In all missing children cases you are advised to first contact the police and file a missing persons report, listen to the police advice given and act accordingly.
Children who go missing from Social Services care invariably place themselves, and often others, at risk. The reasons for their absences are varied and complex and cannot be viewed in isolation from their home circumstances and their experiences of care.
Every "missing" episode should therefore attract proper attention from the professionals involved with the child and those professionals in turn must collaborate to ensure a consistent and coherent response is given to the child on his/her return.
The Police are frequent partners of Social Services in managing "missing" episodes and it is therefore important that staff in both agencies work together.
Missing children
In relation to "missing children", a child (i.e. a young person under the age of 18 years) is to be considered "missing" if he/she is absent from his/her place of residence without authority to a degree or in circumstances where the absence causes concern for safety of the child or there is potential danger to the public.
Absences that cause concern are those where staff or carers have no indication that a child is likely to return within a short space of time or where there is immediate concern for the child's safety.
Clearly some children absent themselves for a short period and then return; often their whereabouts are known. They are not considered at risk and usually they are testing boundaries. Sometimes children stay out longer than agreed either on purpose or unwittingly. This kind of boundary testing activity is well within the range of normal teenage behaviour and should not come within the definition of "missing" for this protocol.
Additional information on Social Services procedures for 'Children Missing from Care’ can be found at:
link to the original document Missing or Out of Contact Client
To make a general enquiry about a missing child, contact:
Metropolitan Police Hounslow Borough Police
National Missing Persons Helpline
Tel: 0500 700 700 - UK Freephone 24 hour helpline
www.missingpersons.org
To make a specific enquiry about a Hounslow child who has absconded from care or considered to be missing contact:
Hounslow Children & Families Social Services Offices.
All offices are open: Monday to Thursday: 9am to 5pm, Friday: 9am to 4.45pm.
If you live in:
Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Heston & Central Hounslow
Call (020) 8583 3400.
Bedfont, Cranford, Feltham, Hanworth & West Hounslow
Call (020) 8583 3200.
Or contact our Customer Service Officers through the Hounslow website on: childrenssocialcare@hounslow.gov.uk