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The Reconnect Network is a network of organisations that work together to give vulnerable missing and unidentified people the best support available.
Every year, we know that several thousand missing people have contact with refuges, day centres, clinics and hospitals. Many missing people experience mental health difficulties, and may be living on the streets.
The Reconnect Network gives organisations working with vulnerable people an opportunity to find out if their service users have been reported missing, enabling them to provide appropriate support.
Many vulnerable people may not even be aware that they have been reported missing, and that someone is concerned about them. This itself may be a source of comfort and may provide organisations working with vulnerable people with a route to connecting them back into their support networks and community.
Vulnerable missing people can be put in touch with Missing People. We can explore how best to support them, including putting them in touch with their relatives searching for them, or the police. Our service is confidential, and we will respect the wishes of the missing person.
The Reconnect Network also allows organisations to request Missing People’s help to identify a service user. Establishing the identity of a vulnerable person can be vital to ensuring they receive the best care possible.
“I thought it would make my job harder, but actually it makes it much, much easier. Knowing what to do.”
Voluntary sector staff member
Reconnect Network in Westminster
The Reconnect Network was piloted and developed in Westminster, London. The development phase was overseen by a Reference Group of senior representatives of each organisation, the Department of Health and chaired by Gordon Boxall, then Chief Executive of mcch.
A six month pilot of the scheme was conducted in 2010. Download the  Reconnect Network Summary Report (806.46 kB) and Reconnect Network Full evaluation report (735.86 kB) to find out more about the lessons learnt.
11 organisations have now partnered with Missing People to form the Reconnect Network in Westminster:
“[The Reconnect Network] is a powerful example of how government can work with local partners to translate policy into practice, and I would like to thank the Westminster Reference Group for the work they have done.”
Paul Burstow, Minister of State for Care Services, Department of Health
How does the Reconnect Network work?
Missing People works to resolve hundreds of disappearances each year. The Reconnect Network is an important new way in which we can try and help even more people.
When Missing People receives details of a missing person, and there are concerns for his or her mental well-being, then we can issue a Request to Trace to our partner organisations.
Our partners make a check of their information systems to see if they have any contact with the missing person. Whatever the result, they don’t tell Missing People. If they do have any contact with the missing person then they can support them to explore various options, including reconnecting with their family or contacting the police. If the person wants Missing People to support them through these steps, then we’re here to help, in confidence, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The missing person may choose to do nothing. That is their choice, and it is a choice that is respected by Missing People and protects our partner agencies’ relationships with their clients.
If a partner organisation has someone in their care whose identity they are unsure of, then they can ask for our help by issuing a Request to Identify. Missing People makes a check of its database of missing people and let’s partner organisations know if a match is made.
More information on the processes involved are available in our Guidance to Managers and our Guidance to Administrative Staff to down load below.
Reconnect Network Guidance for Authorising Mangagers (480.13 kB)
Reconnect Network Guidance for Administrative Staff (495.07 kB)
These processes have been designed, piloted and evaluated in order to ensure that they both safeguard vulnerable people and comply with the legal requirements to protect information about individuals and uphold their confidentiality.
“The whole piece of work around confidentiality and information sharing will of use for us as an organisation.”
Voluntary sector manager
Join the Reconnect Network
To find out more about joining the Reconnect Network, please contact
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How we can help 
