Missing Student Policy

Policy Statement

The safety of all  students is paramount and it is essential we know where all students are at all  times. This policy is designed to be implemented in cases where students  are believed to be absent or missing from the care of Oxford Education and Services (OES). The  purpose of the policy is to locate the student by the safest and fastest means  possible.

Definition:

Oxford  Education and Services’ adoption of distinct definitions to determine whether  someone is missing or absent is in accordance with the National Police Chiefs  Council definitions (issued by ACPO in 2013). The following definitions are included within the Local Safeguarding Children Board protocols:

Absent – a child or young person is  not at a place where they are expected or required to be and there is no  apparent risk.

Missing – a child or young person  whose whereabouts cannot be established and where the circumstances are out of  character, or the context suggests the person may be subject to crime or at  risk of harm to themselves or another.

Procedure

If a child or young person goes missing out of  hours and receives a report then, the DSL, Dr. Iling Lee has to be notified.  The DSL shall manage any cases of absent or missing children or young people,  and as such all reports must be brought to the attention of the DSL. The DSL is  responsible for ensuring the completion of the initial reasonable enquiries  where a student is absent/missing during an event (for example half term, exeat  or during a suspension/expulsion) which will include:

• Obtaining the  student’s number and making direct contact by texting, emailing and phoning the  student (leaving a message if no answer) asking them to make contact with the on  duty member of staff and repeating this contact every 30 minutes

• Contacting the  missing student's school and asking the school staff on duty in the boarding  house to collate any relevant information about the whereabouts of the student

• Asking the  student's friends or his/her parents or the host  family if they are aware of any reason for the absence and ask them to  contact the DSL if the child or young person makes contact.

• Checking social  media to establish the whereabouts of the students.

• Review  of information held on file which may indicate friends or associates who the  student may be with.

• OES will also  keep all relevant parties updated every hour or when there is any progress.

If we have located the student in a short time, and the student  (him/herself) or a friend or family member has confirmed the reason for missing  classes, we will contact the school to make a report as an absence.

If we are not able to locate the missing student by any methods above  and any member of staff or homestay have genuine  concerns for the student’s safety, we will report a child or young person as  absent or missing to the police. All the parties will be notified of this  action.

Reporting  to the police

We will only contact the police after all reasonable checks  to locate the student have been carried out and the search is unsuccessful.

• A  child or young person who falls into the ‘Missing’ Category must be reported to  the police as soon as possible by telephoning 101 for a non-emergency report or  999 for an emergency response i.e. information received that a child or young  person is in immediate danger of harm.

YOU WILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE  TRANSFERRED TO THE FORCE RELEVANT TO THE AREA THE CHILD IS MISSING/ABSENT FROM.  IF CALLING 999 YOU WILL NEED TO TELL THE CALL HANDLER TO STAY ON THE LINE,  WHILE YOU ARE TRANSFERRED TO THE RELEVANT FORCE.

2. The DSL  or Deputy DSL will ensure that the following information is gathered for the  initial report to the police:

• Name,  date of birth and nationality of the child or young person;

• The  specific concern for the child or young person;

• Whether  they are likely to be subjected to crime, victim of abuse or at risk of sexual  exploitation;

• Whether  the child or young person likely to attempt suicide; • Whether the child or  young person likely to pose a danger to other people;

• What  actions have been completed so far to locate the child or young person;

• A  description of the child or young person, including their build, hair, clothing  and glasses;

• Details  of when the child or young person was last seen and with whom;

• Personal details of the child or young person (including any medical  conditions or ailments);

• Any  previous history of absconding/absenteeism and circumstances of where found;

• The  circumstances under which the child or young person is absent;

• Any  factors which increase the risk to the child or young person;

• Homestay  address.

Information  that may be needed later to extend investigations if the young person is not  located:

• A recent  photograph (if available);

• Family  addresses and contact telephone numbers;

• Known  associates, telephone numbers and addresses frequented;

• The  names and addresses of the child or young person’s GP and dentist;

• The  circumstances under which the child or young person is absent;

• Any  factors which increase the risk to the child or young person;

• School  and House Parent addresses and contact details

• Details  of any travel and accommodation plans authorised by the overseas parents;

• Details  of any social media accounts that may be open to the public;

3. The  incident must be recorded as an incident report file with regular updates being  added until the matter has been resolved. If a police report has been made, the  police incident reference number must be recorded. A record of all emails  should be included in the incident report file.

After a student is found

A student who goes missing could be at risk of violence,  victimisation, sexual exploitation and involvement in crime. The student who  goes missing just once faces the same risks as the person who repeatedly goes  missing. The possible risk factors may exist for missing incident could be  deterioration of physical and mental health, Involvement in criminal  activities, victim of abuse, victim of crime (e.g.,through sexual assault and  exploitation),alcohol/substance misuse etc. Therefore, when the missing student returns, a supportive  approach is very important. There could be a good chance to prevent the  student from going missing again and safeguarding them against other risks if  we listen and respond to their needs.  Also, talk to the  professionals, such as social workers might help the student.

Our company will follow the procedure below to take actions once the  student is found:

• a  member of our staff will talk with, take care of and conform the student

• a  member of our staff will speak with the students and others to make sure that  they understand the reason that they should not leave without the permission  has been given and notifying their guardian. 

• The  DSL(Designated Safeguarding Lead) will speak with the parents/guardians to  report the incident, and then record the incident by writing a letter to the  parents.

• The  DSL will execute a full investigation. The Police and the appropriate Local  Safeguarding Children Board will be involved if necessary.

• The  written report of the incident will be recorded, it includes the details of  time, place, members of staff, the circumstances in which the student went  missing, an outline of what has happened in our understanding, how long the  student was missing and an initial explanation of how the incident appeared to  have arisen. All factors which have been involved for the incident might be  needed for written statements.

• All  relevant procedures will be reviewed in the light of the incident for improving  the quality of our service.

Children Missing Education

Children  Missing Education (2016) is statutory guidance that sets out key principles to  enable local authorities in England to implement their legal duty under section  436A of the Education Act 1996 to make arrangements to identify, as far as it  is possible to do so, children missing education (CME).

Children  Missing Education explains that:

‘All  children, regardless of their circumstances, are entitled to an efficient, full  time education which is suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any  special educational needs they may have.

Children  missing education are children of compulsory school age who are not registered  pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at a  school. Children missing education are at significant risk of underachieving,  being victims of harm, exploitation or radicalisation, and becoming NEET (not  in education, employment or training) later in life.

Effective  information sharing between parents, schools and local authorities is critical  to ensuring that all children of compulsory school age are safe and receiving  suitable education. Local authorities should focus their resources effectively  in intervening early in the lives of vulnerable children to help prevent poor  outcomes.’

Should OES  become aware that a student in their care is missing from education, OES will  notify the school or college that the student attends immediately.

Review

We are  committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.

This  policy was last reviewed on:   20/Mar/2021………………………(date)

Signed: ……………………………………………………………

Date:  ……20/03/2021………………………………………………………