Children Missing from Home or Care Course

Children Missing from Home or Care – Online Course

Course overview
This online course introduces the safeguarding issues around children who go missing from home or care. It explains key definitions and risk categories, why children go missing, how to recognise indicators of exploitation, and how agencies work together to respond, including through return interviews and support for looked after children. The course takes one hour and is CPD accredited.

Please note: This is an introductory, Level 1 course that builds awareness and foundational knowledge. It does not replace any specialist, practical or role-specific safeguarding training an employer may require, or local missing-from-home-or-care protocols and procedures.

What the course covers
– Introduction to children missing from home or care, and key definitions
– Police definitions and risk categories
– Contributing to risk assessments
– Why children go missing
– Grooming and manipulation, and recognising indicators of exploitation
– Roles and responsibilities of local authorities and local safeguarding children partnerships
– Learning from data and patterns
– Multi-agency working, information sharing and professional communication
– The contribution of the voluntary sector
– Runaway and missing from home and care protocols
– Risk assessment processes and safe and well checks
– Communicating with children and building trust
– Independent return interviews and the issues explored in return reviews
– A child’s lived experience
– Repeat missing episodes and their review
– Looked after children and increased vulnerability
– Safeguarding looked after children and preventing missing episodes in care
– Placement stability and care planning

Who is it for?
The course is written at an introductory level for professionals, carers and volunteers who are responsible for the safety and welfare of children and young people in the UK. It is appropriate for:
– Social workers and looked after children teams
– Residential care staff and foster carers
– Education professionals, pastoral staff and Designated Safeguarding Leads
– Police officers and missing person units
– Youth justice and outreach workers
– Volunteers

It can be used for induction, refresher training, awareness or to enhance existing knowledge.

Practical benefits
– Understand the definitions and risk categories used when a child is missing
– Recognise why children go missing and the indicators of exploitation
– Understand the roles of different agencies and the value of multi-agency working
– Learn how return interviews and safe and well checks support children
– Understand why looked after children may be at increased risk
– Gain evidence of awareness and knowledge for inductions and refresher training
– Receive a free CPD-accredited certificate for your records

What learners will be able to do
– Explain key principles and terminology relating to children missing from home or care
– Recognise why the subject matters in day-to-day practice
– Identify common risks, concerns and situations linked to missing episodes
– Understand individual responsibilities and role boundaries
– Apply good-practice principles in workplace situations
– Communicate effectively with relevant people when issues arise
– Recognise when advice, reporting or escalation is required

Is this training a legal requirement?
The supplied information does not state that this training is a legal requirement. It describes the course as supporting compliance with Department for Education (DfE) statutory guidance and the Working Together to Safeguard Children framework. Employers should confirm the training their own role and setting require.

Assessment and certificate
Learners complete a quiz at the end of the course. On successful completion, they receive a CPD-accredited certificate, which can be downloaded or printed at home for free. A hard copy can also be requested for delivery to a home or work address. Unlimited quiz retakes are included, and the course is allocated instantly after purchase. A complimentary learner management system lets organisations view course progress, quiz results and certification, and a compliance matrix is available to support audits and inspections.