Children who go missing

Children in foster care are significantly more likely to run away than those living at home and when they do, they can be particularly vulnerable. Children who run away are at a heightened risk of being victims of crime, sexually exploited, involved in substance misuse or of becoming involved in crime and disorder. Additionally, research shows that the level of risk to the individual child escalates with each episode they go missing and repeat episodes have been identified as a significant indicator of high risk to the child or young person. 

When thinking about a child or young person going missing from home it is helpful to consider the factors that can lead to this behaviour. These are often divided into push factors and pull factors. 

Push factors could be:

  • Problems at home - ranging from arguments with parents to long-term abuse or maltreatment.
  • Family break-up - young people drawn into their parents’ conflicts are less likely to do well at school and more likely to truant or to run away from home. 
  • Mental health problems - a disproportionate number of young people who run away from home have mental health problems. 
  • Bullying - children who are being severely bullied are more likely to run away from school and home or care. 
  • Teenage pregnancy - some young women run away or are forced to leave home because they become pregnant (or fear that they may be pregnant).

Pull Factors could be:

  • Running to be near friends or family.
  • Grooming for potential sexual exploitation or child trafficking - young people may run away or go missing following grooming by adults who will seek to exploit them.

Every time a child or young person goes missing it should be considered to be serious. Some instances are considered to be Unauthorised Absence. This is usually where the child or young person is not considered to be at immediate risk. On other occasions the young person will be considered to be Missing. Children and Young people on remand or participating in the intensive fostering scheme may also be considered to be Absconders. The decision as to whether a child or young person is missing will be subject to a risk assessment. This will usually be undertaken by a social worker, possibly within the Emergency Duty team in consultation with you.

Factors that will inform the assessment of whether a child or young person is considered missing are: 

  • The circumstances of the absence.
  • The child or young person's care plan.
  • The age of the child or young person
  • The maturity of the child or young person.
  • Any physical or cognitive disability of the child or young person.
  • Any continuing or urgent need for the child or young person to have medication or other medical treatment.
  • The legal status of the child or young person.
  • Previous behaviour and history of the child or young person.
  • Danger posed by the child to themselves or others.
  • General vulnerability of the child or young person.
  • The child or young person’s disposition towards drug/substance abuse.
  • Whether the child or young person is perceived as running to, or running from, someone or something.
  • Any circumstances within the placement, say with carers or other residents that may be relevant to the absence.
  • The risk of offending.
  • The influence of peer groups, families or friends.
  • Predatory influences on the child or young person. These may relate to others wanting to use the child or young person for crime, sex or drugs.
  • Any known risk of abduction.
  • Environmental factors including weather, time of year, community events or tensions. 

The length of time needed before you should consider reporting a child or young person missing will vary according to all these factors. In some circumstances it will be appropriate to report them missing immediately whereas in others some time may pass before their absence gives cause for concern. Unless there is an immediate risk identified, and parents/ carers are in a position to do so, they are expected to undertake the following basic measures before reporting a missing child/young person: NB: if parents/carers are unable to undertake the following e.g. they are the only adult at home/in the care setting etc. they should ensure that the call-taker is alerted to this. 

  • Search bedroom/house/grounds/outbuildings/vehicles;
  • Ascertain if any clothing, cash, mobile phones and/or medication etc. are missing;
  • Speak to any other people at the house who may know where they are;
  • Contact known friends and relatives where the child may be;
  • Visit locations that the child is known to go, if safe to do so;
  • Check social media sites.

If a child or young person has been missing before this will not reduce the level of risk they are exposed to. A child or young person will always be considered missing after a maximum of 6 hours or if their whereabouts are unknown overnight. Once there is cause for concern you should contact the child’s Social Worker, their Manager or Duty Officer, or, if outside office hours, EDS on 08456 042 886 and Police.  

The Social Worker must notify the child’s parents, unless there are reasons connected to the child’s welfare making this inappropriate, or different arrangements are made in the Care Plan. This is the responsibility of the Social Worker not the Foster Carers. Once the assessment has been made if the child is considered to be, “missing”, you will need to provide the following information if possible.

  • A description of the child
  • When the child was last seen and with whom
  • A recent photograph (if available)
  • Family addresses
  • The name and address of the child’s GP and dentist.
  • Circumstances which increase the risk to the child.
  • Any other relevant information known acquaintances and addresses frequented
  • Any previous history of being missing and circumstances where found
  • Mobile phone number of child or young person, email and bank account details (to help with tracking)

You should also contact the police to report the child missing. The contact number is 0300 1234455. You should keep in contact with the child’s social worker and police for the duration of the time the child is away to keep everyone informed.  

You must keep a record of all episodes with detailed information recorded on individual contact sheets. You should inform the child’s Social Worker and Fostering Social Worker and complete an Incident Notification Form and forward this to your Fostering Social Worker within 24 hours.

A monitoring form will be completed by the child’s Social Worker for all episodes categorised as missing, absconded or unauthorised absence. The Social Worker will record details on the child’s file, with a copy being placed on your file.

Within 72 hours of their return children will be offered an independent interview called a Return Interview. This will often be undertaken by their social worker.

Where a particular young person has been missing on a number of occasions (3 times in 90 days or 4 – 6 times in a year) a strategy meeting will be held to consider what action needs to be taken to keep them safe. These meetings may also be held where there have been fewer episodes of going missing if the risks to the young person are considered sufficiently significant.

Where children and young people are thought to be at risk of going missing, it is important that they are supported to understand the dangers and risks that this can cause. Both you and their social worker can be involved in doing this.