3.2 Looked After Children missing from Home and Care

AMENDMENT

The Appendix 4: Contact Details have been updated (November 2011).

1.	Introduction
2.	Definitions
3.	Principles
4.	What to do if a Child or Young Person goes missing from Home
5.	What to do if a Child or Young Person goes missing from Care
6.	What to do if you believe a Child or Young Person is at risk of running away
7.	Needs Analysis
	Appendix 1: Flowcharts
		Flowchart 1: Children/Young People who go missing from Home
		Flowchart 2: Return Interviews
		Flowchart 3: Children/Young People who go missing from Care
	Appendix 2: Risk Assessment Tool
	Appendix 3: Information sharing Protocol for Return Interviews
	Appendix 4: Contact Details
	Appendix 5: Resources

1. Introduction

1.1	Children and young people who go missing from home or care are vulnerable, often unhappy and at risk of harm. Running away can be symptomatic of wider problems in a child or young person's life.
1.2	Addressing the needs of children and young people who go missing requires a multi-agency response both in addressing the needs of those who have run away and in early identification and prevention.
1.3	Those children and young people who run away from home require the same level of 'joined up' approach as those who go missing from care where there are already clear guidance and procedures. This protocol applies to both groups.
1.4	In July 2009 the Government published statutory guidance on Children Missing from Home or Care. This replaced the previous guidance published in 2002. Bexley LSCB is committed to ensuring that the inter-agency response in the Borough is compliant with this guidance and this protocol should read in conjunction with the statutory guidance (see the Department for Education website).
1.5	The Interim protocol introduced in July 2009 has now been reviewed and replaced with this version. The protocol applies to all agencies and organisations working with children and young people across Bexley and has been agreed by all the LSCB partner agencies.

2. Definitions

2.1	The terms 'young runaways' and 'missing' refer to children and young people up to the age of 18 who have runaway from their home or care placement or who have been forced to leave and whose whereabouts are unknown. It does not include those young people who test boundaries by staying out later than agreed which should be considered as 'unauthorised absences'. This includes young people who have not returned home but whose whereabouts are known or thought to be known. The boundaries can often become blurred and such young people may come under 2.2 below.
2.2	In terms of early identification and prevention of running away this includes those young people who regularly move from their family home to stay at friend's homes or anywhere they can find a space in a disorganised way. These young people often lead disorganised lives with no adult providing appropriate care and supervision. They are often referred to as 'sofa surfers'. This group of young people may be involved in anti-social behaviour and/or petty crime.
2.3	Children and young people who go missing often find it difficult to access universal services such as education and may come into the category of children not receiving a suitable education including those who have been excluded from school. They may be children of compulsory school age who are not on a school roll and not accessing education otherwise. The involvement of the Behaviour and Attendance Service is essential.
2.4	Children and young people who go missing or at risk of going missing may also be involved in other risky behaviours such as excessive alcohol use, substance misuse and/or are at risk of grooming or being sexually exploited.
2.5	Children and young people run away for many reasons but it can signal that a crisis point has been reached. It is vital that services are able to engage with them and to offer the appropriate level of support to prevent repeat running.
2.6	The factors involved in running away can include 'push/pull' factors. Children and young people may be pushed away because of family disharmony, abuse, bullying or mental health problems as examples or they may be pulled away by wanting to be near friends, the promise of excitement or because they have been enticed away by others who want to exploit them often through grooming behaviours.
2.7	Looked After Children often run because they want to be closer to their roots in terms of family and community ties particularly for those who are placed out of their home area/borough. Pressures in a placement or school can also be a contributory factor.

3. Principles

3.1	A child-centred approach should always be adopted and the wishes and feeling of the child or young person sought and taken into consideration. However it should always be remembered children and young people do not always acknowledge the risks associated to a particular situation or behaviour or they may not feel comfortable talking honestly about the problems they face.
3.2	Wherever possible professionals should involve parents in the work undertaken with young people and provide support to them to enable them to support and safeguard their children more effectively. However there may also be rare occasions when compulsory intervention in family life will be necessary.
3.3	Through the Children's Trust and the LSCB all partner agencies are 'signed up' to the Bexley Children and Young People's Services Information Sharing Policy. An additional information sharing protocol specifically addressing the issues of children who go missing has been agreed between the Police Public Protection Group and the Integrated Youth Service and is attached in Appendix 3: Information sharing Protocol for Return Interviews. It is understood across agencies that if there are concerns about a child or young person's safety or well-being it may be necessary to share information with other agencies. The safety and welfare of the child or young person should be the first consideration in such information sharing.

4. What to do if a Child or Young Person goes missing from Home

(In the following sections the term young person is used to cover both child and young person).

4.1	A flow chart outlining the processes can be found in Appendix 1: Flowcharts.
4.2	If a young person goes missing and it is considered that they are at risk of significant harm then the London Child Protection Procedures section 5.27 should be followed.
4.3	Any young person who goes missing must be reported to the Police by the person with parental responsibility for that young person. The Police are the lead agency for investigating and locating the young person. Any missing person report to the Police will also be passed to the Public Protection Desk as a PAC (Pre-assessment Check). This will be assessed and processed before being sent to the Children Social Care Child Care Unit (CCU). (Please note that the process for the management of all police notifications in respect of a child are currently under review and all professionals should follow the arrangements that arise from this review once they have been agreed - September 2010).
4.4	The information from the Police will be screened by the Duty Senior Social Worker. If the circumstances around the missing person report indicate that the young person meets the criteria for an assessment by Children Social Care this will be taken as a referral and an Initial Assessment undertaken once the young person is located. At each stage of the process risk factors must be analysed (see Appendix 2: Risk Assessment Tool). Risk indicators could include one or more of the following: The age of the young person; A previous history of Child Protection concerns; Repeat pattern of running away over a short period of time; It has been identified that a young person has been harmed or been involved in significant risk taking behaviours; Alcohol or substance misuse; Young person has a disability or learning disability; History of mental health issues involving CAMHS; Significant parental vulnerability such as mental illness, learning disabilities or alcohol/substance misuse. The process for young people who do not meet the criteria for Children Social Care should be signposted to the appropriate service for consideration for undertaking a Common Assessment (process for this is currently under review and an addendum will be added once review is completed). A Common Assessment should be undertaken with both the young person's and their parent/carer's consent.
4.5	If a young person is not found within 5 days or the young person has particular vulnerability or is vulnerable due to age the police should consult with Children's Social Care and consideration be given to convening a strategy meeting involving the Borough Police. The strategy meeting will share information held within the young person’s network and devise an action plan to seek the whereabouts of the young person or address the risks associated with absconding. Consideration will be given to circulating information to other local authorities, use of media and other agencies in the area in which the young person is thought to have gone. The Risk Assessment Tool in Appendix 2: Risk Assessment Tool should be applied by all agencies involved.
4.6	Once a young person is located the Police will notify the parent who will be provided with information on where they can access advice and support. A 'Safe and Well' Interview will be undertaken by the Police. If it is identified that they are a victim of a crime a forensic medical may be arranged. However if there are concerns about the young person's physical health, sexual activity or drug use this should be noted on the updated PAC/Misper form and sent to Children Social Care. Arrangements should be made to offer the young person a medical. If there are urgent medical needs this should be through the A&E dept . Non urgent cases should be referred to the young person’s GP. If the young person is unwilling or is not registered with a GP contact the school nurse (Appendix 4: Contact Details). The medical should consider emergency contraception if required.
4.7	If the young person identifies significant issues in respect of their safety or well-being in this interview the young person should be referred to the Children Social Care or if it is out of hours the Out of Hours Service. If the child is not able to return home arrangements should be made as set out in 4.16. A young person should not be left in police cells because they are unable to return home.
4.8	If the young person is located in another local authority it is important that the authority where the young person is found works with Bexley agencies as the authority where the child normally resides to ensure they get access to the help and support services they need. In relation to child protection concerns the London Child Protection Procedures and Working Together 2010 apply.
4.9	The misper report will then be updated by the Police following the 'Safe and Well' interview with the information from this interview and resent to the CCU (under review) to ensure that the CF21 is updated to show the child has returned. It will also allow for a further screening process to take place in terms of risk for the young person and whether they require an Initial Assessment. The CCU will arrange for a referral to the Youth Engagement Service (YES) for a Return Interview (see 4.12) to be made.
4.10	If the threshold for Initial Assessment is not met and this is likely to be the majority of cases YES will consider if the young person has additional needs that require a Common Assessment at the Return Interview which constitutes a Pre-CAF. If the young person does not take up the offer of a return interview this will be noted on CF21, a repeat pattern may indicate the need to consider a referral to Children Social Care.
4.11	If a young person has committed an offence whilst missing the Police will refer to YOT in order that it can be managed within the procedures for managing young offenders.
4.12	Return Interviews should be offered to all young people who go missing. If they are frequent 'runners' a return interview after every incident may not be appropriate but these children should have a multi-agency plan in place. The Return Interview will be undertaken by someone from the Youth Engagement Service (YES). A flow chart for the referral process is included in Appendix 1: Flowcharts. The interview should take place within 72 hours of the young person being located or returning from absence. The interview should be offered to repeat runners as well as those running for the first time. It is particularly important if one or more of the following applies: Missing for more than 24 hours; Missing on 2 or more occasions; Has engaged (believed to have engaged) in criminal activity during absence; Hurt or harmed (or believed to have been) during absence; Has known mental health issues; Known to be at risk of sexual exploitation; Has contact with persons posing risk to children; Has additional vulnerability because of young age. It gives the young person the opportunity to talk about what is happening for them and is a key safeguarding tool. Risk factors must be considered (see Appendix 2: Risk Assessment Tool). The interview and agreed action should include: Identify and deal with any harm the young person has suffered (any need for medical assistance should be assessed, see below); Understand and try to address the reasons why the child ran away; Try to avoid it happening again; Whether a Common Assessment should be undertaken and information should be gathered and shared with other agencies with the consent of the young person.
4.13	The Return Interview (pre-CAF) may trigger, with the consent of the young person, and depending on the level of need, a Common Assessment and the identification of a Lead Professional who would co-ordinate a 'Team Around the Child' approach to identify appropriate support for the young person with the aim of reducing the risk of future episodes of running. Consideration should be given to including a range of non statutory support services (see Appendix 5: Resources).
4.14	If the return Interview identifies a risk of significant harm the young person must be referred to Children Social Care immediately under sec 47 Children Act 1989.
4.15	If the young person refuses a Return Interview consideration should be given as to whether there is a risk of significant harm indicated in which case they should be referred to Children Social Care. If this is not the case consideration could be given to how community based services such as Neighbourhood Services or local youth services may be able to engage with them.
4.16	If it is considered that it may be unsafe for the young person to return home immediate consideration should be given to where else they may be able to stay i.e. with relatives or with friends with parental consent and a referral back to Children Social Care should be made if they are no longer involved. If there are no suitable arrangements the young person should be offered Accommodation under sec 20 Children Act 1989 by CSC, parents should consent to any such arrangement. If parents do not consent, there is no alternative arrangement and it is believed the young person is at risk of significant harm Care Proceedings may have to be considered.
4.17	The health needs of young people who go missing need to be considered seriously as they are likely to be significantly neglected by the young person themselves. They may have physical, sexual or mental health issues. They may not be able/willing to access services through their GP. They can access sexual health services through Bexley Youth Advice if they are aged between 13-19 years. Consideration should be given to referring the young person with their consent to the relevant school nurse (Appendix 4: Contact Details) who can undertake a health assessment for them. The school nurse should be invited to and attend all Common Assessments involving school age young people.
4.18	The educational and training needs of young people who go missing must also be addressed. There may be a history of exclusions, poor attendance or they may be not in education, employment or training (NEET). They should be offered services through the Behaviour and Attendance Service, Early Intervention Teams, Connexions or other relevant services (see Appendix 5: Resources). If they are in school or accessing any such service the school and service must be invited to and attend any Common Assessment meeting.
4.19	16 and 17 year olds are not necessarily any less at risk if they run away or go missing and should be able to access support as appropriate to their needs. The right of the young person to make their own choices in terms of how and where they live must be taken into account but so should their vulnerability and the support they may need to make a successful transition into adulthood. They should be referred to the Youth Engagement Service for a Return Interview and follow up services. If the young person is homeless the usual processes should be followed and a referral to the Bexley Youth Advice (BYA) service be made when a referral to the Family Mediation Service will be considered.

5. What to do if a Child or Young Person goes missing from Care

5.1	A flow chart of the processes to be followed in included in Appendix 1: Flowcharts.
5.2	Children's Social Care operates a policy of providing services which safeguard children and reduce the likelihood of them wanting to run away. All Bexley looked after young people will be provided with information about the missing from care helpline and message home helpline. They will advise them of this service by the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS), and they will be advised of it at the first review by the Independent Reviewing Officer who will be chairing the review.
5.3	The likelihood of absconding should be discussed at the placement agreement meeting, which should involve the child or young person, with preventative plans put in place with a risk matrix form completed by the social worker and placed on the case file.
5.4	If the young person does not return to a placement and it is considered to be an unauthorised absences as defined in section 2 of this protocol the placement should inform the social worker however a referral to the Police should only be made when it is considered that the young person is missing. Any unauthorised absence notified to the police will be investigated as a missing person.
5.5	In the event of a young person not returning to his/her placement and it is not considered to be an unauthorised absence the Police must be informed and the Safeguarding Children Service must be notified by the child/young person’s social worker within 24 hours or earlier depending on the age or vulnerability of the child.
5.6	If the young person has not been located or is repeatedly absconding, the social worker should ensure the Safeguarding Children Service are kept informed. The Safeguarding Children Service will convene a strategy meeting within 5 working days or sooner, from the young person going missing, this will involve Borough Police.
5.7	The strategy meeting will share information held within the young person’s network and devised an action plan to seek the whereabouts of the child/young person or address the risks associated with absconding. Consideration will be given to circulate information to other local authorities, use of media and other agencies in the area in which the young person are thought to have gone.
5.8	When a child is found, the social worker should inform the young person's parent(s) and agencies involved. The Safeguarding Children Service, in consultation with the social worker, will convene a strategy discussion within the working day, where practical this will include all previously involved agencies. In most cases this will be chaired by a manager in the Child Care Unit but if there are exceptional circumstances, which would benefit from an independent chair, the Safeguarding Children’s Service should be approached to chair it. The strategy meeting will consider: Immediate safety issues; Whether to instigate a s.47 enquiry and agree if a single or joint agency enquiry is necessary: under Working Together; Who needs to be informed of the child’s return (locally and nationally); Debriefing/return interviews by the Police and the Looked After Children Rights Officer; If the child is no longer looked-after consider whether the child should be re-accommodated; Consideration should be given to the young person's physical health, sexual activity or drug use and a medical will be offered if there are concerns. This medical should be arranged in line with the procedure for a Child Protection medical and the young person should attend A&E where they will be seen by a Paediatrician. The medical should consider emergency contraception if required.
5.9	The child or young person should be given the opportunity to meet with a worker from the NYAS, who will contact the child or young person within 3 working days from receiving a notification/referral. The purpose of the return interview is to: Give the child a chance to talk about why they ran away; Assess the risk and future risk; Provide advice and support.
5.10	The young person should also be offered a health assessment from the LAC Health Advisor and a referral to the Sexual Health Advisor considered.
5.11	Any young person placed in Bexley by another authority who has returned from a period of being missing should also be offered a health assessment from the LAC Health Advisor.
5.12	The young person's educational needs should also be considered and the Virtual Headteacher should be involved if educational needs are identified particularly if they are a factor in running away.
5.13	If a Bexley young person goes missing from an out of borough placement the Police in the local area of the placement must be informed by the Social Worker. Any strategy meeting required under paragraphs under 5.5. and 5.7 above should be convened by Bexley Safeguarding Children Service and, if appropriate, held in the area in which the placement is. There should be cross borough co-operation in terms of links with the home authority and in ensuring that they young person is located and their needs assessed.
5.14	If a young person who is looked after to another borough goes missing from a placement within Bexley the Public Protection Desk of the Police will liaise with the police in the young person's home area and with the placing authority and attend any strategy meetings as appropriate.

6. What to do if you believe a Child or Young Person is at risk of running away

6.1	Prevention is the best approach. Young people need to know about the dangers of running away where to get help should they be considering it. It will be the universal and early intervention services who are able to deliver the appropriate messages. This can include schools through Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), early intervention services such as mentoring, anti-bullying and youth services as well a community based services such as Neighbourhood Services.
6.2	For Looked After Children it is important that the risk of running is addressed in the Placement Plan and strategies put in place to reduce that risk.
6.3	If you believe that a young person is at risk of running away you should consider what support or services would reduce that risk if offered. Early intervention is essential to reduce the risk of running and the Continuum of Need Matrix may assist in identifying the appropriate level of assessment and services available. A risk assessment should be undertaken (see Appendix 2: Risk Assessment Tool) in all cases identified.
6.4	It is important to remember that running away is rarely an impulse action and that with support to manage the situation they are in may be sufficient to stop the young person running.
6.5	It is within Universal Services such as schools, youth and community resources that indicators of running away are likely to be identified. This may be as a result of what the young person has said, their behaviour or their disengagement from their family.
6.6	These concerns may be able to be addressed within the service that has identified the risk however there is likely to be a need for a response from more than one agency therefore a Common Assessment should be considered and information shared with appropriate agencies with the young person's consent. A Team Around the Child approach should be considered. This supports the engagement with parents as they should be involved in the Common Assessment. Issues of parenting could be a significant 'push' factor.
6.7	If parenting is identified as an issue a referral to the Think Family Centre should be considered and the parents offered parenting advice and skills training. The earlier support is offered to parents the higher the chances of success. If the young person has been involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour a referral to the Family Intervention Programme may be appropriate.
6.8	If a young person is at risk of offending or anti-social behaviour they should be referred to the PENY service within YOT and Neighbourhood Services who may be able to engage with the young person to reduce the risk of offending.
6.9	If the young person's circumstances that are causing them to consider running away indicate they may at risk of significant harm a referral should be made to Children's Social Care.
6.10	The 'push/pull' factors (see 2.5) for young people are likely to be complex and may require a long term approach if the risks of running are to be contained. The resource section of this protocol provides a directory of local and national services who may be able offer such support.
6.11	Young people at risk of running are likely to be disengaged and may be hard to reach therefore persistence with a clear 'open door' policy may be required. It is often the voluntary sector community based services who are able to provide this type of support.
6.12	Other 'push/pull' factors include bullying and the risk of sexual exploitation. The Bexley Strategies for managing these behaviours are included in the resources Appendix 5: Resources.
6.13	Information should be made available to young people and their parents so that they can access advice and guidance as and when they require it.

7. Needs Analysis

7.1

Bexley LSCB will collate information on the numbers of young people who go missing and the circumstances surrounding these young people. A Needs Analysis was undertaken in January 2010. The LSCB will monitor the data in respect of Children who Go Missing through its performance management processes.

7.2

The data is collected through the Council's Partnership and Performance Team and the IS/CAF Team. This is multi-agency information from the Police, Children's Social Care and Education. Health information will be included in the future. This will enable to the lead agencies to undertake review needs analyses as appropriate and to report to the LSCB. Any needs analysis will include:

Patterns of 'running' across the borough;
Identify any hot spots in terms of home location;
Patterns of repeat 'running';
Length of time a young person is missing;
Specific vulnerabilities identified through Return Interviews;
Ratio between those who go missing from home and those who go missing from Care;
Current or past child protection concerns.

Appendix 1: Flowcharts

Appendix 2: Risk Assessment Tool

Click here to view Appendix 2: Risk Assessment Tool.

Appendix 3: Information sharing Protocol for Return Interviews

Introduction

Return Interviews for young people who go missing from home will be undertaken by the Youth Engagement Service (YES). The safety and welfare of the young person must be the first consideration when making decisions about sharing information. The guidance issued by the DCSF: Information Sharing: Guidance for Practitioners and Managers.

The Department for Education (Information Sharing) and the requirements under the Data Protection Act 1998 and human rights will be followed. The seven golden rules of information sharing must be respected:

The Data Protection Act is not a barrier to sharing information; it provides a framework;
Be open and honest, explain what information may or will be shared and why;
Seek advice if you are in doubt;
Share with consent where appropriate and where possible respect the wishes of those who do not consent to share confidential information. Information may have to be shared without consent if it is in the public interest or there are safeguarding issues;
Consider the safety and well-being of those involved and others who may be affected by their actions;
Necessary, proportionate, relevant, accurate, timely and secure sharing of information;
Keep a record of your decision to share or not with reasons. record what has been shared and whether it may be third hand or hearsay.

Return Interviews

Return interviews are voluntary but all young people should be given the opportunity to have one. They provide an opportunity for an assessment of the young person's needs as well as providing an advocacy role. Confidentiality must be respected. Young people will be informed of this but also that, if they reveal certain information, this may need to be shared. This information will include:

A disclosure of abuse or assault;
Evidence that a crime may have been committed;
Information that the Police may require as intelligence e.g. an address where other young people may be being harboured;
Information revealed using the risk assessment tool that indicates a high risk if the young person went missing again e.g. significant substance misuse.

Information Sharing

If the Return Interview identifies that no further action is required. The case will be closed by YES but the information from the interview is retained. If that young person went missing again the Police Missing Persons Unit may contact YES to ascertain whether there was any relevant information that may assist in locating the young person or that may indicate a higher level of risk to that young person. This information should be shared;
If the Return Interview identifies additional needs a CAF should be organised with the young person/parental consent. The Missing Person Unit/PPD should be invited to that CAF to ensure a full sharing of relevant information;
If the Return Interview identifies a higher level of need a referral to CSC will be completed and the Missing person Unit/PPD informed;
The Missing Person Unit should undertake information checks with both YES and CSC in the case of repeat runaways.

Appendix 4: Contact Details

Named Senior Manager for Children who go Missing:	Head of Social Care Hill View, Welling 020 8303 7777
Police	Missing Person Unit and Public Protection Desk Bexleyheath Police Station 020 88284 9111
Children Social Care	East Child Care Unit Civic Centre Bexleyheath 020 3045 5440 West Child Care Unit Southlake Centre Thamesmead 020 3045 5440
Safeguarding Children Service	Howbury Centre Slade Green 020 3045 3266 safeguardingchildrenservice@bexley.gov.uk
Bexley Integrated Youth Service	Hill View Welling 020 3045 3273
Youth Engagement Service	Howbury Centre Slade Green 020 3045 3287
Bexley Youth Advice	233 Broadway Bexleyheath 020 8301 3900
LAC Health Advisor	Safeguarding Children Service Howbury Centre Slade Green 020 3045 5206
School health administrator	Erith Health Centre 01322 357914

Appendix 5: Resources

Local Resources
CAF/IS (see London Borough of Bexley website)
Bexley Integrated Youth Service	Hill View Welling 020 8836 8235
Bexley Youth Advice	233 Broadway Bexleyheath 020 8301 3900
Bexley Moorings	Royal Park Primary School Riverside Rd Sidcup 020 8300 9742
Think Family Centre	Belvedere Family Centre Station Road Belvedere Tel: 020 3045 5354 Team Leader - Linda Cole – Linda.cole@bexley.gov.uk
Neighbourhood Services	020 8303 7777
Youth Action Diversity Trust	North Cray Neighbourhood Centre 1 Davis Way North Cray 020 8302 8475
Thamesmead Youth Awareness Programme	Tavy Bridge Thamesmead 020 8311 5111
National Resources
Get Connected Free confidential helpline for young people under 25	Get Connected website Tel: 0808 808 4994 (11am-11pm)
Missing People All services are Freefone, confidential and 24 hours	Missing People website Tel: 0500 700 700
Runaway Helpline	Tel: 0808 800 70 70 (freefone) runawayhelpline@missingpeople.org.uk
Message Home	Tel: 0800 700 740 messagehome@missingpeople.org.uk

End