At Handcrafted, we recognise that safeguarding young people is a crucial responsibility, and that responding appropriately when a child goes missing is vital to their protection and well-being.

This policy outlines the steps Handcrafted staff should take when a child or young person is identified as missing, including risk assessment, reporting, and liaising with authorities to ensure their swift and safe recovery.

This policy will be reviewed as required and at least annually by the group or individual responsible for review and authorised by the Trustees as below:

Group or individual responsible for review	The Safeguarding Steering Group
Last review and approval	16/10/2024

Definition

When a young person’s whereabouts cannot be established and where the circumstances are out of character, or the context suggests the person may be the subject of a crime or at risk of harm to themselves or another.

Risk Assessment

A young person missing would be prioritised as significant risk where the risk posed is immediate and there are substantial grounds for believing that the child/young person is in danger through their own vulnerability.

Vulnerability characteristics may include:

Children on a plan (e.g., Looked After or Child Protection Plan)
A disability and/or special educational needs
Substance misuse
Education health care plan

The risk posed is immediate and there are substantial grounds for believing that the public is in danger.

There are indications that the child/young person has already come to harm (CSE, grooming, radicalisation etc.).

Other contributory factors should be taken into consideration when determining if the young person is at significant risk, for example:

Have there been past concerns about this child and family which together with the sudden disappearance are worrying?
Is there any known history of drug or alcohol dependency within the family?
Is there any known history of domestic abuse?
Is there concern about the parent/carer's ability to protect the child from harm?
Is this very sudden and unexpected behaviour?
Have there been any past concerns about the child associating with significantly older young people or adults?
Was there any significant incident prior to the child’s unexplained absence?
Has the child been a victim of bullying?
Are there health reasons to believe that the child is at risk? (e.g., does the child need essential medication or health care?)
Was the child noted to be depressed prior to the child’s unexplained absence?
Are there religious or cultural reasons to believe that the child is at risk? (e.g., rites of passage, female genital mutilation or forced marriage planned for the child?)

Procedure

Once a young person is identified as missing by any staff member, the Designated Safeguarding Lead will be informed.

Staff will use professional judgement and risk assess the urgency of the situation to help inform the timeframe required in establishing the young person’s whereabouts before notifying the Police (and Emergency Duty Team for Looked After Children). Timeliness should be on a case-by-case basis.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead should, together with support workers, assess the young person's vulnerability.

Staff will try to locate the young person and try to establish the whereabouts of them.

Staff will visit the home and try to contact the young person via their mobile telephone.

Notifying the Police

The information required by the Police to assist in locating and returning the young person to a safe environment is as follows:

The young person’s name(s); date of birth; status (for example looked after child); responsible authority
Where and when they went missing
Previous missing episodes and where they went
Who, if anyone, they went missing with
What the child was wearing plus any belongings they had with them such as bags, phone etc.; include mobile number
Description and recent photo
Medical history, if relevant
Time and location last seen
Circumstances or events around going missing with relevant safeguarding information
Details of family, friends, and associates
Contact details of safeguarding lead if it was after school hours

Whilst the search is ongoing, the Handcrafted staff will continue to liaise with the Police and act in accordance with Police instructions.

Outcomes

Option 1: If the young person returns before the Police have arrived, then the Police must be informed. A Return to Home interview will be conducted with the Local Authority to assess the reasons why the young person went missing and provide support to minimise the risk. Risk assessment to be updated.

Option 2: If the child returns of their own volition, then the Police must be informed. A Return to Home interview will be conducted with the Local Authority to assess the reasons why the young person went missing and provide support to minimise the risk. Risk assessment to be updated.

Option 3: If the Police locate the child and bring them back, the Police will conduct the safe and well interview. A Return to Home interview will be conducted with the Local Authority to assess the reasons why the young person went missing and provide support to minimise the risk. Risk assessment to be updated.