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Contents

1. Definition of an Absent Child
2. Planning before the Event
3. Absent from Home

1. Definition of an Absent Child

For the purpose of this Chapter, a child (i.e. a young person under the age of 18 years) is to be considered 'Absent' if he/she is absent from his/her place of residence without authority, to a degree that, or in circumstances where, the absence causes concern for the safety of the child or there is potential danger to the public.

Absences that cause concern are those where there is no indication that a child is likely to return within a short space of time or where there is immediate concern for the child's safety.

Sometimes children stay out longer than agreed either on purpose or unwittingly, or fail to tell their parents/carers of their whereabouts. This kind of boundary-testing activity is well within the range of normal teenage behaviour and does not come within the definition of 'missing' for this protocol.

Young people running from a forced marriage situation may be reported as missing by their families. The forced marriage may not be apparent when the report is made and young people may be at risk of Significant Harm if they are returned to their families.

Professionals should bear in mind when working with children and families where there are outstanding concerns about a child's welfare, that a series of missed appointments may indicate that a family has moved out of the area or overseas.

Children's social care services and the police should be informed immediately such concerns arise.

Three categories of absence are commonly used when assessing risk:

Unauthorised absence

Absence for a short period of time; sometimes it is known or suspected where the child might be.

Missing

If the child's whereabouts is unknown and/or the reason for absence is unknown and there is cause for concern because of their vulnerability or there is potential danger to the public.

Absconded

Where a child is considered missing and is also Looked After.

2. Planning before the Event

If there is a risk that children will absent themselves, their plans should incorporate Strategies for reduction or prevention.

Where there is concern that a child may go missing from home, it will be necessary to assess the risks (using the Social Care Pre-incident Risk Assessment Form - see Forms Library/Missing Children) e.g.

• 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 go missing - using the Social Care Risk Assessment Record see Forms Library/Missing Children;
• The views of parents/carers on their child's needs and the action that needs to be taken if their child is missing;
• Consideration of any external influences which may result in a child's removal without consent.

It should be explained to the child what actions will be taken if he/she absents him/herself without permission. Where considered appropriate, the child should be given a copy of this pre-incident assessment. The Social Care Pre-incident Risk Assessment should be recorded on the child's file in all agencies working with the child.

Where the Risk Assessment indicates that there is a high risk of a child going missing, it is good practice for social workers to prepare an Information Sharing Form (see Forms Library/Missing Children) containing the information the police and other agencies will need to locate the child if they do go missing.

3. Absent from Home

This section should be read in conjunction with the following London Child Protection Procedures Supplementary Procedures, Safeguarding Children Missing from Care and Home.

If the report is initially made to the Police, the Police Child Protection Unit will undertake a risk assessment, based on criteria referred to in Section 1, Definition of an Absent Child and will then decide whether to refer the case to children's services for the area in which the child lives.

Summary of Response Steps: 1. Decide whether the child is 'missing' Section 1, Definition of an Absent Child 2. Complete the Missing Child Risk Assessment Record (Forms Library/Missing Children) 3. Notify the Police as soon as possible - Complete Looked After Child Information Sharing Form (Forms Library/Missing Children)

3.1 Children on a Child Protection Plan

Children who have a Child Protection Plan or who are subject to a Section 47 enquiry, need additional action to that required for other children. This includes:

• Informing the Safeguarding Manager and the local Primary Care Trust's Designated Nurse;
• Ensuring that a Strategy Meeting is arranged - as soon as practicable and in any event within 7 days, the social worker should arrange a strategy meeting if the child is still missing. Representatives from both the Police Missing Persons Unit and Child Abuse Investigation Team should attend the strategy meeting, as well as other practitioners involved with the child;
• Where a child with a Protection Plan has gone missing with/without their family, Children's Social Services must implement the Notification of Missing Children/Persons Procedure and complete Form: Referral to Register of Children with Child Protection Plans (Forms Library/Missing Children.

3.2 Monitoring and Reviewing Absences

If the child is Absent for 24 Hours, the Line Manager for the home/service must be notified, and should review the actions that have been take. The Line Manager should then review the case every day thereafter, until 7 days have elapsed, the case must then be referred to the Head of Service, who must consult the Police and social worker/Line Manager with a view to taking one of the following actions:

1. The convening of a Strategy Discussion/Meeting;
2. Use by the Police of their powers to recover the child, for example, placing a child in Police Protection;
3. Notifications by the Police to the National Missing Persons Bureau;
4. An application for a Recovery Order;
5. An application for a Secure Accommodation Order;
6. The use of publicity, see below.

3.3 Informing the Press

It is for the Police to advise the media about a child missing from the care of the local authority. This will be done in accordance with Police rules about communications with the media. A decision to publicise the absence in the Press and/or Television will always be made in consultation with the Head of Service, who should ensure the child's parent(s) are consulted.

3.4 Returning Children

The Manager/Line Manager should plan for the child's return e.g.:

1. Will the child return to the same placement?
2. How will s/he be conveyed there?
3. Do the Police wish to interview the child before s/he is returned to the placement?
4. Who would be an appropriate "independent person" to talk to the child after his/her return?

The Police will usually co-operate in the plans to return a child but, unless there is a serious risk (e.g. of an offence being committed) it is the responsibility of the manager to return the child.

The Police, Social Worker and others notified of the absence must be informed when the child returns.

The child must be welcomed back and must have the opportunity to talk about the reasons for leaving. The purpose of this meeting is to give the child an opportunity to talk about the reasons for their absence and follow up any concerns or Complaints. Appropriate action should be taken to pass on information to the relevant agency if Child Protection Concerns are raised.

The outcome of the meeting with the child should be discussed with the social worker and Manager of the home with a view deciding what Strategies can be adopted to prevent further absences. If the child was absent for three days or more or the absence was one of three episodes reported to the Police in the previous four weeks, the Police should be asked to contribute to these discussions. An assessment as to whether their placement is still able to meet their needs should be undertaken. If it is felt that it does not, a meeting should be arranged to review the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record.

End