Lost/found Child/Vulnerable persons

Lost found Child Vulnerable person Policy

This policy should be read with the Auckley Show Child protection policy

Introduction

The Auckley Show Committee has a responsibility to take all reasonable steps to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable persons attending its events. We have given full consideration as to how children will be protected during our events and to the safe management of ‘lost’ ‘found’ herein addressed as ‘lost’ children.

Policy

At any event attended by children, there is the potential for them to become separated from their parents or responsible adult. Unfortunately, not all adults have good intentions towards children and could seek to harm children who become separated. The following procedure has been adopted to minimise any risk or harm.

All staff to be briefed prior to event with the following guidelines.

Event Manager Neil Woodward or in absence Howard Hill to be notified at the earliest opportunity of any reports of lost found children/vulnerable persons. 07799761006 or Auckley Show What App group.

·         Accommodation – The allocated place to accommodate lost or found children/vulnerable persons will be the Auckley Show Information point.

·         Staffing - it is good practice to have two people to care for any found child, and both ideally will have been subject to a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) at enhanced level. As per our Child Protection policy.

·         General Care Guidelines

·         Children should not be left in the sole care of one person.

·         No food or drink, except plain water should be given to children/vulnerable adults in case of allergies.

·         The person claiming a child should complete a form to include their name and address and relationship to the child and will show a form of identification, always bearing in mind that if the child is unsure or reluctant to be taken by the person collecting them, then further confirmation will be required of the relationship to the child/ person before handing him or her over. The person should be a competent adult.

All Staff looking after children are expected to:

·         Respect the wishes of a child as you would an adult, you must not impose yourself on them

·         Remember that children regard adults as role models and ensure your behaviour, language, gestures etc. are appropriate and above reproach

·         Prevent any other member of staff or member of public from putting any child in a situation in which there is a significant risk to their health and safety.

·         Be prompt, calm, assured and professional

Lost Vulnerable Adults

(Example: an adult who has become separated from their family/friends/carers)

Lost adults who become detached from their friends or family will either make themselves known to staff or a staff member may become aware of them. A procedure should then be in place to assist people with linking up with the other members of their party. Example: ‘The staff member will make a call to the Control in case the person’s friends or family have already made contact. A brief search of the area can be carried out with the lost person to assist in locating friends or family. If the immediate search is unsuccessful the staff member can then escort the lost person back to the lost person allocated area, Auckley Show information point, where the Control will be informed and take appropriate action, such as assist with making phone calls or a public announcement, if appropriate.

Found child

(Example: a child who has become separated from their parent/ carer)

If a lost child is discovered by any staff member this must be reported immediately to Command and Control point – Air Cadets.

The following procedure should be adopted.

·         The child will be taken to the designated lost person point the Auckley Show information point. Two DBS checked staff members called to attend to look after the child. The child will be reassured and the following questions will be asked to gather more information:

·         Ask their parents/ cares names

·         Ask if they know any contact numbers for the persons they were with or other family members/ friends that may help

·         Ask where and when they were last together

·         Ask what they were doing to help you identify where the parents might be

·         Ask what the parents are wearing

·         Ask if they know what the parents plans were/ are

·         If child is calm and it is appropriate to do so, further details may be obtained, such as address and other relatives details.

Consider using Main Personal Address System for announcements. Any message should be sanitised using no descriptions of the person. Example ‘we have a found person at The  Auckley Show information stand

Missing People

When a person has been reported as lost/missing the following details of the missing person are to be obtained, recorded and passed to Control by an agreed communication system:

§  Name and age

§  Male or Female

• Ethnicity

• Hair Colour

• Height

• Glasses (Yes/No)

• Colour and type of clothing

• Length of time missing

• Circumstances under which went missing

• Area where last seen

• Does the individual have a mobile phone, if so what is the number

• Is the individual disabled or does he/she have Special Needs

• Any other vulnerability

• Any other identifying features

• Anywhere the missing persons favours to go/ is likely to go or people they may contact

• What the missing person enjoys doing

• Any medication

If the missing person is a child this incident takes priority. Parents, accompanied by a steward/ member of staff, should remain in the area where the child was last seen. Control will pass the relevant information to all staff via agreed method of communication. (Radio, Mobile and What’s-app). All staff should undertake a search of their areas. In perimeter areas, staff are asked to report on any such child leaving the event site and if necessary stop anyone they think might be the missing child from leaving.

Consider the river bank.

Reviewed February 25 Neil Woodward