Kids

Children must be accounted for at all times when they are in our care. Our Check in processes ensure that kids are checked in, that we have the phone number of the person who is picking them up, have a sticker put on their clothing and are only collected by a person holding the  corresponding sticker.  If the sticker system is not available, another similar system must be activated. (eg handwritten labels). 

Lost Child

In the unlikely event it becomes apparent that a child is missing, it is important to act quickly. Please follow these guidelines. 

1. Identify the name, age and what the child was wearing at the time. 

2. Alert leaders nearby and the Pastor/Program Coordinator,  either in person, on phone, and send an alert to others that a child is missing and advise name, age and clothing worn. 

3. If the child cannot be located immediately, call the parent and explain that the child is missing and ask if the child has possibly slipped out and is now with the parent?

If the child is with the parent, call off the search. If the child is of reasonable age, ask the parent if they would discuss with the child the dangers of leaving the program without being officially picked up. 

If the child is not with the parent continue with this process:

4. Expand those involved in the search - ie alert other volunteers and leaders and allocate areas for them to search and advise name, age and clothing worn. 

5. Identify a "Command Post" for information to come in and out. For Brisbane it would be the Information Desk in the foyer. 

Please ask your Pastor/Program Coordinator to discuss this procedure for a Lost Child and discuss the location of your Command Post in the event a child goes missing. 

6. If the child has not been located within 20-30 mins, talk to the parent and call 000 if it is the agreed upon action. The parent may choose to call 000 at any point in response to this incident. Follow instructions by the authorities whilst continuing to search. 

Slipped out unnoticed Child

It's possible if there is more than one child in a family in the same room, and one has been released but the second is still in the process of being checked out, the first child may slip away. Therefore, we ask the parents to allow us to wait with the first child, inside the room, until you can release both (or more) children into the care of the parent together. 

Uncollected Child

No child should be left alone waiting for a parent to pick them up. Please follow these guidelines. 

1. If an appropriate amount of time has passed and a child is still waiting, call the parent and navigate when they will turn up. 

2. If it is a habitually late parent, advise your Pastor/Program Coordinator who may wish to have a conversation with the parent around valuing volunteer time. 

3. Never leave the pick up area, ie do not take the child home or McDonalds. Stay where the parent is expecting the child to be. 

Suspected Taken Child

If you suspect that a child is missing and has been taken, contact your Pastor/Program Coordinator immediately and if there is any concern for the well-being of the child, call 000 immediately. 

Follow the guidelines above as if searching for a lost child and if 000 must be called, advise them of your suspicions at that time. 

Youth

Teens must be accounted for at all times when they are in our care. Our Check in processes ensure that all teenagers are checked in, that we have a corresponding parent phone number. Teens are not always checked in and picked up by a parent. Therefore, any teens removing themselves from our programs, before the program end, must be advised that they must stay in the program. If they still choose to leave, 

Lost / Missing / Left Program of own accord

In the unlikely event that it becomes apparent that a teen is missing, it is important to act quickly. Please follow these guidelines. 

• Identify the name, age and what they was wearing at the time. 

• Alert leaders nearby and the Pastor/Program Coordinator,  either in person, on phone. Send them to search and advise name, age and clothing worn. 

• If it appears the teen is no longer at the program, call the parent and explain that their teen is not present and may have voluntarily left the program. 

If the parent is unconcerned,  ask them if they would mind messaging you when the child gets home to confirm their safety. 

If the parent is concerned, ask them how they would like you to proceed. For example, continue searching a wider area on the property? Calling / interviewing the friends on where they could be? 

• Identify a "Command Post" for information to come in and out. Please ask your Pastor/Program Coordinator to discuss this procedure for a Lost Teen and discuss the location of your Command Post in the event a teen goes missing. 

• Continue liaising with the parent and decide when it would be appropriate to call 000.  The parent may choose to call 000 at any point in response to this incident. Follow instructions by the authorities continuing to search. 

Uncollected Teen

No teen should be left alone waiting for a parent to pick them up. Please follow these guidelines. 

• If an appropriate amount of time has passed and a child is still waiting, call the parent and navigate when they will turn up. 

• If the parent is non-contactable and a reasonable amount of time has passed, it is appropriate for two volunteers, (following the 'travelling with minors' policy) to drive the teen home. 

• If it is a habitual late parent, advise your Pastor/Program Coordinator who may wish to have a conversation with the parent around valuing volunteer time. 

• Never leave the pick up area, ie do not take the teen home or McDonalds. Stay where the parent is expecting the teen to be. 

Suspected Abducted Teen

If you suspect that a teen is missing and has been taken, contact your Pastor/Program Coordinator immediately and if there is any concern for the well-being of the child, call 000 immediately. 

Follow the guidelines above as if searching for a lost teen and if 000 must be called, advise them of your suspicions at that time.