TOWER HAMLETS CHILDRENS SERVICES DIRECTORATE GUIDANCE ON THE MISSING

tower hamlets childrens services directorate guidance on the missing children register -----------------------------------------

TOWER HAMLETS CHILDREN'S SERVICES DIRECTORATE

GUIDANCE ON THE MISSING CHILDREN REGISTER
-----------------------------------------
To:
The Headteachers of all Tower Hamlets schools, maintained and
independent; Children's Centres, day nurseries, playgroups and
childminders (summary version for Childminders – Appendix B).
cc
*
Principal Attendance and Welfare Advisor, AWS Admin Manager,
Parents' Advice Centre, Head of Early Years Service, Head of the
Support for Learning Service, Head of Pupil Referral Unit,
Principal SEN Officer, Pupil Services Manager, Head of Youth &
Community Services, Head of Youth Offending Team, Head of
Connexions, Student Finance Manager, Principal Educational
Psychologist
*
Service Head (Children's Social Care), Service Manager (Child
Protection and Reviewing Service), Service Manager (Fieldwork
Services), Head of LBTH Asylum & Homeless Social Services Team,
Director of Housing, Head of Homeless Persons Unit
*
Director of Public Health, Nurse Specialist in Child Protection,
*
Head of Police Child Protection Team, Head of Probation Service,
Manager for the NSPCC (East London).
*
Managers of Children's Centres.
TITLE:
Tower Hamlets Missing Children Register
DATE:
January 2008 – (Supersedes March 2006 Guidance)
PURPOSE:
*
To provide schools, children's centres and the relevant local
agencies with comprehensive guidance on the referral process to
the Missing Children Register
*
To increase information sharing between schools, Tower Hamlets
agencies and other local authorities (LAs) on missing children.
CONTACT FOR ENQUIRIES:
Brendan Mulcahy, Attendance & Welfare Adviser (Children Missing
Education)
Tel: 020-7364 3426
Email: [email protected]
Hania Franek, Head of Pupil and Student Services
Tel: 020-7364 4302
Email:[email protected]
Admin Officer, Missing Children Register
Tel: 020-736 4573
Email: [email protected]
1
WHAT IS THE MISSING CHILDREN REGISTER?
1.1
The Tower Hamlets Missing Children Register is an electronic database
created solely for the purpose of actively tracking down children aged
16 and under who have gone missing from the borough and once they have
been found, making sure that they are referred on to the appropriate
agencies. Missing children from other LA areas are recorded and
checked against the Register.
1.2
The Missing Children Register records and logs the details of the
child concerned and also has an active information seeking and sharing
component which links up with local Tower Hamlets agencies and with
London wide databases.
2
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A MISSING CHILD?
2.1
The whereabouts of children who are defined as missing are unknown to
statutory agencies and include the following: -
a.
Children in families who are victims of domestic violence who have
to go into sudden hiding.
b.
Children in families who have disappeared without leaving a
forwarding address.
c.
Children in families who have gone on extended leave and have
failed to return when due to do so.
d.
Runaways. (See Appendix A for detailed guidance for schools and
the Attendance and Welfare Service (AWS).)
e.
Children who have gone missing notified by other local authorities
(LAs).
2.2
Children out of school are monitored and tracked on the Pupil Services
Admissions database. This includes permanently excluded pupils and
children who are home educated.
3
HOW ARE REFERRALS MADE TO THE MISSING CHILDREN REGISTER?
3.1
SCHOOLS
=======
3.1.1
The designated member of staff with responsibility for attendance
should make enquiries about children who are not attending school AND
refer them to Tower Hamlets Attendance and Welfare Service in
accordance with the referral criteria, see
Appendix D.
3.1.2
In tracking a missing child, a school should have made the following
checks before referring to the Attendance and Welfare Service:
1.
Contact all the emergency contact numbers on the missing child's
file.
2.
If the missing child is on the Child Protection Register, or is a
looked after child, or Children's Social Care are known to be
actively involved, refer the matter straight away to Children's
Social Care.
3.1.2
cont
3.
Write to the family at the last known address, including e-mail
address.
4.
Check for rumours in the school of the possible whereabouts of the
pupil. This will be most effective by asking known friends of the
missing child.
5.
If the child has not been found after these checks, refer to the
Attendance and Welfare Service.
3.1.3
The AWA will advise the school when a pupil's name may be removed from
roll. At the same time, the school must enter the pupil's details to
the (DfES) DCSF s2s Missing Pupil Database on TEACHERNET. On this
site: www.teachernet.gov.uk/s2s, the Common Transfer File can be
secured safely and will be available if the pupil returns to a
maintained school. See separate PDF Appendix E for guidance on using
s2s
======================================================================
3.2
CHILDREN'S CENTRES, DAY NURSERIES, PLAYGROUPS AND CHILDMINDERS (See
Summary version of guidance at Appendix B)
===================================================================
3.2.1
Enquiries should be made and the following checks undertaken: -
1.
Telephone all the contact numbers available for the child.
2.
If the missing child is on the Child Protection Register, or is a
looked after child, or Children's Social Care are known to be
actively involved, refer the matter straight away to Children's
Social Care.
3.
Write to the family at the last known address, including e-mail
address.
4.
Check for rumours of the possible whereabouts of the child with
friends of the child and family.
If the child has not been found after these checks, contact the Admin
Officer for the Missing Children Register for a referral form.
3.2.2
If the child turns up after the referral is made or information is
received on the child's whereabouts, contact the Missing Children
Register on 020-7364 4573.
3.3
OTHER AGENCIES
3.3.1
Statutory and voluntary services working with children in Tower
Hamlets concerned that a child's whereabouts is unknown should contact
the child's last known school. The majority of children living in the
borough will be accounted for on schools' or the Pupil Services
databases. For children who have gone missing and are not attached to
any school (e.g. Under 5 children not in any provision and Home
Educated children,) Tower Hamlets professionals should exhaust their
enquiries and can then contact the Missing Children Register direct.
3.3.2
When a child has moved out of borough, or is missing, the school still
has responsibility for referring the pupil to the Attendance and
Welfare Service if the destination is unknown. The Attendance and
Welfare Adviser undertakes the checks above and if necessary, refers
to the Missing Children Register.
3.3.3
The requirement for agencies to refer first to the child's last
educational placement should prevent searches being made for a child
who is not, in fact, missing. By following the filtering process of
the school / AWS checks, the children who are truly missing will be
the cases that are actively sought through monitoring by the Register.
3.4
THE AWS RESPONSIBILITY
======================
3.4.1
When a child is not attending and his / her whereabouts cannot be
determined by the school, there are certain checks required on the
part of the Attendance and Welfare Advisor to see if the child can be
located. The checks must be undertaken for children living in Tower
Hamlets in the following order: -
1.
Establish what actions the school have undertaken and what
contacts have already been attempted.
2.
Pupil Services check.
3.
Local housing office check.
4.
Local Housing Benefit office check.
5.
Children's Social Care Duty Officer check.
6.
Home-visit to last known address.
3.4.2
After these standard checks have been completed and the child still
remains missing, the AWA should complete the Missing Child referral
form (Appendix A) and forward it to the Admin Officer, Missing
Children Register, Pupil Services, 2nd floor, Mulberry Place. The
referral must be counter-signed by the Team Manager in the AWS. The
AWA will also complete referrals to the Register for children resident
in other boroughs.
3.4.3
AWAs should also follow the procedure for Runaways at Appendix A.
3.5
OUT OF BOROUGH CHILDREN
3.5.1
Children who do not reside in Tower Hamlets and who go missing from
Tower Hamlets schools and other provision are subject to the same
procedures. After completing the checks in paragraphs 3.1.2 or 3.2.1 a
referral should be made to school AWA. Other providers should refer to
the Tower Hamlets Missing Children Register, which will notify the
home LA.
4
WHAT HAPPENS TO REFERRALS TO THE MISSING CHILDREN REGISTER?
4.1
When a child is referred to the Missing Children Register there will
be a number of checks and searches undertaken to match the details of
the missing child with other records and databases. Some of these
databases are national, London-wide or just locally based. The Missing
Children Register links up with the following agencies:
1.
THAWS: Tower Hamlets Attendance and Welfare Service Databases
2.
THIS CHILD Online: a web based inter-agency information system for
sharing details of children who have had Common Assessment
Framework (CAF) form completed.
3.
NOTIFY: a London-wide database that tracks children in temporary
accommodation
4.
The s2s: online register on the DCSF (DfES) Teachernet web-site
with databases for Missing Pupils and Unique Pupil Numbers (UPNs)
5.
Tower Hamlets Pupil Services & SEN Database
6.
Student Finance Direct Database - Parent check only in appropriate
cases
7.
NOMAD: Gypsy and Traveller Database (7 London Boroughs) if
relevant
8.
FRAMEWORKi (FWi) Tower Hamlets Social Care Missing Persons
Database
9.
Tower Hamlets Health (National Tracking System -NSTS)
10.
MISPERS: Tower Hamlets Police Missing Persons
5
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
5.1
If the child is located as a result of these checks, the AWA will be
informed and will notify other relevant professionals. Children who
are not located will be placed on the Missing Children Register (MCR).
5.2
The Admin Officer will notify the AWA who will advise the school by
e-mail that a child's name has been placed on the Missing Children
Register for a note to be made in the school's Admission Register.
5.3
Any information in the future received by the MCR will be relayed to
the school AWA.
5.4
Missing children's details remain on the Register, if necessary, until
school leaving age.
6
ENQUIRIES FROM OTHER LOCAL AUTHORITIES
6.1
Enquiries about missing children from other local authorities will be
dealt with by the MCR Admin Officer. Contact details are on page one.
PROCEDURE FOR RUNAWAYS - Appendix A
Once it comes to notice that a child or young person has run away the
Head Teacher must be informed and the following done:
The Head Teacher or responsible senior member of staff must inform the
AWA and social worker or team manager and placement immediately where
a child or young person is:
*
on the CP Register ( or subject to a Child Protection referral)
*
a looked after child or young person who runs away or is removed
(i.e. abducted)
*
known to a statutory agency, or social worker, because there are
developing concerns for their safety.
For others not in the above categories, schools should seek to confirm
with the parent / carer that the child or young person has been
reported missing to the police and must refer to THAWS as soon as
possible. The AWA must undertake the checklist listed on Paragraph 3.4
of this guidance.
*
AWA should carry out a home visit and confirm that the child or
young person has been reported missing to the police and liase
with Children's Social Care. The school should be kept informed in
writing.
*
Where practicable, the AWA will exhaust enquiries within 2 working
days of receipt of the referral. If there is no further
information the AWA will inform a manager and Children's Social
Care, the Missing Children Register for Tower Hamlets LA and the
Police Child Protection Unit in writing.
*
The AWA will advise schools when a child or young person's name
may be removed from the school roll. A missing pupil's name must
remain on roll for a minimum of 20 school days.
*
Most runaways will return to their schools. The child or young
person's school records should be kept at the school until they
are requested from a new school. The school should inform the AWA
of the new school.
*
If the AWA becomes aware the child or young person has moved to
another school he or she should ensure all relevant agencies are
informed.
*
The AWA must report runaways to the Missing Children Register in
accordance with the procedure in the Tower Hamlets guidance on the
Missing Children Register (January 2008). All agencies concerned
with the care and protection of children should therefore ensure
that schools and the AWS are informed of all children and young
people who are missing from home.

Tower Hamlets Missing Children Register –
-----------------------------------------
Guidance for Childminders - Appendix B
--------------------------------------
Introduction
This guidance advises Childminders of what to do if a child they have
been minding goes missing and it is not known where they may be. This
can happen, for example, when families move suddenly without telling
anyone. It also informs Childminders about how and when to refer
missing children to the Missing Children Register.
What is the Missing Children Register (MCR)?
The Tower Hamlets Missing Children Register is based in Mulberry
Place. It keeps all the details of children who go missing from Tower
Hamlets. Checks are made with local agencies such as Children's Social
Care and the Police and also with other databases.
What you should do if you do not know where a child you have been
minding is?
=================================================================
1.
Telephone all the contact numbers available for the child.
2.
If the missing child is on the Child Protection Register, or is a
looked after child, or Children' Social Care are known to be
actively involved, contact Children's Social Care straight away.
3.
Write to the family at the last known address, and e-mail address.
4.
Check for rumours with friends of the child and family.
Referring to the Missing Children Register
If the child has not been found after you have made these checks,
telephone the Missing Children Register on 020-7364 4573 and ask for a
referral form. Complete it and send it to the address on the form. If
you need advice on completing the form the MCR Admin Officer will
help.
If the child turns up after you have sent the form or you get
information on where the child might be, telephone the Missing
Children Register and pass the information on.
Contact for Enquiries
If you have any queries or would like a copy of the full guidance,
contact: -
The Admin Officer, Missing Children Register.
Tel: 020-7364 4573
Email: [email protected]
MISSING CHILDREN FLOWCHART FOR TOWER HAMLETS SCHOOLS AND PROFESSIONALS
- Appendix C
Missing Children Register Checks
Agencies working with children
All schools & Children’s Centres
Runaways:
refer to headteacher or senior responsible member of staff in child’s
school.
1.
On Child Protection Register, refer to CSC direct.
2.
Phone all the emergency contact numbers
3.
Write to the last known address
4.
Check for rumours especially amongst friends
Child still missing, refer to Tower Hamlets Attendance & Welfare
Service
1.
Confirm schools checks
Carry out further checks with:-
2.
Pupil Services
3.
Local Housing
4.
Benefits check (i.e. housing, free school meals)
5.
Children's Social Care Duty Officer
6.
Home visit to last known address
Child still missing- AWA to refer to MC Register
1.
FrameworkI: Social Services database
2.
SEN: Children with Special Educational Needs Database
3.
EPS: Educational Psychology Service
4.
Student Finance – for parent check
5.
THIS Child Online: Web based inter-agency system (Common
Assessment Framework)
6.
NOMAD: Gypsy & Travellers (7 London Boroughs)
7.
NOTIFY: Homeless Persons database
8.
MISPERS: Police database of missing persons
10. TOWER HAMLETS HEALTH National Tracking System- NSTS)
Children on the MCR are added to the Missing Pupil Database on
Teachernet. Further checks are undertaken annually.
checks with all contact details, school and MPD.


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