1. Partnership in Action – Keeping Children Safer
Looked After Children Who Go Missing from Residential and Foster Care in Scotland
Partnership in Action – Keeping Children Safer
15 June 2017
Superintendent Gillian Scott
Liz Lafferty, Social Work Scotland
The following presentation is an for Police Scotland and Staff

2. Pilot Project Journey
3 pilot areas South Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Dundee City Councils
1 December 2015 – 30 November 2016
National Missing Person Framework May 2017
Police Scotland National Missing Person Unit

3. Aims and Objectives Keep looked after children and young people safe
Assist in making decisions when children or young people go missing from their placement
Fulfil statutory duties of care to children and young people and to the wider community
Interface with Child Sexual Exploitation agenda

4. Approach Corporate Parenting responsibilities
Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC)
Each child + each set of circumstances are unique
Best use of resources
Proportionate responses

5. Change in Approach
Standardised and consistent approach using best practice across Scotland
Now includes children in foster care
Significant change in categories of risk:
Previous : Red/Amber/Green
Pilot: Absent. Missing - Low, Medium and High

6. Absent: Roles and Responsibilities
Use the Prevention Plan and undertake a Risk Assessment unique to each child
Where there are grounds to believe that the absence involves no apparent risk, or the level of risk is a tolerable one not meeting the threshold for a police-led missing person investigation.
The police do not need to be contacted
This is a local authority led investigation

7. Missing Person: Roles and Responsibilities
A missing person will be defined as anyone whose whereabouts is unknown and:
where the circumstances are out of character; or
the context suggests the person may be subject to crime; or
the person is at risk of harm to themselves or another
This is a Police led investigation

8. This is a Police led investigation
Risk Categories
Low: apparent threat of danger to either the child or the public is low
Medium: the risk posed is likely to place the child in danger or they are a threat to themselves or others.
This is a Police led investigation

9. This is a Police led investigation
Risk Categories
High: the risk posed is immediate and there are substantial grounds for believing that:
the child is in danger through his/her own vulnerability; and/or
the child may have been the victim of a serious crime; and/or
the risk posed is immediate and there are substantial grounds for believing that the public is in danger
This is a Police led investigation

10. Missing Person Aide Memoire

11. Missing Person Initial Information
Proactive approach – electronic template Missing Person Form populated with relevant information including that contained in the risk assessment from the Child’s Plan
Aide Memoire assists with information required by the Police
All carers know what the police are going to ask and can prepare

12. Risk Assessment Assess and collate available information
Include the 23 question risk guidance from the Aide Memoire
Reach clear and agreed risk grading
Take appropriate action

13. Local Authority Responsibilities
Care providers contact the Police via 101 but in high risk cases consider using 999
Provide detail to complete the missing person form
Provide information from Prevention Plan
Consult with Police to agree risk grading
Police will lead the investigation

14. Local Authority Responsibilities
Care Providers should:
Inform Lead Professional/relevant others
Conduct thorough search of local authority/
home
Contact family, friends and associates
Identify other locations/places frequented
Consider review of social media
Try to locate the child

15. Police Responsibilities
Area Control Room to allocate Police resource
Obtain full details and complete missing person report
Obtain photos (both versions)
Circulate details of missing child
Investigate, search and regularly review risk assessment.

16. When a child returns: Care Provider Responsibilities
Welcome child back/assess safety
Contact the Police/Lead Professional/others
Identify concerns/update child’s Prevention Plan
Notify Care Inspectorate, as appropriate
Establish events of missing episode and consider push/pull factors
Identify emerging patterns and further actions

17. When a child returns: Police Responsibilities
Ensure safe and well check carried out
Cancel all circulations
Ensure missing person and concern forms are fully updated
Ensure all vulnerability/concerns are addressed
Return interview – to be carried out by most appropriate person
Ensure return interview findings are recorded and shared securely with relevant partners

18. Referral to the Reporter
Referrals to the Reporter will be made in all high risk cases
In all other cases this should be done in consultation with the Missing Person Operational Co-ordinator and partners

19. Response to Escalating Wellbeing Concerns
Consider Interagency Referral Discussion (IRD)
IRD will take place before investigation (except when emergency measures are taken)
Where child protection issues are not suspected raise Notification of Concern
Lead Professional instigates review of child’s Prevention Plan
Consider further interventions and support

20. Other important considerations
Weekly meetings with operational co-ordinator using partnership approach
Dedicated staff with protected time
Preventative measures and strategies
Information sharing
Informing the media

21. Progress in South Lanarkshire
Shared vision and ownership
Joint training just prior to implementation
Key relationships and trust – both strategically and operationally
Buy in from children and young people
Meticulous sharing and use of the data
Prevention and Planning for other vulnerable children and young people

22. Questions?…….

23. Contact Details