A child going missing is not something we wish to happen at our clubs/events.  If you plan and mitigate the risk, ensuring yuo have considered appropriate supervision ratios, and have undertaken venue and activity risk assessment, you can lower the chance of something like this happening.

However, if a child does go missing for any period of time, the following guidance should support you and guide you through what actions to take.

Lost Child

Step    Descrption of Action

1   If the child has a mobile phine, try calling them.

2   Search the area in which the child has gone missing including changing rooms, toilets, public and private areas and the clubs grounds.  Ensure other children in your care are supervised appropriately while a search for the child is conducted.

3    A nominated person should remain at the site of the activity or last known point of the missing child in case the child returns.  They should make a note of events, including a detailed physical description of the child.  This should include approximate height, build, hair and eye colour as well as the clothing the child was wearing and where and when they were last seen.

4    If the child cannot be found after a thorough search of the immediate surroundings, contact the child’s parents/carers to advise them of the concern and reassure them that everything is being done to locate their child.

5   Organise all available responsible adults and allocate them by further areas to be searched.  Send searchers immediately to any venue exits to ensure the child has not left, and to any obvious potential danger spots such as nearby lakes or rivers.  Request all those searching to report back within a brief time with regular updates.

6    If the child cannot be found after the extended search contact the parents/carers again to inform them you will now report this to the police.

7   After contacting the parents/carers report the missing child to the police.  Ensure this is no more than 20 minutes after the child’s dissappearance is noted, even if the search is not compete.  This should include the information recorded in point 3.

8   If the police recommend further action before they get involved, follow their guidance.

When Child is Found

Step     Description

1   Ensure that you inform all involved in any search including parents/carers, searchers and police when the child is located.

2   Make sure the child and anyone else affected are OK and provide additional support if needed.

3   Log the incident and review with the Club Safeguarding Officer to mitigate any risk of recurrence.

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