4.4 Protocol for Young People Absconding and Returning to
Home
Acorn Homes takes the welfare of young people who have absconded very seriously. In the first instance when
the young person is referred to us the Home Manager liaises with all relevant professionals involved in the young
person’s care to assess the likely hood of the young person absconding and also historically how frequent that
have absconded.
From this the Home Manager can write relevant, accurate and meaningful risk assessments personalised to that
young person. The risk assessment around absconding will guide and inform the staff of what to do to safeguard
and try to prevent absconding happening. It will also cover what to do in case absconding does occur. Staffing
levels would be at a level that is appropriate to the risk of absconding and also relevant to age. These levels can
always be increased if needed to further safeguard the young person and reduce the risk of absconding.
Key working is an essential tool of Acorn Homes in the prevention of young people absconding. By building a
trusting relationship with their Keyworker the young person is far more likely to listen to advice and guidance
given to them about the dangers of absconding. Should a young person abscond then staff would follow the
homes policy and procedures around missing children and also refer to the young person’s risk assessment.
Acorn Homes has a very clear guideline regarding missing young people and do not stop looking for that young
person until they are located, so long as we have a general idea or location which they may be at. For clarity we
would always search local towns and areas around the home, but if the young person is deemed to have
travelled away from the area and we do not have a location to search, then staff would not be able to undertake
this. Searching will also include face book, social media, contacting friends and family, significant others and any
other form of tracking or intelligence gathering in order to locate the young person. When staff search for young
people, they will carry trackers which will enable us to record and coordinate searching for young people and
gather intelligence. This simple rule has helped us to find 80% of young people that have gone missing before
the local police have found them.
All staff employed by Acorn Homes know our philosophy with regard to missing children as do the young people
themselves. This has helped to develop a culture of excellent care and one in which the young people
themselves feel safe and wanted. When a new young person enters our homes the other young people will often
inform them that there is no point going missing as the staff will find you.
Should a young person go missing from our care as already stated we continue searching until they are found
and follow all legal guidelines regarding informing the police, local authority, families etc.
Acorn also has a very unique tool that has helped us several times over the previous years, as we have our own
“Children in crisis team”. This is a team of senior staff who are available to help search, collect children, provide
extra staffing etc. in times of crisis such as a young person missing. This gives us a higher percentage of locating
the young people and also ensures that the home isn’t affected and neither are the other young people who are
still remaining within the home.
Upon returning a missing young person their Welfare and Safety is the main priority and staff will not question or
pressure them but will offer food, drink etc. Within 72 hours an independent visitor will visit the young person to
undertake a Return Interview and endeavour to support the young person and staff to reduce the risk of it
happening again. Keyworker sessions will take place specifically aimed at dealing with any area that has been
identified that is linked to the young person absconding.
We have built up an excellent relationship with our local police, missing persons’ officer who also visits the young
person and supports the home in order to prevent the young person from absconding again.
Risk Assessments are reviewed and amended if necessary and patterns of behaviour monitored. The staff team
also share ideas around why the young person is absconding and work with the young person to help them
overcome the reason behind the absconding episode.
Updated 26/04/2017