Tri-borough Missing Children Protocol August 2014 28/07/15 15:20

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Tri-borough LSCB

Inter-agency Missing Children

Protocol

September 2014

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This protocol is published by the Tri-borough Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and is based on the following legislative guidance:

Children Act 1989 Section 49, 50, 51.

The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Vol 1, 4.88, 4.91.

The Children Act 2004 Section 10 (1) (2).

DoE Statutory Guidance on children who run away and go missing from home or care January 2014.

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013.

London Child Protection Procedures Children Missing from Care, Home and School 2013.

ACPO interim guidance on „Management, Recording and Investigation of Missing Persons’, 2013.

Safeguarding Children Who May Have Been Trafficked 2011. 1.1. Purpose of this protocol The purpose of this protocol is to assist practitioners across all agencies to develop a robust response to children and young people who go missing. This will include preventing the child suffering harm and recovering them to a place of safety as soon as possible. It is expected that all agencies working with children who are missing from home or care will implement this protocol and ensure their staff are aware of it. The operational guidance (Annex 2) provides further detail to ensure accurate data recording and information sharing which supports local working arrangements between the relevant agencies involved in developing this including:

Tri-borough Children‟s Services

Metropolitan Police

Education

Public Health. To assist the management of recording of missing and absent children the LSCB has agreed to adopt and implement the relevant London Child Protection Procedures templates for missing children. 1.2 Scope of the protocol and protocol This protocol covers children and young people under the age of 18 (up to 25 for children with disabilities/SEN and Care Leavers) including:

Children who are missing from care (including residential care homes).

Children who are missing from home. This protocol does not cover children missing from Education but is informed by good practice guidance on this specific area. The guidance in this document should not be read in isolation. Additional guidance as outlined in Section 1 should be followed alongside this document and is particularly significant when working with missing children who are at risk of:

Child Sexual Exploitation.

Domestic Violence.

Self Harm.

Involvement in criminal activity or drugs.

Children with disabilities.

1. Introduction and Legislative Framework

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1.3 Tri-borough Principals Children who are missing from home may be at greater risk of harm as a consequence of their basic need for food, safety and shelter and/or from the people with whom they may come into contact with. Risks can include physical harm, sexual exploitation, drug abuse and involvement in a range of other criminal activities. Additional vulnerability due to their age, level of understanding or the significance and seriousness of the circumstances that led to the missing episode may also be present. Tri-borough Children‟s Services have undertaken a number of positive steps to review policy and practice on Missing Children. This includes a short-life working group led by the LSCB to review sovereign protocols and practice and incorporate organisational learning from the 2012 Ofsted Missing Children Thematic Inspection which has informed our key principals to ensure:

Effective use of performance data, return interviews and advocacy services to better understand the needs of children who go missing.

Improved risk assessment procedures to provide a better co-ordinated response to cases of missing children.

Strengthening of partnership working to ensure consistent and robust information sharing and pooling of resources to provide support to children at risk .and their families.

Alignment of practice and recording data.

Improving our strategic approach to addressing the needs of missing children.

Strengthened strategic planning and preventative work to inform practice and reduce the number of missing children.

The following principals should be adopted by all agencies in relation to identifying and locating missing children

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The safety and welfare of the child is paramount.

Locating and returning the child to safe environment.

Child Protection Procedures will be initiated whenever there are concerns that a child is missing, has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm.

Notification to the Police will ONLY take place following a Risk Assessment and in clearly defined circumstances set out in this guidance.

The Police will act on any report of a child missing on the understanding that a Risk Assessment has been completed.

Every „missing‟ child who returns will be interviewed by someone other than the direct carer.

Where the child is known to Children‟s Services or meets the criteria for referral to Children‟s Services the Local Authority will ensure that there are a range of service options to address the child‟s needs when they return.

1.4 Strategic Leads There are two leads for Missing Children based within the Local Authority and Police respectively who are responsible for specifically identifying vulnerable absent and missing persons and to “co-ordinate” a response in order to reduce long-term risk. Both roles will identify and share best practice in relations to all missing persons investigations.

1LSCB Child Protection Procedures 2013

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Key functions of the Local Authority Missing Person’s Co-ordinator:

Tracking return visits for LAC and Missing from home.

Offering alternative to allocated worker for return visits if felt to be productive.

To track data across Tri Borough and identify performance or data issues.

Offering advice and joint work on cases with high risks.

To alert senior managers of cases identified as high risk.

Attending selected network or strategy meetings.

To be part of a regular multi-agency forum including Police and Health partners where frequently missing young people are considered.

To work with Workforce development to develop training for staff in recording systems.

Provide advice and support to carers, which will assist them to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child including information on appropriate community resources including health, education and financial benefits.

To ensure that the voices and views of children and young people are sought, heard and represented appropriately and evidenced throughout the work.

To ensure that following assessment, that children and young people are visited within statutory timescales and that support plans are continuously reviewed as part of these monitoring arrangements. This will include developing and implementing appropriate support plans.

Key functions of the Police Missing Person’s Co-ordinator:

Identify vulnerable individuals who go missing or absent on more than one occasion, and who may be vulnerable or victims of crime whilst they are missing, via ABS MERLIN reports.

Collate and disseminate intelligence on identified problematic persons or locations.

Monitor incidents of missing and absent persons, to identify individuals in need of protective measures and link in with appropriate specialist departments, e.g. Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) teams are required.

Identify CSE Trends within ABS and MISPER reports and ensure CRIS‟ are updated and in existence by linking in with borough CSE investigator. Identify those cases where multi-agency intervention is required to tackle the problem of repeat absences.

Make any safeguarding referrals as required, to social services and other agencies.

Assist in the development and delivery of training packages in relations to missing/absent persons within the children/vulnerable adult care systems.

Develop thorough knowledge of legislation, regulations and procedures that relate to the safeguarding of vulnerable persons, both children and adults across the social care/mental health systems.

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There are a range of definitions used across agencies for the purposes of referrals, risk assessment and recording data. This protocol refers to the Tri-borough definitions which have been developed in agreement with partners. Additional details of definitions used in the various agencies can be found in Annex 1. 2.1 Tri-borough Definitions Missing

The whereabouts of the child / young person 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.

Any child aged 12 or below whose whereabouts cannot be established would automatically be

classed as missing.

Any child that is at risk of CSE whose whereabouts cannot be established should be classed

as missing although there should be sufficient risk indicators to support the belief that the child

is at risk.

Absent

Child /young person (Aged 13 or over only) is not at a place where they are expected or

required to be (whereabouts unknown). Following risk assessment the absence does not

raise concern for their immediate safety or that of anyone else.

Where a subject has been reported as absent and new information comes to light or if the

subject has not made contact (within a maximum timescale of 24 hours) the case can be re-

categorised as „missing‟.

Unauthorised Absence

Whereabouts are known but the child or young person is not where they are expected or

required to be. A child cannot be categorised as missing if their whereabouts are known.

Report to Police only if there is sufficient safeguarding concern for the child/young person, or

another, which may require Police intervention.

2. Definitions

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3.1 Pre-risk assessment Research shows that LAC are over-represented in the cohort who go missing

2. Prior to each

placement, Children‟s Services staff (including placing Social Workers, Residential Workers and Foster Carers) should assess the risk of the child going missing outlined in the Social Care Pre-Incident Risk Assessment. Where the risk assessment indicates a high risk of a child going missing, practitioners/foster carers should prepare and maintain an updated “Grab Pack” also referred to as the Looked After Child Information Sharing Form which should be shared with the Police if the child goes missing. The Grab Pack should include a common set of information:

Personal details of the child (including description)

Known addresses and history

Known associates and addresses frequented

Up-to-date photo of child

Any known contact numbers/email

Behaviour details

Other useful information e.g. medical, physiological

Details of previous missing episodes if known and where found. Good practice would also suggest that this common set of information would be maintained for regular absconders who are not Looked After. Notification of missing children can be received from a number of agencies and the agreed framework (Annex 4) outlines the response from each agency, ensuring information is shared between agencies and the appropriate action is taken to assess and respond to the level of risk within the legislative timeframes. Additional guidance on multi-agency responses can be found in the Operational Summary Guidance (Annex 2).

For children missing from home the Police is the lead authority.

For children missing from care the Local Authority is the lead authority.

2 LSCB Child Protection Procedures 2013

3. Children at risk – Prevention & Planning

4. Responding to a child missing from Home or Care

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4.1 Response from Parents/Carers Children may go missing from home or care for a number of reasons. Parents/carers are expected to undertake a number of actions to try and locate a child who is missing before reporting them to the Police as long as it is safe to do so:

Fully search the accommodation and surrounding area/vehicles.

Search the home for any important leads e.g. mobile phones, diaries, letters, notes explaining absence, email and website activity etc), which may inform the investigation and/or assist in protecting or recovering the child.

Spoken with other children in the family or who live in the home to obtain relevant information about the missing child.

Made all appropriate enquiries regards the whereabouts of the child. This will involve trying to contact the child themselves, friends, family, associates, appropriate locations, local hospitals and the local police custody office.

For children missing from home, it is expected that the parent/carer will inform the Police without delay. When referring to the Police any relevant information that might help to find or support the child should be shared, including:

Description of the child including their clothing.

Details of where the child was last seen and with whom.

Recent photograph.

Relevant addresses, known associates and addresses frequented.

Previous history of absenteeism and circumstances of where found.

Circumstances under which the child is absent.

Any factors that increase the risk to the child. For Looked After Children it is expected that Children‟s Services are contacted in the first instance where a Risk Assessment will be carried out. 4.2 Response from the Police The police classification of a person as ‘absent’ and ‘missing’ are based on continuous monitoring and risk assessment. See ACPO guidance for further information on how these definitions are applied to missing children. All cases classified as „missing‟ by the Police will receive an active Police response – such as deployment of officers to locate a child. Cases where the child is classified as „absent‟ will be recorded by the Police and risk assessed regularly but no active response will be deployed. Absent cases will be resolved when a young person returns or new information comes to light suggesting he/she is at risk where the case will be reclassified to „missing‟.

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When receiving a missing person report in relation to a Looked After Child, the Police will tailor their response to the circumstances and the risk assessment. Police risk assess reports of missing children as follows: High Risk: where the risk posed is immediate and there are substantial grounds for

believing that the child is in danger through their own vulnerability; because they may have been a victim of serious crime; or because the public is in danger.

Medium Risk: where the risk posed is likely to place the child in danger or they are a threat to

themselves or others. The Association of Chief Police Officer Missing Persons Guidance 2013 states that missing incidents relating to any person under 18 years should NOT be classified as low risk. 4.3 Response from Multi-Agency Assessment Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

Any new cases will receive a MASH safeguarding risk assessment.

All open cases which MASH have become aware via an electronic notification (MISPER) will have an initial Police PPD triage in order to provide Police research to aid Police colleagues in the location/protection of the missing child.

MASH information product should be used to inform risk analysis during a missing episode and on return home.

4.4. Response from the Local Authority There is a statutory requirement for each Local Authority is required to record all LAC missing episodes of 24 hours. If the child‟s whereabouts are known or suspected, parent/carers/residential staff in conjunction with the Social Worker should decide whether to allow the child to temporarily remain in that location, or to arrange for their return. These children should NOT be classified as missing nor reported to the Police. The responsibility for returning these children remains with Children Services, but the Police can assist with this return if there is reason to believe there will be criminal or public order issues. The facility to refer missing episodes to MASH for additional safeguarding checks will be available in each borough. The Missing Child Risk Assessment Record should be completed immediately on every occasion a child is ‘missing’. This is aimed as an aid to action and inform information sharing and recording. The local authority should provide sufficient information to the Police to enable all risk factors be considered. The Grab Pack should be completed. Consideration should be given to the timeframes outlined for young people in both the unauthorised and missing categories. The initial completion and updating of the Risk Assessment should be used to inform review the level of escalation. This may include input from other practitioners/agencies currently involved in supporting the child such as the Social Worker, CAMHS, Education Welfare or the school.

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The plan should outline any individual vulnerability and risk factors that could increase the chances of the child going missing as well as information to help manage any missing episodes and finding the child. All care plans and risk assessments should be regularly reviewed, updated and recorded to include the following information:

The degree and nature of risk and vulnerability if the child goes missing.

The views of the child and those with parental responsibility on action to be taken if the child goes missing.

The level of supervision/support that care staff will provide for the child. How parents/carers will be informed if their child goes missing.

Consideration of any external influences that may result in a child‟s removal without consent.

The likelihood of the child being harboured, any previous episodes, locations frequented by the child and trigger Incidents.

Agreed interventions.

Placement stability – their feelings about the separation from their families, carers or friends or about the placement they are in, or the restrictions placed on them.

Going missing as a coping strategy when difficulties arise.

Influences both within and outside the placement.

A desire to return to their families/carers or spend time with their friends.

4.4.1 Specific consideration for Looked After Children (LAC) and Children subject to a

Child Protection Plan

Children who have a Child Protection Plan or who are subject to a Section 47 enquiry will require additional action including:

Informing the Local Authority Head of Safeguarding or equivalent and the local Public Health Designated Nurse.

Ensuring that a Strategy Meeting is arranged on the first available working day. In any event a strategy meeting should be arranged within 7 days if the child is still missing. Dependant on the level of assessed risk, it may be necessary to convene an immediate strategy meeting following the notification of a missing child.

Representatives from the relevant agencies should attend the strategy meeting as well as other practitioners involved with the child.

Children‟s Services should also implement the London Notification of Missing Children/Person Procedure (Appendix 7).

Where is it deemed appropriate, the child‟s parents/carers should be informed of the missing episode.

The Director of Children‟s Services should also receive notification of all children who are missing for more than 72 hours.

4.4.2 The importance of Strategy Meetings for LAC and CiN Whilst the majority of children who go missing return within reasonable timescales and do not go missing regularly, there are a minority of children for whom their episodes of going missing cause great concern for those practitioners working with them. This may be because they have gone missing for an extended period, they have gone missing on a number of occasions or there are particular risks associated with their periods missing from home (e.g. risk of sexual exploitation; criminal activities; substance use; self harm, etc).

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Where there are cases of repeated missing episodes, consideration must be given to the reasons for this and what action is appropriate to ensure the child is safeguarded in a model of early intervention and prevention. Good practice would suggest that multi-agency Strategy Meetings are booked until there is confidence that the issue has been resolved. These meetings should be at a minimum of six weekly or more frequently depending on the level of presenting risk. Strategy discussions should also consider:

The need to initiate a missing child health alert which will notify all local health providers of the missing child and any particular vulnerabilities. This will be particularly important if the child/young person has identified health needs such as a mental health condition, substance misuse or underlying health conditions. The Named Professionals within all NHS provider organisations can initiate these alerts.

Agreements on communication between agencies and with the parents / carers; action required and agreed to locate the child; updates to the Risk Assessment; and agreements in relation to a Media Strategy.

Where a LAC has been missing for 72 hours or more on 3 or more occasions, the Child‟s Placement Action Plan should be updated to include information on how practitioners should support the child/young person and ensure they are safeguarded. This will be convened by Children‟s Services, chaired by the child‟s Independent Reviewing Officer or Child Protection Coordinator where possible (and by a Team Manager or equivalent), with all relevant agencies invited. The child‟s parents/carer should be informed of all action (if deemed appropriate) and be regularly updated, as well as the Director of Children‟s Services, the Lead Member and the appropriate divisional Chief Inspector. If the child has been missing for over 28 days the borough Commander or their representative should meet with senior managers from relevant agencies to review the plan to locate the child.

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4.5 Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)

There are many additional factors to consider when UASC children are reported missing and further practice guidance should be sought to ensure there is a coordinated approach to full information sharing. Close co-operation with UK Immigration and the Police will be important. The assessment of need to inform the care plan may be critical in these circumstances and an assessment should seek to establish:

Relevant details about the child‟s background before they came to the UK.

An understanding of the reasons that the child came to the UK.

An analysis of the child‟s vulnerability to remaining under the influence of traffickers.

A risk assessment as to the likelihood of the UASC going missing.

Consider putting the young person in a safe place.

The appropriateness of information being divulged as to the whereabouts of the young person.

When UASC are reported missing, they will retain their status of Looked After unless one or more of the criteria are met.

They return to a birth parent/someone with parental responsibility.

They are located in another country.

The case is taken over by another local authority.

They are age assessed as being over 18yrs.

The Home Office should be informed the child/young person‟s missing status and will hold a

current photograph and finger print record.

When concerns of significant harm are identified i.e. in cases of possible trafficking or sexual exploitation, a strategy meeting should be held which should consider what preventative measures can be put in place to safeguard the child/ young person. Other relevant agencies should be contacted including the ECAT Project which is supported by RBKC and WCC. Children Looked After reviews should be held as required by statutory guidance until the young person is deemed to be no longer Looked After.

No UASC under 16yrs who go missing should have their Looked after status removed.

For young people aged 16 and 17yrs who go missing a LAC review chaired by their Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) should be held to determine whether they remain looked after or whether it is appropriate to have their legal status changed to former Relevant.

If a young person has not been found by their 18th birthday then a formal Missing children meeting should be held to determine whether the case should be closed.

The missing children meeting should incorporate information from the Police, Home Office and other agencies were appropriate. The case should only be closed if there are no ongoing concerns about the vulnerability of the young person being expressed.

Any decision to close the case should be on the proviso that it is reopened if the young person is located and found to be in need of services as an eligible, relevant or former relevant child.

Additional practice guidance on safeguarding UASC can be found in Safeguarding Children who may have been trafficked 2011.

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4.6 Children placed outside the Local Authority Where a child who is missing from one Local Authority area presents themselves in another Local Authority area it is important for the two authorities to negotiate to ensure the safe return of the child. If any child protection concerns have arisen whilst the child was missing, the responsibility for making Section 47 enquiries is with the Local Authority where the alleged abuse took place, but this should be done in liaison with the placing Local Authority If a child from within the Tri-borough is placed in another Local Authority, the Missing from Care Protocol for the relevant authority should be followed with agreement and regular communication with the Social Worker responsible for the child. If a child from another Local Authority is placed within the Tri-borough, this practice guidance and protocol should be implemented in agreement with the child‟s Social Worker and with regular communication with them. The placing authority and the placement provider should therefore liaise regularly and take all reasonable and practical steps to establish the whereabouts of the child. This will include contacting any persons whom he/she is likely to be associating with and arranging for those places to be checked. If the location of the child is known or suspected, the placing authority and placement provider must liaise to agree responsibility for locating and returning the child. However, if there are thought to be specific issues of safety or public order difficulties in returning the child, then action should be agreed between the Police and Children‟s Services.

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5.1 Response from the Police Once a child has returned home, the Police will carry out a Safe and Well Check as soon as possible (See ACPO Guidance for further details). The aim of this is to check for any indications that the young person has suffered harm; establish the reasons for their disappearance; find out where and with whom they have been; and to give them an opportunity to disclose any offending by, or against, them. Even where a young person is going missing frequently, there is a requirement to undertake the Safe and Well Check and every effort should be made to visit those young people missing from home on every occasion. If during the Safe and Well Check the police identify that there are immediate safeguarding concerns, then a referral should be made to Children‟s Services. In addition, if a private fostering arrangement is in place, this will also need to be reported to Children‟s Services. When the Police locate a child who is reported as missing from home they will normally return the child to the parent/carer. When the Police locate a child who is reported missing from care they will normally return the child to the placement and undertake a Safe and Well Check. However, there may be occasions when it is appropriate or necessary for agencies and the family to discuss who will be responsible for returning the child. If there are specific and identified issues of safety or public order associated with returning that child then a coordinated approach to recover the child should be agreed with the Police. In some instances it may be inappropriate to return a child to their home or placement and in such cases Police will liaise with Children‟s Services or the relevant Emergency Duty Team (out of hours) for an evaluation of their safety. Where there is reasonable cause to believe that a child could suffer significant harm, particularly if returned home, the Police can take that child into Police Protection and remove them to suitable accommodation which could include the home from which the child originally went missing (Section 46 of the Children Act 1989). However, the Police are not given the power to use force to take a child into Police Protection but „reasonable force‟ may be used to prevent a child suffering significant harm. For full information on safeguarding concerns, refer to the London Children Protection Procedures. For young people aged 16 and 17 who present as homeless the Local Authority should complete a child in need assessment. Where the assessment indicates they are a child in need and require accommodation under Section 20 of Children Act 1989, they will become looked after. When a Looked After Child goes missing frequently from a care setting, it may not be practicable for the Police to see them and conduct a Safe and Well Check every time they return. In these cases, a reasonable decision should be taken with regard to the frequency of Safe and Well Checks by the Police, and when such checks can be undertaken by the person responsible for the young person‟s welfare within the care setting. However, caution should be taken if there is any suggestion that the young person is running away from something occurring within their care setting.

5. Planning for the child’s return

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5.2 Response from the Local Authority For Looked After Children, Children Services will be responsible for recovering the child and returning them to their home or placement, unless the child is located by Police. In some instances it may be inappropriate to return a child to their home or placement and in such cases the Police will contact Children Social Care or the Emergency Duty Team (out of hours) for an evaluation of their safety. When another professional/associate has located the child, Children‟s Services will be responsible for making arrangements for their return to the Children‟s Home/Foster placement. Where possible, residential staff/foster carers will transport the child themselves, however where this is not practical, arrangements will be agreed between the residential staff/foster carer and the social worker/EDT. There may be occasions where it is appropriate for the Police to assist. This will be subject to discussion and agreement on a case by case basis.

5.2.1 Independent return interviews On return the child should be offered an independent return interview carried out by a representative deemed most suitable for the child. For Looked After Children, the person undertaking the Return Interview should be independent of the line management of the residential establishment or the foster home. This should allow the child to talk openly about why they went missing, where they were and any risks they experienced. This information should be gathered with a non-judgemental supportive approach and should be used to inform the current assessment/intervention (see Appendix 5). The return interview should be carried out no later than 72 hours of the child‟s return. Where possible, the child should be seen separately as well as with their parent/carer and consent should be sought to share information with other services where appropriate. All efforts should be made to carry out the return Interview, however if this has not been possible due to the lack of response or engagement by the child/family, then this should be recorded appropriately. Additional information should be sought from the child‟s parents, to help prevent further missing episodes. If other services, such as Youth Offending Team/Service, CAMHS, school are involved they should be informed of the relevant information from the missing incident and from the Return Interview. The Return Interview should make an assessment about the level of intervention required to safeguard the child, as follows: No additional needs: where no additional vulnerability factors exist and the missing

episode was the first or second event. The parent/young person will be provided with any useful information and signposted to support agencies.

Additional Needs identified that are currently being met by other services: the case worker will ask for consent to contact others currently involved to share any relevant information.

Additional Needs identified and no services in place to meet these: support needs to be identified and consent to share information. Where consent is refused, a referral to Children‟s Services should be made, or individual agencies continue to support the child / family.

Safeguarding concerns identified: if immediate safeguarding concerns are identified the child should be referred to Children‟s Services or if an open case, the appropriate safeguarding action to be taken.

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Missing Person’s Bureau This bureau sits within the National Crime Agency and is a national and international point of contact for all missing psersons. The bureau acts as a hub information exchange and hosts a national database of missing and unidentified records. Missing People Missing People is a registered charity and was formerly known as the National Missing Persons Helpline. They provide support and advice for families via a national 24 hour free phone helpline 0500 700 700 for people who are missing someone. Missing Kids The UK Missing Kids Website is at http://uk.missingkids.com and helps the police to find missing and abducted children. The website enables the police to transmit photographs and information about a missing child to other forces around the UK and abroad.

Stop the Traffik

A global charity which aims to build resilient communities and prevent human trafficking.

ECAT Project The ECAT project is funded by the European Commission and is delivered in partnership by the Metropolitan Police Anti-Trafficking Unit, Rehab, Stop the Traffik, Borgorete, Caritas Lithuania and is supported by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, City of Westminster, the London Mayor‟s Office for Policing and Crime and the Institution of the Ombudsperson for Children in Lithuania

8. Supporting Agencies

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Lead Persons for Missing Children James Thomas Operational Director of Family Services Westminster Tel: 02076411620 Email: jthomas1@westminster.gov.uk Local Authority Missing Person’s Co-ordinator Claire Lyons Tel: 02076415706 Email: clyons@westminster.gov.uk Police Missing Person’s Co-ordinator DC Steve Swarsbrick Email: Steven.swarsbrick@met.pnn.police.uk Multi-Agency Assessment Safeguarding Hub Manager Sarah Moran Tel: 02076415428 Email: smoran1@westminster.gov.uk Emergency Duty & Assessment Teams Hammersmith & Fulham & Westminster: David Cronin Tel: 02076416000 Email: dcronin@westminster.gov.uk Kensington & Chelsea: Jedd McAndrew Tel: 0207 361 2473 Email: Jed.McAndrew@rbkc.gov.uk Tri-borough Designated LAC Nurses: Kensington & Chelsea: Samantha Bouamar Tel: 020 7598 4943 Email Samantha.Bouamar@rbkc.gov.uk Lin Graham-Ray Tel: 020 8753 5265 Email: Lin.Graham-Ray@lbhf.gov.uk Westminster: Christine Nicholls Tel: 0207 641 7639 / 0207 266 8781 Email: mnichol2@westminster.gov.uk

9. Tri-borough Key Contacts

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Annex 1 ACPO Definitions

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Missing: 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. Absent: any person when they are not at a place where they are expected or required to be.

2.3 DfE Definitions4:

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: a child reported as missing to the police by their family or carers. Child: anyone who has not reached their 18

th birthday.

Looked After Child (LAC): 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. Care Leaver: an eligible, relevant or former relevant child as defined by the Children Act 1989.

Annex 2 Missing Child Summary Guidance Annex 4 Missing from Home and Care – Tri-borough Practice Workflow

3 ACPO Guidance on the management, recording and Investigation of Missing Persons (2013)

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

10. Appendices

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Annex 3: Safeguarding Missing Children Appendices

Tri-borough Social Care Pre Incident Risk assessment

Where there is a likelihood that a child in care may go missing from their established placement, their placement plan, completed by their social worker, should include an assessment of the likelihood that the child might go missing and the risk they may face as a consequence. All information should be included in the placement plan and in the child‟s care plan. This assessment of likelihood to run away should include information on the following:

Factor impacting on the likelihood of a child going missing

Details and Explanation

Likelihood of child going missing

Child‟s view on current placement/ stability of their relationships at home

Level of supervision/support that care staff propose to provide for the child

The degree of risk to the child if they do go missing – (using the Social Care Missing Person Risk Assessment Record) and their vulnerability if they run away

The views of parents/carers on their child‟s needs and the action that needs to be taken if their child is absent

Consideration of any external influences which may result in a child‟s removal without consent (See also Safeguarding Trafficked and Exploited Children, LCPC 2006)

Likelihood of child being harboured

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Tri-borough Missing Child Risk Assessment Record

Name of Child Missing ___________________________Date______________________

Address from which missing ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Factor Details – level of vulnerability and risks

10 years old or under

11 to 14 years of age

15 up to 18 years of age

Has a Child Protection Plan

Legal status

Needs essential medication or treatment

May not have the physical ability to interact safely with others or in an unknown environment

Lacks reasonable awareness of the risks associated with running away

Known to associate with adults or children who present a risk of harm

Victim or potential victim, of forced marriage or trafficking, incl. for sexual exploitation

Mental health issues (including risk of harm to themselves or others)

Drugs and/or alcohol issues

Suspicion of abduction

Suspected suicide or self harm

Involved in violent and/or racial incident or confrontation immediately prior to disappearance

State of mind at time of going missing

Extreme weather conditions where exposure would seriously increase risk to health

Family/relationship problems or recent history of family

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conflict/abuse

Employment problems

Financial problems

School or college problems

Ongoing victim of bullying, harassment, or exploitation e.g. racial, sexual etc.

Previously disappeared and suffered or was exposed to harm while missing

Attempts to make contact with the child or young person and attempts to contact family and friends

Other factors to consider: The time of day or night

(*LBHF)

Physical/Learning difficulties

Any agreement reached regarding staying out beyond the usual time

Where child is believed to be

Group behaviour

Any other particular circumstances at the time of incident

Any guidance in Child‟s /YP‟s Child in need/CP or Care Plan (for LAC child)

Summary of Risk

Please record details of Immediate Action taken in the Record of Absent Missing Child/Young Person and upload this Risk Assessment as part of the Record. Name of worker/role completing risk assessment: ____________________________________ Date completed: ____________________________________

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This Risk Assessment is an aid to action and for information sharing and recording.

Aid to action: As an action tool the purpose of the Risk Assessment is to inform single and multi-agency agency decision-making and planning to locate a „missing‟ child. The Risk Assessment provides an indication of:

• The urgency of inquiries

• Areas of inquiry e.g. where drugs are available or that certain adults frequent, country of origin or country children are trafficked on to etc

• Type of specialist knowledge that might be needed

• The supervision that may be required

• Agencies who may be first alerted e.g. local Accident & Emergency services

Aid for information sharing and recording: At the time that a child goes „missing‟ the completed Risk Assessment should be shared with all agencies working with the child and kept on the child‟s file in each agency. In cases where new information becomes available and/or the child remains absent for a protracted period, the risks should be re-assessed, shared with the agencies and kept on the child‟s file in each agency. The most recently completed Risk Assessment should remain on the child‟s file in all agencies working with the child.

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Tri-borough Grab Pack for Looked After Child/Young Person who may go Missing This information should be verified at the beginning of any new placement and updated with as much information as possible. Do not leave any Section Blank and ensure this information is available when reporting an absent or missing child to the Police along with any further information arising from risk assessment.

Recent Photograph to be provided to carer These should be updated as and when necessary, and at least annually.

(Attach Here)

Child‟s full name

Also Known As

D.O.B

Gender

Ethnicity

Languages spoken

Mothers Address

Fathers Address

Other Significant Address 1

Other Significant Address 2

Other Significant Address 3

Other Significant Address 4.

Known acquaintances

Child/Young Person mobile number or other modes of contact (i.e. email, Facebook)

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Physical appearance (eye colour, hair, glasses, facial hair, piercing, clothing)

Distinguishing marks

Height & build

Medical conditions & medication required

Any Physical or Learning Disabilities?

Any Mental Health Issues?

Statement of Special Educational Needs?

School/College/Employment

Details of any court order

Name and address of GP

Name and address of Dentist

Any previous history of absconding and where they were found

Any circumstances which might increase the risk to the child

When was the child last seen, in what circumstances and by whom?

What was the last method of contact with the child? I.e. Facebook, WhatsApp, BBM, text

Name, team and phone number of social worker

Completed by: Date completed:

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London CPP Appendix 7 London Notification of Children with Child Protection Plans

and Vulnerable Persons going Missing

This note clarifies the London arrangements, in line with the London Child Protection Procedures, LCPC, 2006*, for notification of missing children and vulnerable persons. * Sections 9.7.3 & 4 and 9.7.20 * 21 (See reverse of this sheet for extracts) The arrangements address four areas:

Communication medium & arrangements

Contact person & address

Format of notifications

Removal of notifications 1. Communication medium & arrangements 1.1 Notification of missing children and persons should be made via email5. 1.2 Every London Children‟s Services has a missing children/persons email address, which

reads: missing@boroughname.gov.uk 2. Contact person & address 2.2 The London Child Protection Co-ordinators maintain an up-to-date list of their contact

names and details (formerly the list of the custodians of the child protection register). The list can be accessed at: www.londoncpc.gov.uk

3. Format of notifications 3.1 All notifications of missing children/persons will be recorded and transmitted on the form

attached as Appendix 1. 3.2 Originating authorities who want confirmation that the notification has arrived should set

their email system to alert them when mail is read. 4. Removal of notifications 4.1 The details of missing children/persons should be removed from the list by the receiving

authority after six months. 4.2 To assist with 4.1, administrators can use the missing children/persons email inbox to check

when the notification was received. 4.3 If a child/person is still missing after six months then the notifying authority should re-notify

other agencies/authorities this process 1 - 4.

See over page

5 Although the email system is not totally secure, the professional judgement of the London Child Protection Co-

ordinators is that in this context the need to share information quickly to protect children and vulnerable persons

outweighs the need to protect sensitive data.

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The London Child Protection Procedures (LCPC 2003) sections 9.7.3/4 and 9.7.20/1

Circumstances for Implementing Procedure 9.7.3 These procedures apply if a child likely to suffer significant harm goes missing or

cannot be traced. Some examples would be:

A child who is the subject of a child protection referral or s.47 enquiry

A child subject to a child protection plan who goes missing or is removed from her/his address outside the terms of the child protection plan

A looked after child who leaves or is removed from placement, without this being part of the care plan

Any child who goes missing in suspicious circumstances or about whom there are concerns – e.g. one who is subject to initial / core assessment where there are developing concerns about their safety or where there is reason to believe that the child may have fled abuse or be at acute risk of abuse or exploitation whilst away from home

9.7.4 These procedures also apply to adults whose whereabouts become unknown in the following circumstances:

A pregnant woman when there are concerns about the welfare of the child following birth

A family where there are concerns about the welfare of the child because of the presence of a person with previous convictions for an offence against children (Schedule 1 offender, Children and Young Persons Act 1933) or other person suspected of previously harming a child

A family which gores missing in response to child protection enquiries being made or about to be made

Follow up Children’s Services Action

9.7.20 If the strategy meeting agreed that the details of the child or family are to be circulated to other local authorities, the key worker should draft a short letter giving details of:

The children in the family

Other family members or significant adults

The circumstances causing concern

Action required if a child is found

Details of contact arrangements for the key worker / social worker – including out of office contact

Where possible physical descriptions of the key people and photographs, if available

9.7.21 The letter should be sent to the child protection manager for distribution to her/his peers nationally, who in turn should circulate within the council and local agencies.

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Annex 5: Reference to DfE Guidelines

Tri-borough reference to DfE Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) Protocol

Responding to Missing Children Tri-borough Reference

Details of the lead person in local authority, police and other agencies responsible for children missing from home or care.

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 1.4

An agreed inter-agency framework for assessing and classifying the degree of risk when a child goes missing from home or care or when a missing child comes to agency notice.

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 4.0

Guidance on what responses different agencies will offer in relation to each degree of risk.

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 4.0

An agreed list of measures to ensure that police ‘missing’ and ‘absent’ definitions are applied to children with due consideration given to their age, vulnerability and developmental factors. Missing Children Protocol - Sec 4.4

Details of what assessments will be carried out following missing and absent episodes, particularly assessments under S17 and S47 of the Children Act 1989 and how this information should be shared. Missing Children Protocol - Sec 4.0

Responses for groups facing specific risks of going missing, such as children with learning difficulties who may have little understanding of their actions or the risks to them, or to previously trafficked children who may be at risk of returning to exploitation . Missing Children Protocol - Sec 4.5

Which agencies will support the family while the child is missing and after they return?

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 4.4.2

Details of how safe and well checks are conducted.

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 5.1

Arrangements for independent return interviews, agencies which can provide them and how they will be offered to young runaways.

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 5.2.1

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Additional arrangements relating to Looked After Children Tri-borough Reference

The actions residential or foster carers should take to locate the child before they are reported as missing (such as trying to contact the child by phone or contacting known friends).

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 4.1/4.4

Appropriate responses to children going missing or away from placement without authorisation, including an assessment of risk, the actions and arrangements for making reports to the police when looked after children go missing.

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 4.4/4.4.1

Agreed local authority reporting and recording systems on children missing and away from placement without authorisation, including children placed in other local authority areas.

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 4.6

Details of any agencies providing independent advocacy services to looked after children. Need to include this list

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 5.2.1/8.0

To monitor outcomes and analyse patterns including of children placed in the area by other local authorities.

Missing Children Protocol – Sec 1.4

Intelligence and Prevention Tri-borough Reference

Arrangements for information sharing between the local authority, the police and other agencies. Missing Children Protocol - Sec 1.4

Arrangements for information sharing between different local authorities when a child runs away to another area.

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 1.4/4.6

Details of data to be analysed on a regular basis, arrangements and frequency for data monitoring by LSCB and partners.

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 1.4

Agreed safeguards for runaways and missing children to identify those at risk of significant harm, particularly looking at the length of the missing episode, frequency of running away, risk factors, family history of the child.

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 1.4

Details of preventative approaches to avoid further instances of running away, including the provision of alternative accommodation when appropriate.

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 1.4

Details of work with children, including both those in care and those not in care, so that they understand the risks associated with running away and the support that is available to them

Missing Children Protocol - Sec 1.4

Date Policy Issued: 9th September 2014 Date for review: August 2015