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<p>We take the safety of those in our care seriously. We have robust safeguarding
procedures in place to ensure all young people in hotels are safe and supported as
we seek urgent placements with a local authority.</p><p>Young people are supported
by team leaders and support workers who are on site 24 hours a day. Further care is
provided in hotels by teams of social workers and nurses. All contingency sites have
security staff on site 24/7 and providers liaise closely with local police to ensure
the welfare and safety of vulnerable residents.</p><p>There are currently no unaccompanied
asylum-seeking children (UASC) in hotels and there are 154 UASC still missing.</p><p>
</p><p>If any child goes missing the MARS (Missing After Reasonable Steps) protocol
is followed. A multi-agency, missing persons meeting is chaired by the local authority
to establish the young person's whereabouts and to ensure that they are safe. Similar
protocols within police forces have safely reduced the number of missing episodes
from placements by 36%.</p><p>The Home Office continue to work with the police and
local authorities to ensure the children in our care are safe and the Police are responsible
for locating any missing children.</p>
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