Reporting a Missing Child or Young Person
Reporting A Missing Child Or Young Person
The NESCPC Guidelines include a section under Special Circumstances that provides some guidance in situations where a child who is named on the Child Protection register is missing. The issue of missing children is subject to review and to national developments.
NESCPC Guidance
Each Agency should have their own protocols for alerting staff within that agency and other agencies if a child is missing. A child whose name is entered on the child protection register is deemed missing if within one week of reporting difficulty with contact, his/her address is not known. The keyworker should be notified that the child is missing. The keyworker should:
- Inform their line manager who will arrange for the appropriate protocol to be initiated.
- Notify the Register that a child is missing
- Inform the other agencies that have involvement with the child
Protocols for Looked After Children
Across the Grampian Police Force area, which includes Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray, there is a protocol in place for reporting children and young people missing who put themselves at risk by leaving care placements without permission.
