Missing People Website
Call Missing People on 0500 700 700. 24 hour confidential Freefone service.
- in the professionals sections:
- seen someone
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- coroners
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Information for Social Care Services
Missing People helps local authorities to find young people missing from care (or any child who is known to Children's Services). We also assist in the search for vulnerable people known to Adult's Services.
Children and Young People
“I would like to thank you and your [missing from care] team for all the support during our missing person investigation. The media strategy formed a huge part of our investigation and working together with you really enabled us to safeguard this young person to the best of our ability.
I also found your experience and knowledge of working with missing people, was particularly beneficial. It was of great assistance when you attended our strategy meetings so we could discuss various aspects of the case. I look forward to working with you again in the future.”
Social Worker - Specialitst Investigation and Assessment Team, Buckinghamshire Social Services
A specialist team of caseworkers within Missing People are on hand to work with Social Workers to aid the safe return of children missing from care. Local Authorities currently fund this specialist team who are dedicated to working with the relevant authorities to help locate children who are missing from care. We aim to achieve a safe outcome for young people who have run away by operating to the highest standard of good practice. The safety of the child is the number one priority and we work within strict confidentiality codes.
The team was set up in 2003 under an agreement with the Department of Health, and later Department for Education and Skills. More recently (2005), the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) introduced a scheme whereby funding is provided by Local Authorities for the charity to provide this service nationally.
We handle cases of missing children who are in care, or any child who is known to their Local Authority Social Care Services. We operate a system of accepting open referrals from any agency or carer involved with the missing child. It is essential that the case has already been reported to police beofre we can help. The charity then provides a neutral interface, liaison and contact point and also publicity opportunities. We have access to publicity channels and media partners which may otherwise not be available to Social Services - publicity can be as high profile or low profile as the case warrants. All publicity is undertaken under full consultation with Social Care Services, police and - where appropriate - the family of the missing child. A media consent form will need to be signed by whoever has parental responsibility.
The missing from care team may also be available to attend progress or case review meetings in order to impart knowledge and experience which may assist with the location of the missing child.
Tel: 0500 700 700
Fax: 020 8878 7752
Email missingfromcare@missingpeople.org.uk or click here to contact us using our general contact form
Our specialist team is available during normal office hours.
If you would like more information on how the team can help you, please get in touch.
Adult Services
Where an adult is missing and has a social worker or is known to Adult Services, Missing People will liaise with the appropriate authorities in the search for the missing person. We would liaise with Adult's Services where issues relating to older age, mental health and learning disabilities may be involved.
Unidentified People
Various organisations such as hostels for the homeless, outreach workers etc. offer help to individuals needing support. Sometime these individuals either won't, or are unable to say, who they are which can create problems for the organisations trying to help them. In many circumstances they may have mental health problems or they may not be able to claim benefits without a proven identity. Such an individual may be a missing person who is being looked for by concerned family or police and if their identity can be established the appropriate help may be easier to obtain.
The Identification team of Missing People may be able to help in these situations by checking their database for possible matches against people reported missing or by helping with publicity in appropriate cases.
If you need help establishing the identity of a person you are working with, information on what to do next can be found here.
