person is missing, legal provision can be found in
common law, international law and the provisions of the European
Conventions of Human Rights (ECHR). Some of the provisions of the ECHR are
given legal effect within the United Kingdom by virtue of the Human Rights Acts
1998.
Page | 72. Scope of the RMFHC Protocol
2.1 This protocol is intended to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and
young people who live at home within the boundaries of the East Riding of Yorkshire,
and those children and young people who are looked after by the Local Authority.
This includes those:
who remain at home and who are subject to a care order
who are voluntarily accommodated under section 20 of the Children Act 1989
Placed in Residential Children Homes (local authority or independent)
placed with East Riding of Yorkshire Council foster carers
placed with agency foster care placements commissioned by the East
Riding of Yorkshire Council
placed out of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council area in another local
authority area.
3 Aims and Objective
3.1 This protocol should be read as practice guidance with awareness that it
cannot anticipate every possible situation. All professionals who work with children
and young people in a professional capacity should draw upon their own knowledge
and experience alongside statutory guidance and legal requirements to inform
professional judgements and decision making.
3.2 The aim of this protocol is to support services to safeguard all children and young
people who run away or go missing. The reasons a child or young person runs
away can often be complex and varied and must not be viewed in isolation.
Practitioners need to assess missing episodes holistically and consider the child
or young person’s development needs, family and environmental factors and
parenting capacity. Professionals should ensure that each missing episode is
treated with proportionate attention and ensure that there is a coherent and
consistent response to the child and young person when they are found.
3.3 When a child or young person is missing, the joint aim is to prevent the child or
young person from suffering harm and to locate the child or young person as soon
as possible in order to safeguard their welfare. This requires a consistent multi-
agency approach that will involve information sharing, problem solving and at
times will require management oversight and leadership to ensure that the care
plan response is effective.
3.4 The Independent Return Home Interview (RHI) and Safe and Well Check should
be used to inform interventions and identify support. The views of the child/young
person should be listened to and taken seriously. In addition, the Local Authority
has an independent advocacy service that young people are able to access in order
to ensure their views are heard. Working Together - 2018 14.point 19 states
that "Anyone working with children should see and speak to the child; listen
to what they say; take their views seriously; and work with them and their
families collaboratively when deciding how to support their needs" Any
interventions with children/young people should consider the push and pull factors
(Appendix A) that could be having an impact on them going missing.
3.5 Despite effective joint working to minimize the likelihood of children/young people
going missing, some will continue to do so. In these circumstances it is expected that a
multi-agency strategy meeting will be convened to explore risk and vulnerability
concerns and plan an agreed appropriate contextual safeguarding response.
Page | 84 Roles and Responsibilities
4.1 The following section outlines the roles and responsibilities of professionals and
agencies that are necessary to safeguard and promote the welfare of children/
young people who go missing from home or care.
4.2 CYPSSS, Humberside Police, Education, Health and other services working with
children have responsibilities and functions to undertake in order to safeguard
missing children. This cannot be done in isolation and requires agencies to be
proactive and work together.
4.3 If a child or young person is believed to be missing and at risk, this should be
reported immediately to Humberside Police. The Police will send a notification to the
Early Help and Safeguarding Hub (EHaSH) contact number 01482 395500.
4.4 Whilst Humberside Police and CYPSSS undertake the lead roles, effective
safeguarding arrangements should be underpinned by an approach that
safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. A multi-agency approach based on a
clear un derstand in g of t he needs an d v iews of the ch ild/ youn g person
is requ ired (www.workingtogetheronline.co.uk).
4.5 Whilst professionals should be mindful of data protection legislation, it does not
prevent organizations sharing information to ensure a child/ young person is
safeguarded.
5 East Riding Safeguarding Children Partnership (ERSCP) - Contextual
Operational and Missing and Runaways Response Groups
5.1 The ERSCP fulfils its statutory role of giving due consideration to the
safeguarding risks and issues associated with children missing from home and care by
working effectively with partner agencies to prevent children going missing and to
act when they do go missing. This extends to ensuring that the RMFHC protocol is
both up to date and incorporates partner agency responsibilities.
5.2 The East Riding Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Service Manager
(Corporate Parenting) are responsible for managing the RMFHC protocol and
procedures. This responsibility is exercised through the ERSCP Contextual
Safeguarding Strategic and Operational Groups (see Terms of Reference in
Appendices B, C (1) and C (2)).
5.3 ERSCP will attend these quarterly Contextual Safeguarding meetings to discuss,
analyze and scrutinize local arrangements.
5.4 The Contextual Safeguarding Operational Group will analyze the quality of the
Return Home interviews and will make recommendations to strengthen both
interviews and service provision for children/young people. (Appendix C Terms of
Reference)
6 Children and Young People’s Support and Safeguarding
Services (CYPSSS)
6.1 Children and young people who run away or go missing from home are likely to be
in need and require support provided by the Local Authority or voluntary agencies.
Therefore all children and young people who run away or go missing will be
referred to CYPSSS. In addition to the RHI (Appendix H), to identify need, it may
be necessary to complete an Early Help Assessment (EHA form located on Tri-x)
by a professional currently working with the family, or the single assessment
(located on CCM) by a social worker or Youth and Family Support practitioner which
is based on the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families
CYPSSS will share information with partner agencies about patterns of missing
Page | 9episodes in relation to children and young people that go missing.
CYPSSS will use the Missing Register within CCM to record all cases of
missing.
The Prevention and Education Team (PET) will receive Missing and Found
notifications from EHaSH.
EHaSH will also forward the “Missing and Found” notifications from the Police
to the Lead Professional involved.
ERYC will use the Missing Register within CCM to record all cases of missing
or absent persons. The Missing Register is managed by the PET worker in
EHaSH.
7 Looked After Services
7.1 If a child or young person is being looked after by the Local Authority, it is the
responsibility of the child/young person’s social worker to complete the following
actions to promote and safeguard the child/young person.
7.2 When a child or young person first becomes looked after, it is the responsibility of
the social worker to liaise directly with the fostering duty service to ensure completion
of the child/young person “Missing Action Plan” (Appendix D). The social worker must
then provide the completed Missing Action Plan form to the child/young person’s
placement.
7.3 The social worker will update the child/young person’s Missing Action plan if they are
significant changes, for example, after another missing episode or a change in
placement.
7.4 The social worker will consider the child/young person’s wishes and feelings relating
to the placement planning. This approach should assist in reducing or eradicating
further missing episodes.
7.5 The social worker will work with the Children’s Participation and Rights Team to
ensure that Children Looked After are informed of their rights to an independent
advocate.
7.6 The instance a child/young person moves placement the social worker will:
Consider the risks identified in the analysis of the RHI and any
associated change in placement.
Discuss the level of risk with all relevant others involved in the
child/young person’s life example; Designated Nurse, Foster Carer’s and
Education.
Inform the child/young person what will happen if they go missing.
7.7 In the instance that a looked after child/young person runs away or goes
missing, social workers must take the following action:
Immediately refer to child/young Person Missing Action Plan (Appendix D).
Check that the Police have been notified.
Share any information with the Police that could assist in tracing the
child/young person.
Work in partnership with Humberside Police to continually reassess the level
of risk.
Take reasonable steps to locate the child/young person.
If the child or young person is not found, complete the Notification of
Page | 10Missing Child form (Appendix E).
Inform all those with parental responsibility as appropriate and provide
support to the family or carers.
Give consideration to holding a strategy meeting.
Inform all agencies involved with the child/young person.
Inform Legal Services if the child/young person is subject to court
proceedings.
Inform the Prevention and Education Team (PET) if the child/ young
person is a CLA and living outside of the East Riding.
Work in partnership with Humberside Police to continually reassess the level
of risk.
Keep the EHASH OUT OF HOURS informed of the ongoing status.
7.8 If a child or young person who is subject to a child protection plan goes
missing, the social worker must complete the Safeguarding Missing Alert for Child
Protection cases Pro-forma (Appendix F), email to the Child Protection in-box as
soon as practicable and inform the Children’s Independent and Safeguarding
Reviewing Officer (CISRO). The social worker must also maintain
communication with their Line Manager. If the child or young person continues to be
missing (over 24 hours) complete the Missing Child Update form (Appendix G).
7.9 Children subject to a full Care Order or an interim Care Order remain the
responsibility of the originating authority until the order is discharged or expires.
Children who are accommodated remain the responsibility of the originating
authority until s/he is discharged from accommodation or agreement is
reached, and confirmed in writing by the line manager, that the host authority will
accommodate child/ren.
7.10 It is important to consider that a child/young person placed out of area may attempt
to return to the original/placing area. It is therefore important that this is given
consideration and actions to mitigate the possibility of this should be incorporated in
to the child/young person’s care plan. It is essential that information is shared with
the Police and host Local Authority to ensure effective safeguarding.
7.11 The Children Act 1989 volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case Review
(England) 2015 outlines the responsibilities of Local Authorities to notify agencies,
including health, when transferring children and young people who are Looked After
across geographical boundaries.
7.12 The Children’s Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous Amendments)
(England) Regulations 2015 requires the registered person of a Children’s Home to
notify the Local Authority when a child is admitted to or discharged from their
children’s home and sets out the information that the notice must contain.
8 Prevention and Education Team (PET)
8.1 The Prevention and Education Team are responsible for conducting all Return Home
Interviews for East Riding children/young people who go missing. An Independent
Return Home interview (RHI) must be offered within 72 hours of a child being
located. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
8.2 When a child/young person returns from running away or going missing the PET
will complete the RHI form (Appendix H) and send to the Police and the inclusion
access team for indexing even if the child/young person declines a this RHI.
8.3 Once the allocated PET RHI worker receives a “Found” notification from the link
PET worker in EHaSH, the child/young person will be contacted directly to offer
them an RHI. This will provide an opportunity to uncover information that can
help to protect children from the risk of going missing again and from risks they
Page | 11may have been exposed to whilst missing or risk factors in the home.
8.4 The PET will inform the allocated social worker or lead professional that a RHI
has or has not been conducted by recording all actions and involvements on CCM
as case note.
8.5 Children/young people who are looked after by the Local Authority and placed out of
area will also be offered a RHI by PET.
8.6 For looked after children placed in the East Riding by another Local Authority, it is
the placing authorities responsibility to ensure that they have arrangements
in place to undertake RHI’s and meet their statutory duties. EHaSH will notify the
home Local Authority of the missing event.
8.7 The outcomes from the RHI will be recorded on the relevant form (Appendix H).
This information will also be recorded by the PET on the Children’s Case Management
(CCM) system as a case note and a copy of the form will be indexed by the
Inclusion Access Team.
8.8 In periods where it is expected that the 72 hours for the return visit maybe
exceeded (for example, weekends and bank holidays), another professional can be
identified to undertake the visit. Other than that, the PET must contact the
child/young person to arrange a visit at the earliest opportunity.
8.9 During the RHI the PET worker should explore whether drug or alcohol use has
occurred at any level during the missing period. Where identified the PET worker
must complete a drug screening tool (DUST) (Appendix I), which is then emailed to
the Youth and Family Support substance misuse inbox for consideration and further
guidance or support will be offered.
8.10 If there are indicators of child exploitation (CSE or CCE) then a Risk Indicator Tool
(RIT) (Appendix J) is required to be completed. If there is no allocated lead
professional for the child then the PET worker must complete the RIT and email to
the CE Response inbox CE.response@eastriding.gov.uk.
8.11 The PET will also offer support to parents and carers of children/young people who
are living at home.
8.12 Where a RHI indicates that the missing episode related to the child/young
person’s education, a copy of the form will be forwarded to the Education Welfare
Service to enable appropriate action to be taken.
8.13 Once the Safe and Well check and the RHI have been completed, the Local
Authority, Humberside Police, Health and voluntary services should work together
to build a comprehensive picture of the following:
The reasons why the child/young person went missing.
What happens when the child/young person goes missing?
Who was the child/young person with when they went missing?
Who were they with when found?
What support is required on return home or back to placement? The RHI process is
documented in Flowchart (Appendix M).
9 Social Worker/Lead Professional
9.1 The social worker or lead professional should discuss the missing episode with
the child/young person during their next visit and if the RHI was previously
declined they should try to engage the child/young person in a discussion about
the missing episode. The allocated social worker/lead professional will review and
consider the information contained within the RHI to inform their analysis of risk,
Page | 12vulnerability and impact. This will ensure their analysis reflects the identified risks
and informs the dynamic safety plan (Closing the loop). The Social Worker/lead
professional will then complete the following actions:
1. Complete the Social Work Analysis template (Appendix G) which should then
include their Team Managers comments.
2. Index this completed and management endorsed template (Appendix G) on
CCM linked to the relevant RHI.
3. Complete a case note using the heading Social Worker Analysis (Missing).
4. Update the missing action plan as appropriate. This should be recorded on
the RHI and indexed on CCM with a diary entry to that effect. The Social
Worker will then send the form to the Police.
9.3 If there are concerns that the child/young person is being exploited the
Social Worker or other lead professional will complete the Child Exploitation Risk
Indicator tool (RIT) (Appendix J) and email the completed RIT to the CE response
inbox CE.response@eastriding.gov.uk.
9.3 Where a child/young person is repeatedly going missing the Social Worker or other
lead professional will ensure that a plan is in place to ensure that measures
are in place to reduce or eradicate the likelihood of the child/young person
going missing again in the future. The Social Worker should notify the Independent
Reviewing Officer (CISRO) for the child if this is the case to see if a statutory CLA
review is required. The Social Worker will discuss the plan with the child/young
person and share this with all the services that support the child.
The RHI process is documented in Flowchart (Appendix M).
10 Police
10.1 All actions taken by Humberside Police will be in accordance with the current
Humberside Police Practice direction and national documentation regarding guidance
on the management, recording and Investigation of Missing Persons.
10.2 Statutory guidance explains that ‘safe and well checks’ should be carried out by the
police as soon as possible after the child has returned in order to:
check whether the child has suffered harm
find out where and with whom they have been
provide an opportunity to disclose any offending by, or against, them.
All Relevant documents are placed on the Humberside Police Force Intranet for
reference. Humberside Police will use the CONNECT missing person database to
record all cases of missing or absent persons.
10.3 Upon receiving a report of a child missing from home or care, the Police will carry
out enquiries (which are proportionate to the perceived risk) aimed at locating
the child as soon as possible. Each investigation will be tailored to the
particular circumstances of the disappearance. The Police should be provided with
a recent photograph of the missing child or young person as soon as possible.
10.4 Once identified as a missing person, all incidents will be recorded directly onto
the CONNECT missing Person Database. In some High Risk cases, an incident
log will be used in the initial stages, where the circumstances are fluid and
dynamic requiring swift Police response, and for officer safety.
10.5 Overall responsibility for leading and managing investigations into missing
p e o p l e n o r m a l l y l i e s w i t h t h e d u t y I n s p e c t o r f o r t h e E a s t R i d i n g (C
Division).There is a duty Inspector on duty 24 hours a day in the Division. They can
be contacted via the Police non-emergency number 101 or on 999 in case of
Page | 13emergency.
10.6 A risk assessment is carried out for each missing child or young person on every
separate occasion they are reported missing. This risk assessment may be conducted
by the Initial Investigating Officer and subsequently confirmed or revised by the duty
Inspector, and will form the basis for the subsequent investigation into the child’s
disappearance.
10.7 Missing incidents will be assessed as high or medium risk according to the
definitions below. Each case will be reviewed by a supervising officer and kept under
review at all times. The review determines the urgency and resource level of the
investigation.
10.8 A risk assessment will be completed for each reported missing incident. The Police
will give due regard to the child or young person’s age, vulnerability and
development factors, capacity or learning difficulties and the risk of sexual
exploitation.
11 High Risk Cases
11.1 High Risk cases will immediately be brought to the attention of the duty
Detective Inspector, and a member of the Basic Command Unit (BCU) Senior
Management Team or duty Senior Officer will be informed. The duty Inspector creates
an investigation strategy and considers the risk level. They consider the use of
specialist resources to assist the investigation. A Police Officer will be deployed to
commence the investigation.
11.2 Staff in the BCU will assist in the stages of the investigation such as computer
research and checks with hospitals and custody suites. The duty Inspector will be
kept up to date with enquiries completed as the investigation progresses.
11.3 The duty Inspector will consider a media strategy in liaison with the
Humberside Police Media Office and any partner agency. Where a missing child is
felt to be especially vulnerable or where they have been missing for a long time it
may be helpful to issue a media release. This would normally be done in consultation
with parents and the children’s social worker. However, for operational reasons,
primacy for such decisions lies with the police. The Police may also utilise the services
of http://www.missingpersons.org.uk/ and https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/missingkids
to publicise the fact that a child or young person is missing.
www.missingpeople.org.uk
11.4 The CONNECT Missing Person Database sends an automatic email referral to the
Local Authority.
11.5 The Police will ensure that every case involving a child going missing is sent to the
Early Help and Safeguarding Hub (EHaSH).
11.6 Humberside Police will maintain open and regular communication between them
and children’s services until a missing child is located.
11.7 It is the responsibility of the carer to contact the police and confirm that the missing
child has returned.
11.8 A child may be returned by Police to the place he / she went missing from. Giving
due regard to all the circumstances of the missing incident, the officer returning the
child should consider notifying the child’s social worker, EHaSH or EHASH OUT OF
HOURS at the earliest opportunity. If there are any identified safeguarding
concerns, Police should not return a child to the place he or she went missing from
without notification / consultation with the child’s social worker, EHaSH or EHASH OUT
OF HOURS. Safeguarding concerns will be dealt with via established referral
Page | 14methods.
11.9 If the whereabouts are known or suspected, it is the responsibility of the
parents or carers to arrange for the child’s return. In exceptional
circumstances, in the interests of the safe and speedy return of the child, the Police
may agree to requests from parents or carers to assist. The Police should not
unreasonably withhold assistance in cases involving local recovery and transport
requests for vulnerable children. Nor should they be regarded as the easiest available
option to provide transport. The Police ‘Safe and Well’ checks are outlined later in the
protocol.
11.10 CONNECT records may not be closed without physically conducting a Safe and Well
check, unless authorized by a Superintendent or above.
11.11 The Police will attend the quarterly Strategic Contextual Strategic and Operational
Group meetings including the Missing Pre-Operational Group meetings with the
relevant local authorities and other interested parties, to scrutinize data, and
establish patterns of children reported missing from home or care. This will help
highlight concerns for individual children or specific establishments. The strategic
lead officer from the police and the Local Authority will also meet to regularly review
missing processes and the operation and function of the groups.
11.12 Police will regularly review the relevant sections of this document and any
alterations will be endorsed by the Divisional Commander and notified as soon as
possible to the signatories to this protocol.
12 Safe and Well Checks
12.1 Once the child has been located, Humberside Police will carry out a Police Safe
and Well check. This will be conducted face to face and not over the telephone. The
purpose of this process 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. This will lead to the Police closing the missing person
report on CONNECT and the case being cancelled on the PNC. This is NOT a return
interview. The Police will notify the Local Authority of the return of the child
and any relevant information via automated systems.
See Flow chart at Appendix K
13 Responsibility of Parents/Carers
13.1 Children and young people who go missing must be reported to the police. It is
expected that parents or those with parental responsibility will undertake reasonable
steps to locate the child or young person prior to reporting them as ‘missing’.
Reasonable steps include searching bedrooms, accommodation and vehicles;
contacting known relatives and friends and, if possible, visiting locations that
the child or young person is known to frequent. However, where there are concerns
that the child or young person is at risk, the Police must be informed immediately.
13.2 Any person who provides care to a child or young person, but does not have parental
responsibility, should take all reasonable steps to locate the child or young person. In
this instance, the police must be informed immediately.
13.3 Anyone who has care of a child or young person without parental knowledge or
agreement should also do what is reasonable to safeguard and promote the child’s
welfare. In this instance, the Police, CYPSSS and the parents/carers should
be informed of the child or young person’s whereabouts.
13.4 In the above instances, parents and carer's may be offered support by the child
or young person’s social worker, other lead professional, Education Welfare
Page | 15Service or Youth and Family Support Service.
14 Foster Carer's
14.1 At the start of fostering approval, foster carer's are informed that in the
situation when a child or young person goes missing, it is the responsibility of foster
carer's to inform the child’s social worker and fostering social worker. If out of hours,
the foster carer should contact EHASH OUT OF HOURS.
14.2 The actions to be taken by foster carer's when a child or young person placed wit h
them g oe s mi ssi ng will dep e nd up o n t he child’s ag e and
circumstances. Foster carer's should take reasonable steps to identify the
whereabouts of the child or young person who has gone absent without
permission. If the whereabouts of the child is still unknown after taking this action,
the foster carer should contact Humberside Police.
14.3 Each missing episode should be recorded by the foster carer's on an ‘Incident Report
Form’ (see Appendix O); this is then submitted to the fostering social worker and
fostering manager before being forwarded to the children’s social worker. Where the
child or young person repeatedly goes missing, any response will need to be
made in consultation with all parties concerned.
14.4 If the child or young person is away from placement without authorisation, foster
carer's should seek the view of social workers in CYPSSS. Foster carer's are not
responsible for informing parents and schools; that is the responsibility of
Children’s Social Care professionals.
14.5 The competence and support needs of foster carer's in responding to missing from
care issues should be discussed as part of their appraisal, supervision
and annual review.
15 Children’s Residential Home Staff Responsibilities
15.1 Prior to reporting a child or young person missing, residential children’s home staff
on duty are required to complete reasonable checks to identify the whereabouts
of the child or young person deemed to be missing. After undertaking
reasonable checks to locate the child or young person, residential children’s
home staff must use the Missing Person Report (see Appendix P) as a tool to assess
the level of risk. The Missing Person Report requires consideration of various factors
including likelihood of self-harm, offending behavior, state of mind, bullying.
15.2 Where there are concerns, the child or young person must be reported
missing to the Police. If there are doubts whether to report the child missing,
the children’s home staff should consult the EHASH OUT OF HOURS or on-call Senior
Manager.
15.3 The Police are required to complete a thorough check of the home to ensure that
child or young person is not present in the home.
15.4 Where a child or young person is not reported missing to the Police, the
children’s home staff with EHASH OUT OF HOURS will re-evaluate the risk
assessment at least once per shift, or more frequently, depending upon the outcome
of the risk assessment and/or change in circumstances.
15.5 If the child’s whereabouts are known, but they refuse to return to the home,
the risk assessment will determine whether the child is in immediate danger and
whether the police should be informed.
15.6 Children’s home staff should ensure the child or young persons’ social worker
or EHASH OUT OF HOURS if appropriate and parents/those with parental
responsibility are informed when a child or young person is reported missing and when
Page | 16they are found.
15.7 When the child or young person is found, the children’s home staff should inform
the PET by email who will then contact the young person to offer an RHI. Following
the Interview, the PET worker should complete Section 6 Debriefs on the Missing
Person Report (Appendix P).
See Appendix Q for flowchart outlining this section.
15.8 The Children’s Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous Amendments)
(England) Regulations 2015 specify that the registered Manager has
responsibility for the monitoring and reporting of:
the number of children and young people who are absent without
permission,
measures taken by staff to prevent children from being absent from the
children’s home without permission,
the response to a child being absent without permission from the
children’s home.
15.9 It is also the statutory duty of the Registered Children’s Home Managers to
request an early CLA review if a young person is continually running away or going
missing.
15.10 The effectiveness of arrangements agreed between the children’s home, the local
police and the Local Authority for responding to missing persons’ incidents in
relation to children accommodated at the children’s home must c o m p l y w i t h t h e
Children’s Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous
Amendments) (England) Regulations 2015
16 Independent Safeguarding & Reviewing Service
16.1 Where a child or young person goes missing, the child/young person’s
Independent Safeguarding and Reviewing Officer (CISRO) may/can request
a statutory Looked after Child review. As part of this review, professionals
should develop the care plan to ensure that the risks of going missing are mitigated
against. Where a child/young person goes missing from a placement without
authorization the social worker must inform the CISRO.
17 Health Services
17.1 Health services providing care for residents in East Riding are expected to have
systematic and robust arrangements in place to identify children/young
people/unborn children missing from health services, so that suitable
provision can be made for them through the most appropriate agencies to ensure
that they are safeguarded and their welfare is being promoted.
CYPSSS services will notify health services / child protection leads as identified
in Appendix T when a child/young person has been missing for 48 hours. Social
worker or other lead professional will complete and send relevant notification
forms – Appendix U and V to identified health email addresses for distribution.
18 Education
18.1 Where it is identified by the Prevention and Education Team that the missing
episode is related to the child or young person’s education, the Education Welfare
Service will receive the Missing Child Return Home Interview form from the
Prevention and Education Team (see Appendix H) for information. Schools and other
education providers are required to refer to the Local Authority’s Children Missing
Education (CME) Guidance & Procedure for E d u c a t i o n a l E s t a b l i s h m e n t s
Page | 17& O t h e r A g e n c i e s a c c e s s e d a t www.ERSCP.co.uk
19 Emergency Duty Team (EHASH OUT OF HOURS)
19.1 During out of hours, where a child or young person is identified as missing the EHASH
OUT OF HOURS will undertake a risk assessment using information provided by the
referrer and those with parental responsibility. The EHASH OUT OF HOURS will
advise the parent / carer to report the young person to the police and report them
as missing. The EHASH OUT OF HOURS is also responsible for sharing information with
the Police if contacted as part of Police response.
19.2 On the next working day the EHASH OUT OF HOURS should share information with
CYPSSS. All information and actions should be recorded on the Local Authority’s
electronic recording system CCM. When a child or young person is found, a joint risk
assessment will determine who the most appropriate person is to collect the
child or young person and if it is appropriate for the child or young person to return
home or to their placement.
20 Voluntary Sector
20.1 Locally, Humber NHS Foundation Trust and Smile have the responsibility for the VCS
Safeguarding Pathway and as such will ensure this protocol is distributed to the
relevant voluntary agencies who may offer additional support to children, young
people and families. The services that provide this support should be
experienced in building trusting relationships with children and young people
provide, as well as other support such as family mediation and specialist support
to parents. Voluntary agencies will have a role in developing individual support
packages to meet the needs of children and young people who are going missing
and placing themselves at risk of significant harm.
21 Commissioned Placements
21.1 Details of expectations when a child/young person goes missing from a
particular placement are covered in the specific contract agreed with an
Agency foster care placement, residential unit or residential school.
21.2 This may involve contact with Local Authorities and will be guided by the
procedures set in place by the agency foster care placement, residential unit or
residential school.
21.3 Commissioned placements are responsible for notifying the Police and the Local
Authority if a child or young person in their placement runs away or goes missing.
22 Out of Area Placements
22.1 When a decision is made to place a child or young person looked after out of their
Local Authority area, the decision must be based on an assessment of need,
including the need to be effectively safeguarded. The social worker must ensure
that the child or young person has everything that they need. The social worker
should notify the host Local Authority of the placement and that they have access and
support to relevant services.
22.2 When a child or young person is placed outside of the East Riding, this
protocol should be followed in addition to the protocol used by the host authority.
It is essential for police and professionals to share information and communicate
effectively. Where a child or young person placed in a different authority area does
go missing, there should be an agreed notification process between responsible
and host Local Authorities.
Page | 18See Flowchart (Appendix S).
23 Advocacy Service
23.1 The Children’s Participation and Rights team provide an independent
advocacy service to, for example, children looked after, young people who have
an East Riding social worker, young people who have a disability and specific user
groups such as young carer's, children of families who foster and children who have
being adopted. Advocacy support may include issues related to placement, school,
contact arrangements and making a complaint.
23.2 Information and awareness raising regarding advocacy support is provided during
First Contact visits when young people are admitted into care, groups and CLA
review consultation visits. Other professionals should be made aware of this
service so that they can provide information about the advocacy support and offer to
contact the team on the child or young person’s behalf.
24 Media Coverage
24.1 A decision to contact the media will be made by the Police in consultation
with Children’s Social Care Services responsible for childcare (at Director
Level or above) and with prior warning to the child’s family. The Director will inform
the Chief Executive immediately. The Police have the ultimate responsibility for
the press release if there is a difference of opinion.
The Head of Service for Children and Young People’s Support and Safeguarding must
be informed after 48 hours of concerns raised. If a case presents as particular high
risk, the Head of Service for Children and Young People’s Support and Safeguarding
must be informed immediately.
25 Data Analysis
25.1 To analyze data, monitor outcomes and analyze patterns, regular reports will
be produced by the PET Technical Assistant, East Riding Safeguarding Children
Partnership and the Service Manager (Corporate Parenting). The quarterly
Contextual Safeguarding meetings are attended by the Local Authority, the
Police and relevant partners. These meetings provide a discussion forum to
review and identify patterns within the data. Those analyzing the data should pay
specific attention to the data related to children and young people looked after who
are placed out of area.
26 Vulnerable Groups
26.1 The following sections outline groups that should raise specific concerns
amongst professionals and agencies when a child or young person goes missing.
However, any child or young person that runs away or goes missing is vulnerable.
27 Care Leavers
27.1 Care leavers may go missing from their home or accommodation and face the same
risks as other missing children. The Local Authority must ensure that care leavers
live in “suitable accommodation” as defined in regulation 9(2) of the Care Leavers
(England) Regulations 2010, (amended 2015), (made under section 23B(10) of the
Children Act 1989). In particular, young people should feel safe in their accommodation
and the areas where it is located. The Local Authority 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 minimize this risk.
Page | 1928 Unborn Baby Missing Procedure
28.1 The form contained in Appendix F of this protocol should be completed when a child
or an expectant mother with her unborn baby goes missing who is the subject of an
East Riding Child Protection plan.
28.2 During office hours the social worker or partner agency should contact the ERSCP
to discuss the case on 01482 396999. Following on from this discussion, the form
will need to be completed as thoroughly as possible and as soon as is practicable and
emailed to the Child Protection in-box. If the notification is outside of normal office
hours this contact must be to the EHASH OUT OF HOURS, the form should be emailed
to EHASH OUT OF HOURS and also the child protection in-box for notification
purposes.
child.protection@eastriding.gov.uk.
childrens.socialcare@eastriding.gov.uk
28.3 National alerts will be sent out from ERSCP containing the form to all local
authorities in the United Kingdom, the Protecting Vulnerable People unit
(Humberside Police), East Riding EHASH OUT OF HOURS, and local hospital contacts
if their rough whereabouts are known. In the case of an unborn baby, maternity
units local to the identified area will also be notified (contact numbers for these will
have to be sourced as and when needed).
29 Child Sexual and Criminal Exploitation
29.1 Missing episodes can be evident when a child has been sexually and or criminally
exploited. Hidden from view of others, vulnerable girls and boys and young men
are being groomed and abused affecting their emotional well-being and often that of
their parents and carers. ERSCP is working to prevent child criminal and
sexual exploitation like all other forms of abuse.
29.2 As a partnership, we are working together to protect children. Child Exploitation
is complex and brings many challenges that cannot be dealt with quickly by a single
agency, which is why, in the East Riding, the multi-agency partnership responds
using a contextual safeguarding approach.
29.3 Within the East Riding there is a Targeted Youth & Family Support Service who
support and guide practitioners, young people and parents. The team works
closely with Humberside Police’s dedicated CSE trained police officers to share
intelligence, identify those young people who are at most risk or vulnerable to being
groomed and sexually exploited.
29.4 If you are a professional and concerned that a child/young person is at risk of or
experiencing criminal and or sexual exploitation you need to complete a
Criminal Exploitation (CE) Risk Indicator Tool. (Appendix J)
30 Trafficked Children
30.1 People may be trafficked for a variety of reasons, including sexual exploitation,
domestic servitude, sweatshop or catering work, begging or petty crime, agricultural
labour, benefit fraud, drug mules or decoys, illegal intercountry adoption etc. This trade
is often under the control of organized crime gangs. More than one million people
are smuggled annually and, consequently, the controllers of such crimes are
prepared to use extreme violence to ensure victims’ compliance. Careful
consideration should be given to any information gathered during the course of normal
enquiries which point towards involvement in trafficking.
Page | 2030.2 Young people at risk from having been trafficked present a high level of risk of going
missing following coercion and threats from traffickers.
Young people may be unable to provide information about ‘missing periods’ in
their lives due to fear of retribution to them or their family from their traffickers.
Anyone who believes that a person who is/was missing may have been trafficked
should make reference to ERSCP policies and procedures including ERSCP Brief
Guidance and Flowchart Criminal Exploitation, County Lines and Modern Day Slavery
http://www.erscb.org.uk/professionals-and-volunteers/modern-day-slavery-human-
trafficking/
31 Those at Risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
31.1 FGM is illegal under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003. This refers to
procedures that are medically unnecessary, painful both at the time it takes place
and after. Figures suggest over 20,000 girls under the age of 15 are at high risk of
FGM in England and Wales, this figure is likely to be an underestimate due to
the hidden nature of the abuse.
31.2 The age which girls are subject to FGM varies according to those
communities that practice it. However the majority of cases occur between the
ages of 5 to 8 years old. FGM is undertaken on girls in the UK as well as overseas.
Girls of school age who are subjected to FGM are often believed to be taken overseas
at the beginning of school holidays, particularly summer holidays, in order for
there to be sufficient time for recovery before returning to school. Anyone
who believes that a child/young person is missing and may have been or being
removed from the country for FGM should refer to the ERSCP policies and
procedures.
32 Forced Marriage and Honour Based Abuse
32.1 In forced marriages, one or both parties do not consent. Children/young people
are often threatened with violence, exclusion from the family and untold duress
applied that surmounts to emotional harm. There are over 200 cases of forced
marriage reported in the UK annually. It should be highlighted that forced
marriage is not a community or religious issue, and all major faiths including
Christian, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim faiths condemn its practice, as all hold freely
given consent as a prerequisite to any marriage.
32.2 Children/young people will go missing in an attempt to avoid force marriage/honour
based abuse. In some instances families will attempts to trace a child/young
person missing to ensure that they follow through with the marriage and to try and
keep ensure their silence. This can present the police and other agencies with a
number of difficulties, and careful management of the situation is required, particularly
when the person is located, highlighting the importance of the immediate risk
assessment on location of a person and on the Safe and Well Check. Officers are
reminded that where there is a forced marriage, there is also likely to be an offence
of rape.
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