New framework for missing children and young people cases launches today

A pilot framework explaining how services should handle suspected missing children and young people cases has launched today. For the past two years, The Fostering Network has been a part of a national task and finish group, led by the National Police Chief’s Council, working to develop a new approach to reporting children who are thought to have gone missing from care.  

Until now there have been inconsistencies in how and when suspected missing children are reported, resulting in delayed or premature reporting. Delayed reporting leads to missed safeguarding opportunities, while premature reporting can result in avoidable police contact and potential criminalisation of a young person, when they might just be late home or testing boundaries.  

The Children who go Missing from Care Framework includes an escalation policy, which gives carers the power to challenge a police decision to delay their response, if they feel a child is at risk of significant harm.  

A post-incident escalation policy is also being implemented, to review cases which are repeatedly being delayed by police, as well as cases where carers are repeatedly reporting children missing when it is unnecessary to do so.  

Today marks International Missing Children’s Day, and Deputy Chief Constable for West Yorkshire Police Catherine Hankinson, will officially launch the pilot at the National Missing People Conference in Bradford.  

A virtual information session on the framework for police, social workers, residential managers, accommodation providers, carers, fostering agencies and relevant third sector organisations will take place tomorrow – Friday 26 May – from 1pm to 2pm.  

Those interested in joining can do so by joining on Microsoft Teams: Click here to join the meeting (Meeting ID: 385 091 210 238, Passcode: k2M48f) 

Head of practice at The Fostering Network, Sarah McEnhill, said: 'It is vital that the right, consistent, approaches area in place to support children and young people.   

‘By working together and using this framework, foster carers, police and other partners can ensure those young people, who may be more vulnerable and at risk of exploitation, are safe, while avoiding unnecessary police contact if they are simply late home.’ 

Find out more here (link to https://www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk/node/12550)