At Handcrafted, we are dedicated to supporting our staff in line with our Christian ethos and values. We understand that life can present challenges, whether through illness or unforeseen circumstances. We aim to provide a supportive environment that ensures our charity's smooth operation.

This policy outlines how we respond to reports of missing persons connected to Handcrafted, ensuring a timely and effective response that prioritises safety and complies with applicable regulations.

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

Purpose and scope of policy

Handcrafted is a UK-based charitable organization dedicated to fostering social inclusion and providing support to vulnerable adults who are at risk of being or are already socially excluded. We help individuals who face unemployment, financial hardship, old age, disability, substance dependency issues, and those with limited education or skills or who are at risk of social exclusion to find their place and create a satisfying life for themselves, which we believe is the fundamental right of every individual.

Handcrafted is committed to safeguarding the well-being of its beneficiaries (trainees and residents) to whom it provides supported housing, the opportunity to engage in therapeutic activities and training in useful skills. We work with vulnerable adults and young people who are at increased risk of exploitation or harm if they are deemed to be missing. This policy outlines how we will respond to reports of missing persons connected to Handcrafted, ensuring a timely and effective response that prioritises safety and complies with applicable regulations.

This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and participants in Handcrafted programs and activities. It is designed to assist in locating individuals who are considered missing while under the purview of Handcrafted’s operations.

Definitions

Missing Person: Any individual reported as missing to Handcrafted who is involved in our operations or activities.

Risk Assessment: The process of determining the risk level associated with a missing person report.

Informant: The person reporting the missing individual.

Risk Assessment

Handcrafted workers may become aware that a person is missing through a variety of indicators and situations. Awareness could be raised in several ways:

Absence from scheduled activities
Concerns raised by colleagues or peers
Unexpected lack of communication
Unusual behaviour prior to disappearance
Alerts from family or friends
Social media posts or absence
Personal belongings left behind
Distress signals (notes, emails, or concerning behaviour)
Reports from authorities
Environmental indicators

Quick, responsive action may be crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of a missing individual. Upon receiving a report or becoming aware that a person may be missing, the following risk categories shall be used:

No Apparent Risk (Absent): No evidence of harm to the individual or the public
Low Risk: Minimal, but possible, risk of harm
Medium Risk: Likely, but not serious risk of harm
High Risk: Very likely risk of serious harm

Procedure

Initial Report

When a person is reported missing, the following information must be collected:

Full name and age
Physical and clothing description
Last known address and location missing from
Circumstances of disappearance
Contact details of the informant
Vehicle or transport details
Medical requirements and risks
Potential locations and individuals who might have contact with the missing person

Initial Assessment

Questions to determine the urgency of the situation:

Why is there concern for the missing person?
What are the out-of-character factors?
Previous missing incidents and patterns
Medical needs and potential victimisation factors
Risk of self-harm, suicide, or harm to others
Likelihood of travelling far or abroad
Other relevant information

Response Protocol

No Apparent Risk (Absent): Agree on actions with the informant and set a review time
Low Risk: Conduct proportionate inquiries; escalate if needed; inform local support team
Medium Risk: Implement active response; escalate to amber/red; inform support team
High Risk: Deploy immediate resources and involve senior management; escalate to red

All actions and concerns must be recorded on the person’s database record and the local support team must be informed.

Safeguarding and Multi-Agency Collaboration

Assess the need for a Safeguarding Adults Concern with the local authority
Share information with relevant mental health services if self-harm is a concern

Police and Legal Interface

Police powers of entry are limited; however, Handcrafted’s licence agreement allows staff to enter properties when welfare concerns arise.
In high-risk cases, liaise with law enforcement and provide information collected in the initial report.

Training

All Handcrafted staff will receive training on this policy and on recognising signs that may indicate an increased risk of someone going missing.

Review and Reporting

All missing person incidents will be documented. The policy will be reviewed annually or after any significant incident.

The Handcrafted Safeguarding Steering Group will review missing person incidents in monthly meetings and ensure any recommended improvements are implemented and added to this policy where necessary.

Responsibilities

Employees: Report concerns or incidents immediately to a designated officer
Designated Officer (Safeguarding Lead or Hub Manager): Activate the protocol and ensure compliance
Senior Management: Oversee and provide resources for high-risk situations

Contacts

For contact details of local authorities and Handcrafted designated Officers, see Section 3 of the Handcrafted Safeguarding Adults Policy.