I am writing to request information regarding your provision of Return Home Interviews and post-missing support services for children who have been reported missing.

1. Which agencies currently deliver Return Home Interviews (RHIs) to children who have been missing from home or care in your local authority area by:

a) A team based in your authority. If yes: which team and/or what is the role of the professional delivering RHIs.
Yes. Return Home Interviews are primarily conducted by the Prevention and Youth Justice Service (PYJS). Where the missing child is open to CSC, their allocated social worker is required to complete the RHI, unless it is deemed that the PYJS is better placed to complete the interview.

b) A third sector agency
No, not applicable.

c) Other
No, not applicable.

2. In addition to your return home interview service, do you provide post-missing support to children who have been missing from home or care in your local authority area? Post-missing support is often intensive, 121 support with a support worker which is used to further address and reduce the risks surrounding the missing child. This could include advocacy, safety planning and other emotional/practical support sessions.
Yes.

3. If yes to question 2, who is your post-missing service in your local authority area delivered by?
a) A team based in your authority. If yes, please specify which team and/or what is the role of the professional delivering post-missing support
Yes. Where additional support has been identified as required via the RHI and the child is not open to any agencies, the child will be referred to MASH for review. This could lead to a child and family assessment or a referral to the Early Help Hub, where the most appropriate and relevant agency to support the child and family will be identified. Where the child already has an allocated social worker or early help worker, this professional would deliver and review the post-missing support as part of their plan.

b) A third sector agency
No, not applicable.

c) Other
No, not applicable.

4. How are Return Home Interviews (RHI’s) and/or your post missing support service delivered in your local authority area?
A combination of face-to-face, telephone, and digital support.

5. Does your Return Home Interview or post-missing service offer children and young people access to a freephone telephone number for out of hours support?
No. All children and families are provided with the out of hours number however this is not a freephone number.

6. If yes, who provides this freephone service?
Not applicable.