Philomena Protocol
What is the Philomena Protocol?
The Philomena Protocol aims to ensure that, when a child goes missing from care, everything possible is done by all partners to reduce risk and harm, enable their safe return, and prevent repeat missing occurrences.
Where there is a potential that a child may go missing, a Philomena Protocol form should be completed, kept up to date and the information should be shared with Police in the event of a missing episode. The form includes vital information that police need to know when a child goes missing, such as personal details, vulnerabilities, associates, addresses, locations frequented, medical information, financial information, social media, phone and transport details.
Where can I find the form?
Further down this page, you can find a blank form that you can download.
Once complete, the form is owned by the care provider and/or local authority.
The local authority may choose to use their own form that encompasses the same questions. This would be suitable to use as it still provides the information our officers will need to know when a child or young person goes missing and is vital to finding and safeguarding children and young people quickly.
Where should the form be kept?
Keep the form somewhere secure, where you or any other carer can find it quickly day or night. The form should be kept in digital format and kept up to date.
What if a young person goes missing?
If you discover the child or young person has gone missing, you should take steps to try and find them.
Actions that should be completed by the person reporting are:
- Attempt to make contact by telephone/text and social media
- Search the place the child was expected to be and the place they were last seen
- Contact the child’s family and/or friends
- Visit locations and addresses the child is likely to be (if safe to do so)
- Allow the child or young person a reasonable period to return of their own accord.
If you are still unable to locate them following these enquires, you should then call 101 to report them missing.
If it's an emergency and the young person is in danger, phone 999 immediately.
The Partners’ Service, allows the reporting of missing people online, on behalf of a partner agency, ensuring all the information required by Philomena is provided to the police.
What happens when a young person leaves my care?
The Philomena Protocol is used in many areas nationally, so please transfer the form to the new carer, who will be responsible for keeping it safe and up to date. Similarly, if a young person transfers to your care from another area, check whether they have an existing Philomena Protocol in place that you would now be responsible for.