When any individual becomes aware that a child who is subject to a Child Protection Plan has gone missing, they must notify immediately the lead social worker or Team Manager and the Safeguarding Unit.
The following action will be taken:
- The lead social worker/Team Manager must liaise with the police and instigate the necessary enquiries to try to ascertain the child’s whereabouts
- Where it is apparent that the whole family has gone missing, all local authorities must be contacted and requested to circulate the family’s details. Other agencies must also be notified in writing and asked to instigate their own procedures.
- Where the whole family have not gone missing, but the child has, the parents must be asked to formally report the child as missing to the police
Publicity will be used only in exceptional circumstances. No details should be given to the media without the authorisation of a Children’s Social Care Senior Manager
Once a child is found, the lead social worker/Team Manager should inform the Safeguarding Unit.
