Children Missing from Care, Home and Education
Scope of this chapter
Children missing from care, home and education is a key safeguarding issue and this guidance is designed to ensure that when a child goes missing there is an effective, collaborative safeguarding response from all agencies involved.
Identifying and safeguarding children who run away and go missing from care, home and education is a central issue for the Islands Safeguarding Children Partnership. There are specific concerns about the links between children running away and the risks of exploitation. Many children in care missing from their placements are vulnerable to exploitation, especially children in residential care.
Local definitions are based on the 'Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care' ( DfE 2014) the definitions which should be used when working with children, young people and their families are set out as follows:
- Child: anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. 'Children' and 'young people' are used throughout this guidance to refer to anyone under the age of 18;
- 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 in Care: a child who is accommodated in the care of the Committee.
- Responsible local authority: the local authority that is responsible for a child in care and care planning;
- Host local authority: the local authority in which a child in care is placed when placed out of the responsible local authority's area;
- Care leaver: an eligible, relevant or former relevant child;
- Missing from care: a child in care who is not at their placement or the place they are expected to be (e.g., school) and their whereabouts is not known;
- Away from placement without authorisation: a child in care whose whereabouts is known but who is not at their placement or place they are expected to be and the carer has concerns or the incident has been notified to the local authority or the police;
- Care leavers cover young people from aged 16-21.
The Philomena Protocol has been implemented by the Guernsey Police as a means to safeguard children and young people at risk of going missing and is particularly relevant to children in care. The Philomena Protocol is a preventative measure to reduce the risk of harm to vulnerable children and young people who go missing.
The Police , are the lead agency for investigating and finding missing children, will respond to children and young people going missing or being absent based on on-going risk assessments in line with current Philomena guidance. The police will prioritise all incidents of missing children as medium or high risk.
The police definitions of 'missing' and 'absent' are:
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'.
and
Absent
A person is not at a place where they are expected or required to be (and there is no apparent risk)'.
The police classification of a person as 'missing' or 'absent' will be based on on-going risk assessment. A child whose whereabouts are known would not be treated as either 'missing' or 'absent' under the police definitions.
It is important to note that professionals or others reporting a child missing to the police, should not make the judgement themselves as to whether a child is missing or absent – this decision will be made by the police on the basis of the information provided. A child who is Absent may be at risk for example of exploitation and Police Risk Assessments should take account of those situations and may need to change the category to missing.
Where a child is recorded by police as being absent, they will agree review times and any on-going actions with the person reporting the absence as per the Philomena Protocol. All persons recorded by police as absent are monitored on the police system. Carers and relevant agencies are encouraged to complete a Philomena Protocol Form, which includes details such as physical description, recent photograph, known associates, places frequented and any history of going missing. The primary goal is to ensure the safe return of the missing child or young person and to minimise the potential risk of harm. Monitoring is ongoing and subject to regular reviews to ensure risk levels do not change.
The Police and or the Contextual Safeguarding Co-ordinator based in the MASH will carry out Return Home Interviews following a graduated response process.
The police will prioritise all incidents of missing children as medium or high risk. Where a child is recorded as being absent, the details will be recorded by the police, who will also agree review times and any on-going actions with the person reporting. A child who is Absent may still be at risk for example of child sexual or criminal exploitation and the Police risk assessment should reflect this.
A missing child incident would be prioritised as '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; or
- The child may have been the victim of a serious crime; or
- The risk posed is immediate and there are substantial grounds for believing that the public is in danger.
The high risk category requires the immediate deployment of police resources. Police guidance makes clear that a member of the senior management team or similar command level must be involved in the examination of initial enquiry lines and approval of appropriate staffing levels. Such cases should lead to the appointment of an Investigating Officer and possibly a Senior Investigating Officer and a Police Search Advisor. Consideration will be given as to whethera media strategy is required and family support will be put. in place.
A missing child incident would be prioritised as 'medium risk' where the risk posed is likely to place the subject in danger or they are a threat to themselves or others. This category requires an active and measured response by police and other agencies in order to trace the missing person and support the person reporting. This will involve a proactive investigation and search in accordance with the circumstances to locate the missing child as soon as possible.
Sometimes a child in care may be away from their placement without authorisation. While they are not missing, they may still be placing themselves at risk (e.g. they may be at the house of friends where there are concerns about risks of sexual exploitation). The carer or social worker should take reasonable steps to ascertain the wellbeing of the child including, when appropriate, visiting the location.
When a child is placed out of Jurisdiction and goes missing it is essential that, liaison between the police and professionals in both authorities is well managed and coordinated. A notification process for missing/ absent episodes should be agreed between responsible and host local authorities as a part of the care plan and the placement plan.
Police Powers and Criminal Evidence (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2003 outlines the circumstances under which officers can arrest individuals, detain them, conduct searches and access information. The police can use the powers under to remove a child into police protection if they are likely to suffer significant harm and Police Protection lasts up to 72 hours.
Should it be necessary to take the child into police protection, a Strategy Meeting is highly likely to be required to support with identifying an appropriate alternate placement.
Social Care may apply for a Recovery Order where necessary. These orders are governed by the Children (Guernsey and Alderney) Law, 2008 and allow for the use of reasonable force to recover the child. Recovery Orders primary aim is to locate and return a child to their lawful place of care or protection when they are missing or unlawfully removed.
Social Care works closely with the Police when children are reported missing in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This includes planning to prevent children from going missing and to do everything possible to ensure their safe return when they do go missing. External inspections for residential care includes an assessment of measures with regard to missing children as part of their key judgement on the experiences and progress of children who need help and protection. Data on missing episodes of children in care are reported and any children who are screened at risk of harm occurring outside of the home environment are supported via the Multi Agency Child Exploitation processes.
Safeguarding Procedures are followed if there are concerns that a child may be at risk if returned home, the child is referred to children's social care to assess their needs whom make appropriate arrangements to ensure their care and accommodation needs are met.
Early and effective sharing of information between professionals and agencies is essential for the identification of patterns of risky behaviour. This may be used to identify areas of concern for an individual child, or to identify 'hotspots' of activity in a local area. The Multi Agency Child Exploitation Panel reviews and analyses data, patterns and themes related to children reported to be missing to inform partnership activity and to deploy resources and interventions to reduce risk of harm occurring.
- Data collected and analysed by the Strategic MACE Level 2 Meetings considers the following:- Any known associates of concern;
- The legal status of the children;
- Episodes, and length of episode by child;
- Numbers and themes from Return Home Interviews;
- Cross match data of any children missing from education;
All agencies including voluntary and third sector organisations have a key role in identifying and reporting children who may be missing from care, home and school.
Staff working in all settings should be aware of their professional responsibilities and the responses undertaken by the multi-agency partnership. Risks include sexual exploitation, trafficking, forced marriage and female genital mutilation and radicalisation is also a risk factor for vulnerable young people.
It is important that all staff within their organisation know how to identify, report and respond to a child who are missing from care, home or education.
The factors known to increase risks for children missing from home, care or education include homelessness, child exploitation which includes trafficking, grooming, radicalisation, modern day slavery. These circumstances will require a referral to the Police, MASH and or to an allocated social worker where relevant. If concerns relate to a crime the Police will need to be notified immediately. See Child Exploitation (including Child Sexual Exploitation and Criminal Exploitation).
Children and young people who go missing from care, home and education also need safeguarding against the risk of being drawn into offending behaviour by gangs or criminal groups.
The Children in Care Team provide services to children and young people in care from birth to 18 years of age and also assist young people leaving care between the ages of 16-21 (or 24 if in full time education)
Care leavers, particularly 16 and 17 year olds, are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and may go missing from their home or accommodation.
In particular young people should feel safe in their accommodation and the areas where it is located and pathway plans consider where a young person may be vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking or going missing, and put in place support services to minimise this risk.
Local authorities have a duty to place a child in care in the most appropriate placement to safeguard the child and minimise the risk of the child running away. The care plan and the placement plan should include details of the arrangements that will need to be in place to keep the child safe and minimise the risk of the child going missing from their placement.
Remember:
- The Care Plan – should include strategies to avoid unauthorised absences and/or a child going missing. It should also include strategies to reduce the duration and risks associated if the child does have unauthorised absences/go missing;
- The Placement Plan – should include strategies for preventing the child from taking unauthorised absences/going missing;
- A pre-incident risk assessment should be completed for all children for whom there is concern that they may run away. Distance from home, family and friends should be considered as a risk factor;
- Provide the child with advice about an independent advocate and take the child's views into account;
- Statutory reviews should consider any absences and revise strategies to prevent repeat absences and/or missing incidents and the care plan should be revised accordingly.
Where a child already has an established pattern of running away, the Care Plan should include a strategy to keep the child safe and minimising the likelihood of the child running away in the future. This should be discussed and agreed as far as possible with the child and with the child's carers and should include detailed information about the responsibilities of all services, the child's parents and other adults involved in the family network.
Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) should be informed about missing/ absent episodes and they should address these in statutory reviews. The pre incident risk assessment should be updated after missing incident and should be regularly reviewed.
Designated health professionals for child in care should be informed of children missing from care who are deemed to be 'high risk'. They should be included in any multiagency strategy meetings or activity to manage the child's retrieval and any subsequent health needs.
Designated education professionals should be informed and included in the review process.
Whenever the whereabouts of a Child in Care is not known, the foster carer or the manager on duty in the children's home is responsible for carrying out preliminary checks to see if the child can be located. For example, if a child was supposed to have returned home from school but has not arrived within the normal journey time, checks could include finding out if there are transport delays, phone calls to the child, phone calls to the school to see if the child has been delayed etc. If these initial checks do not succeed in locating the child or there are still concerns that, despite contact being made with the child they are at risk the Philomena Protocol must be adhered to and relevant agencies notified.
The carer/s should take all reasonable steps, which a good parent would take, to secure the safe and speedy return of the child based on their own knowledge of the child and the information in the child's placement plan. If there is suspected risk of harm to the child the carer/s should liaise immediately with the police.
Following initial discussions between the allocated children's social care worker and the police, they should agree an immediate strategy for locating the child and an action plan. This to include a range of actions to locate and ensure the safe return of the child, including:
- Arrangements for attempts to be made to contact the child on a daily basis by, for example, calling their mobile phone or the phones of friends or relatives that they may be with;
- The Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) should also try and contact the child;
- Visiting their parents' address/es and of any friends or relatives with whom they may be staying;
When the child has been located, care staff/ foster carers should promptly inform the child's social worker and the independent reviewing officer that the child has returned. Arrangements should have been made for Safe and Well checks and Independent Return Interviews.
Safe and well checks where appropriate are carried out by the police as soon as possible after the child has returned. Their purpose is to check for any indications that the child has suffered harm, where and with whom they have been, and to give them an opportunity to disclose any offending by or against them.
Where a child goes missing frequently, it may not be practicable for the police or Contextual Safeguarding Co-ordinator to see them every time they return. In these cases a reasonable decision should be taken. The assessment of whether a child might run away again should be based on information about:
- Their individual circumstances;
- Family circumstances and background history;
- Their motivation for running away;
- Their potential destinations and associates;
- Their recent pattern of absences;
- The circumstances in which the child was found or returned; and
- Their individual characteristics and risk factors such as whether a child has learning difficulties, mental health issues, depression and other vulnerabilities.
The Return Home Interview is an in-depth interview and should be carried out by an independent professional (e.g. a social worker, teacher, health professional or police officer, not involved in caring for the child and who is trained to carry out these interviews and is able). The child should be seen on their own unless they specifically request to have someone with them. The child should be offered the option of speaking to an independent representative or advocate. The IRO should be informed.
The independent return interview should be offered and provided within 72 hours of the child being located or returning from absence, it should preferably take place in a neutral place where they feel safe. Delays in return interviews may mean a loss of important information or evidence.
The interview and actions that follow from it should:
- Identify and deal with any harm the child has suffered – including harm that might not have already been disclosed either before they ran away or whilst missing;
- Understand and try to address the reasons why the child ran away;
- Help the child feel safe / understand that they have options, to prevent repeat instances of them running away;
- Understand what the child would like to see happen next whether short term and/or long term;
- Gather the parents' or carers' views of the circumstances, if appropriate;
- Provide the child with information on how to stay safe if they choose to run away again, including helpline numbers.
It is especially important that the independent Return Review interview takes place when a child:
- Has been reported missing on two or more occasions;
- Is frequently absent without authorisation;
- Has been hurt or harmed while they have been missing;
- Is at known or suspected risk of sexual exploitation or trafficking;
- Is at known or suspected risk of involvement in criminal activity or drugs;
- Has contact with persons posing risk to children; and/or
- Has been engaged (or is believed to have engaged) in criminal activities during their absence.
The local authority children's social care services, police, education and other agencies involved with the child should work together to assess the child and to build up a comprehensive picture of:
- Why the child went missing;
- What happened while they were missing;
- Who they were missing with and where they were found; and,
- What support they require upon returning home.
- Whether a review of the care plan is required.
Where children refuse to engage with the interviewer, parents and/or carers should be offered the opportunity to provide any relevant information and intelligence they may be aware of. This should help to prevent further instances of the child running away and identify early the support needed for them.
If a child continually runs away actions following earlier incidents need reviewing and alternative strategies should be considered.
To reduce repeat running away and improve the longer-term safety of children and young people, the agencies involved may want to provide:
- Better access and timely independent return interviews, particularly for the most vulnerable;
- Safety planning with the child for their missing;
- Better access to support whilst a young person is away, which may come from the voluntary sector.
Children missing from home are subject to risks and vulnerabilities similar to those for children who are in care. Designated and named professionals hold a statutory role with regards to safeguarding in the local health community, and must be included in the information sharing and management processes being put in place for children deemed to be at high risk.
The police will respond to all notifications of children categorised as 'missing' and follow the Philomena Protocol for children missing from home as well as those missing from care.
Child protection procedures must be initiated in collaboration with children's social care services whenever there are concerns that a child who is missing may be suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. See MASH Integrated Front Door Approach to Early Help & Safeguarding Referrals Procedure.
The Education (Guernsey) Law, 1970 (as amended) requires parents to ensure their children receive efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and to any additional learning needs[1] they may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise[2]. Learners who do not receive this education are at risk of poor outcomes such as low attainment, reduced social contact and vulnerability to compromised mental health and wellbeing. This has an impact on later life, including health risks and limited employment and social opportunities.
In addition, children going missing, particularly repeatedly, can be a warning sign of safeguarding issues. Early intervention can help prevent a child going missing in future.
[1] In the Law, these are referred to as Special Educational Needs.
[2] E.g. home education
In line with local law, attendance and absence must be closely monitored. Schools should follow the Attendance Policy for Schools (States-maintained) and other setting-specific attendance policies and procedures. A designated Attendance Lead within the school should monitor attendance and liaise with the School Attendance Service as required.
Parents/carers should:
- Notify of medical issues preventing attendance, in line with Attendance policy and procedures;
- Give advance notice of any intended leave of absence to their child’s school. Exceptional cases may be recorded as ‘authorised absence’; others (including term-time holidays) will not be authorised but it is essential that these are still notified for reasons of safeguarding. Where a period of leave has been noted by the school the time line for enquiries about absence starts from when the child does not attend school on the expected return date, not from the day the leave started.
Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding a child who is missing from school can be effectively supported by schools adopting an admissions procedure which requires a parent/carer to provide documentary evidence of their own and the child's identity and status in Guernsey & Alderney, and the address that they are residing at. Where possible more than one emergency contact number is held for children. When a child is absent without explanation, the school’s procedures for unauthorised absence will be followed. This includes a first day response system to make contact with a learner’s registered contacts.
If staff have concerns about a learner at any time, this should be raised with the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead and the child protection procedures should be followed, including referral to MASH and/or Police where appropriate. The unexpected absence of a child who is already the subject of child protection concerns should be notified to the child’s social worker and Police straight away.
In other cases, the ISCP Threshold Framework document should be referred to as appropriate to assist a judgement whether or not to complete a referral to MASH. The answers to questions such as those below may also be helpful:
- In which age range is the child?
- Is this very sudden and unexpected behaviour?
- Have there been any past concerns about the child associating with significantly older young people or adults?
- Was there any significant incident prior to the child's unexplained absence?
- Has the child been a victim of bullying?
- Are there health reasons to believe that the child is at risk, e.g.
- Does the child need essential medication or health care?
- Was the child noted to be depressed prior to the child's unexplained absence?
- Are there religious or cultural reasons to believe that the child is at risk, e.g. rites of passage or forced marriage planned for the child?
- Has the child got a disability and/or additional learning needs?
- Have there been past concerns about this child and family which together with the sudden disappearance are worrying? e.g.
- Is there any known history of drug or alcohol dependency within the family?
- Is there any known history of domestic abuse?
- Is there concern about the parent/carer's ability to protect the child from harm?
Absence should be pursued and escalated in line with Attendance Policy and procedures. Where MASH/Police are involved, cases will be progressed in line with their direction.
If a child is moving from one school to another and their records need to be transferred, this must be done in a timely and secure manner. Where safeguarding information is involved, the child protection file should be transferred as soon as possible, within five days for an in-year transfer or within the first five days of the start of a new term. The Designated Safeguarding Lead should also consider if it would be appropriate to share any information with the new education setting in advance of a child leaving, to enable support to be in place for when the child arrives.
The Education Office should be advised if a child of compulsory school age leaves the school without another school being named (including where it is intended to move to home education).
Good Practice Guidance
College of Policing: Missing Persons
Centring the Child and Working with their Family Network as Part of Return Interviews (Missing People) - information on developing a person-centred approach with parents and care givers whose missing child returns.
Last Updated: September 17, 2025
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