missing from placement policy &...

Xxxx Policy/procedure: Issue date: Version No: 1.0

Status: Approved Review date: of 14

Missing from Placement

POLICY & PROCEDURE



Policy Control/Monitoring

Version: 1.0

Approved by:

(Name/Position in Organisation)

Date:

Accountability:

(Name/Position in Organisation)

Chief Executive, Percy Hedley Foundation

Author of policy:

(Name/Position in organisation)

Chief Executive, Percy Hedley Foundation

Date issued: August 2015

Revision Cycle: 12 Months

Revised (Date): August 2016

Target audience:

All staff within Children & young People’s Residential

Services

Amendments/additions

Replaces/supersedes:

All previous residential policies and procedures



Associated Policies:

(insert hyperlinks)

Associated National Guidance

The Quality and Purpose of Care Standard

Children’s Wishes and Feelings Standard

Education Standard

The Enjoyment and Achievement Standard

The Health and Well-being Standard

The Positive Relationships Standard

The Protection of Children Standard

The Leadership and Management Standard

The Care Planning Standard

The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations

2015

Promoting the Health and well-being of Looked

After Children

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015

The Children Act 1989 Guidance and

Regulations March 2010

Document status This document is controlled electronically and shall be deemed an uncontrolled documented if printed. The document can only be classed as ‘Live’ on the date of print. Please refer to the staff login section of the internet for the most up to date version.

Equality Impact Assessment

This document forms part of Percy Hedley’s commitment to create a positive culture

of respect for all staff and service users. The intention is to identify, remove or

minimise discriminatory practice in relation to the protected characteristics (race,

disability, gender, sexual orientation, age, religious or other belief, marriage and civil

partnership, gender reassignment and pregnancy and maternity), as well as to

promote positive practice and value the diversity of all individuals and communities.

As part of its development this document and its impact on equality has been

analysed and no detriment identified.



Version Control Tracker

Version Number

Date Author/

Title Status

Comment/Reason for Issue/Approving Body

Roles & Responsibilities

Role

Responsibility

Chief Executive

Overall responsibility to ensure this policy conforms to current guidelines and best practice. Ensuring resources and infrastructure are available to allow its implementation. To achieve a safe working environment which includes Safe storage of medicines, correct documentation and safe administration.

Director of Human Resources Department

Ensure effective implementation of this policy. Ensure a current list of all policies is available to all staff. Review dates of policy reviews and notify accountable person of policy.

Head of Service/Head of department

Ensure effective implementation of this policy. Ensure a current list of all policies is available to all staff. Review dates of policy reviews and notify accountable person of policy.

Training Development Officer

Support line managers to develop training needs analysis and develop training plan for staff identified as requiring training. Procure and evaluate training and development to enable staff to provide safe care with medication. Provide an overview to the exec team on current position of training and development across the organisation.

Quality Manager Provide framework for audit of policy and compliance. Provide audit report to Board. Monitor effectiveness of this policy with senior management team. Raise awareness of non-compliance with Head of Service

Health and Safety Manager Monitor incidents and complaints and near misses in relation to this policy. Report to audit committee. Provide risk assessment training to staff to support this policy



CONTENTS Pg

1. Introduction

2. Purpose

3. Scope

4. Definitions/Abbreviations

5. Unauthorised absence

6. Missing

6.1 Absconder

6.2 Preventative steps

6.3 Initial Action to be taken

6.4 Reporting procedure

6.5 Recording procedure

6.6 The Media

7. Monitoring and Review



1. Introduction

Ensuring the safety and welfare of children / young people is a primary concern and

central to achieving positive outcomes for children / young people. Each child /

young person will be treated as an individual and their rights and preferences

respected. It is the job of all staff and managers to ensure that children / young

people are protected from harm and are able to make choices to keep themselves

safe. It is paramount that staff and managers within the home know the whereabouts

of each child/young person who are looked after within the residential setting. Staff

and managers will use their professional judgement to take any action they feel

necessary to protect the safety of a child/young person based on their understanding

of needs and risk assessment for each child.

This document should be read with reference to the statutory guidance on children

who run away from home of go missing from home or care (Department of Education

2014).

The reasons for children/young people’s absences are often varied and complex,

and cannot be viewed in isolation. Staff and managers should recognise that every

‘missing’ episode should attract appropriate attention from the professionals involved

with their care, and they must collaborate to ensure a consistent and coherent

response is given on their return.

All staff and managers within the home should be clear about the definition of a

‘missing’ person, and discourage the casual reporting of ‘unauthorised absences’ as

‘missing ‘ persons.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all staff and managers within the

residential setting are aware of the steps to be taken should a child/young person go

missing from placement.

It is of paramount importance that during the Pre Placement Agreement Meeting that

discussions take place around any previous history and information documented in

the relevant plans.



3. SCOPE

This policy will apply to employees working within Children’s & Young People’s

Residential Services and employed by the Foundation under a contract of

employment.

This document will be made available to all employees who are engaged in

Residential Services who will then be expected to familiarise themselves with the

principles covered within this policy.

4. Definitions /Abbreviations

CHILD/YOUNG PERSON Anyone who has not reached their 18th birthday.

LOOKED AFTER CHILD A child who is looked after by a local authority by reason of a care order, or being accommodated under secti9on 17 – 20 of the Children Act 1989

RESPONSIBLE LOCAL AUTHORITY

The local authority that is responsible for a looked after child’s care and care planning.

HOST LOCAL AUTHORITY The local authority in which a child is placed when placed out of the responsible local authority’s area.

ABSENT AND ABSENCE Refers to a looked after child who is not at their placement or the place they are expected to be.

MISSING a young runaway whose whereabouts is unknown and is reported as missing to the police by their family / carers



5. UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE – PROCEDURE

If a child/young person is absent from the residential/short break care provision the

first response will be to contact the parents/carers /responsible authority including

the child’s social worker and take all practical steps that any prudent parent would

take to establish the child/young person’s location and wellbeing and to ensure that

they return to their placement without delay.

If the decision is made that circumstances of the absence fits the criteria for

classification as ‘unauthnorised absence’ then the episode must be kept under

review and if they have not returned within a reasonable period of time (generally 4

hours) serious consideration must be given to reporting them as ‘missing’.

The home will take responsibility for managing this type of absence.

Unauthorised absent and unathorised absence refers to a looked after child who is

not at their placement or the place that they are expected to be e.g. school and:

They have deliberately left their placement without permission

Previous behaviour indicates they are likely to return of their own accord.

The staff have some idea where the child/young person may be and they are

not at risk

The child/young person is in contact with the home /staff and there are no

obvious concerns.

The responsibility for risk assessing any unauthorised absence lies with the

manager/deputy/social worker of the residential/short break care placement.

6. MISSING

For the purposes of these procedures, a child/young person is classified as missing

from placement when their location or reason for absence is unknown and/or there is

cause for concern for the child/young person because of their vulnerability or there is

a potential danger to the public.

A child/young person should be classified as ‘missing’ if one or more of the criteria

below apply:

The reason for their absence is unknown

There is cause for concern due to their vulnerability

The absence is out of character



There are indications that the child/young person has already come to harm

There are suspicious circumstances

There are indications that the episode is not a deliberate act

There are indications that the child/young person:

Is not expected to return within reasonable time limits

Is not staying at homes of others known to them;

Will not be easily located.

A CHILD/YOUNG PERSON CLASSIFIED AS MISSING MUST BE REPORTED TO

THE POLICE

6.1 ABSCONDER

An absconder is a child/young person who is absent from placement without the

permission of the responsible person and who is subject to a Care order, or

Emergency Protection order or on remand (to Local Authority).

A child/young person classified as an absconder must be reported to the police as

soon as possible and will be regarded by the police as a “wanted person”. The police

must be made aware of the particular order under which the child/young person has

been placed, given a copy where necessary and made aware of the expiry date of

the order.

In assessing the significance of the child/young person’s absence or missing episode

a risk assessment must be undertaken if not already in place.

In assessing the significance of the absence all staff should know and understand

the above definitions and in addition should take into account the following

definitions:

Guidance in the Care Plan/Placement Plan

The age of the child/young person

Any physical/learning difficulties including mental health issues

History of self harm

History of previous absences

The legal status



State of mind at the time of the absence

Any areas of concern of peer group within the home environment

History of inappropriate sexual exploitation

6.2 PREVENTATIVE STEPS – GUIDANCE

During the planning of an admission into residential/short break care services

discussions need to take place at the pre Placement Agreement meeting around any

area of absences in relation to the child/young person. This information should

include:

Any previous history of absence or known risks of absence

The level of supervision/support to be offered to the child/young person

The parents’ advice on what action they feel should be taken if the young

person goes missing including how they wish to be informed of the absence

Any level of risk to the child/young person if they do go missing

Frequent known addresses

Adults involved where a child/young person may be at risk

A personalised risk assessment will be developed detailing all of the relevant

information necessary to assist the Police in locating the child/young person should

this be required. This will be regularly monitored and updated as and when required.

Whilst all attempts must be made to prevent children/young people absenting

themselves without authority staff must work within the guidelines and legislation in

relating to preventing a child/young person leaving the premises.

6.3 INITIAL ACTION TO BE TAKEN IF A CHILD/YOUNG PERSON GOES

MISSING –PROCEDURE

When a child/young person absents themselves the manager/deputy should be

informed immediately. It will be the responsibility of the staff members on duty to:

Establish the last known whereabouts of the child/young person

Determine the level of risk of harm to the child/young person

Try to determine the reasons – speak with other children/young people within

the home



Search the home and surrounding area

Make contact with family/friends unless this would be considered not to be in

the child/young person’s best interests.

Ascertain the likely intentions of the child/young person –prior to contacting

the police.

The following should also be informed:

The parents (following the requests for information)

The identified social worker (by email if out of hours)

EDT if out of hours

6.4 REPORTING – PROCEDURE

Once a decision has been made to report a child/young person as ‘missing’ the

manager/deputy or person with responsibility at the time of the child/young person

going missing should contact the police by using the non-emergency telephone

number 101

During consultation with the police it will be paramount that the level of perceived risk

to the child/young person is made clear from the onset as this will determine the

level of police response.

The home will be given a unique reference number, which should be retained and

used in any future contact with the police.

6.5 RECORDING – PROCEDURE

During the period that the child/young person is classed as ‘missing’ staff from the

home and allocated social worker must keep a full record of all actions taken and

messages received within the home. It will also be the responsibility of staff

member’s on duty to complete the Missing from Placement Log. OFSTED will also

be notified.

The records should also include where the child/young person was found, any

reasons for going missing and any actions that may have been taken. This

information is vital for any future missing from placement episodes including

updating relevant Care Plans/Personalised Risk Assessments.



When a child/young person is found/or returned home staff should welcome them

back. It is important that their basic physical needs are responded to e.g. food,

change of clothing etc unless deemed inappropriate by the police. All other relevant

parties should also be informed of their return. A ‘Safe and Well Check’ will also be

undertaken as well as a return interview this will need to be carried out by an

independent person. This will offer the child/young person the opportunity to talk

about the reasons that they went missing.

Actions to follow from the return interview should include:

Identify and respond to any harm the child/young person has suffered, which

may not have been disclosed to the police during the “Safe and Well chec”.

Try to identify the reasons behind why the child/young g person went missing.

Offer support and reassurance and try to help them understand the options

available to them to help prevent any further episodes

Consideration to be given to the appropriateness of the placement

If the child/young person makes an allegation of a crime that has occurred whilst

they were missing from placement or of a situation that contributed to them leaving,

the police will record this allegation and take appropriate action and initiate child

protection procedures. Consideration will be given as to whether a statutory review

of the child’s care plan should take place.

6.6 THE MEDIA

Long term absences will be managed through the media. It is the social workers

and/or the police’s responsibility to determine if or when the absence is dealt with

through the media.

Any query from the media to the home should be directed to the Head of Residential

Services.



7. Monitoring & Review

Overall responsibility for the operation of the procedure lies with the Registered

Manager / Head of Residential Services. The effectiveness of the procedure will be

formally reviewed and monitored as a minimum on a 12 basis to ensure that it

continues to meet the requirements of The Foundation, the specific service area and

that it reflects best practice and statutory legislation as appropriate.

The below table outlines the monitoring and compliance requirements of the

procedure:

Element Monitored

Lead Person

Tool Frequency

Reporting Arrangemen

t

Lead Person - Act on

Recommendation

Lead Person – Dissemination

of Lessons Learned

E.g Adherence to policy

Policy Author

Audit Annually Policy Author Policy Author

B. Bolam Review Policy

Head of Residential Director of Education

B. Bolam B. Bolam

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