4.1.23A Missing Children and Families where there are outstanding concerns |
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Contents
Children who are subject to a Child Protection Plan
Scope
This procedure covers situations where children about whom there are concerns and who may be at risk of Significant Harm go missing, often with their families.
Such children often come from families who have a pattern of frequent moves either within the city or in and out of the city.
Workers should bear in mind when working with children and families where there are outstanding concerns about the children’s safety and welfare (including where there are concerns about an unborn child who may be at future risk of significant harm), that a series of missed appointments may indicate that the family has moved out of the area or overseas. Children’s Social Care and the police should be informed immediately when such concerns arise.
Procedure
Children who are subject to a Child Protection Plan
Where there are concerns that a child who is subject to a Child Protection Plan is missing, a referral must be made to the Lead Social Worker.
On receipt of such a referral, the Lead Social Worker will inform the Designated Manager for Children Subject to a Child Protection Plan immediately and all relevant agencies. The Designated Manager will circulate a missing notification to all Designated Managers for Children Subject to a Child Protection Plan. The Police will consider if a national alert is required and notify Police Forces nationally if required.
The Child Protection Plan will remain in place and once a child’s whereabouts have been found, the Child Protection Plan will need to be reviewed taking into account the reasons for the child’s absence.
Children in Need
Where there are concerns that a Child in Need is missing, a referral must be made to Children’s Social Care Services and the Police.
Children’s Social Care Services will check with other relevant agencies, which may include Whitefriars Housing, Probation, the Benefits Agency and Housing Benefit, to try and establish the child’s whereabouts.
If the child's whereabouts cannot be found, Children's Social Care Services and the Police will consider what action is required in line with the Children Missing from Home and Care Procedures and if appropriate, alert all agencies and as well as circulate missing notification to all Designated Managers for Children Subject to a Child Protection Plan if required.
Once a child’s whereabouts have been found, Children’s Social Care Services together with the Police, will formulate a plan to try to prevent a recurrence.
Children Taken Overseas
In cases of children taken overseas it may be appropriate to contact the Consular Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which offers assistance to British Nationals in distress overseas (T: 020 7008 1500) They may be able to follow up a case through their consular post(s) in the country concerned.
Particular consideration needs to be given to appropriate legal interventions, where it appears that a child, for whom there are outstanding child protection concerns about their safety and welfare, may be removed from the UK by his/her family in order to evade the involvement of agencies with safeguarding responsibilities. Children’s Social Care, the Police Child Abuse Investigation Unit and the Child Abduction Section at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office should be informed immediately.
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