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<p>The department has issued statutory guidance for local authorities that clarifies
steps to prevent children going missing from home or from care. The guidance stipulates
to local authorities explicit actions that care settings must take to prevent looked
after children going missing. The statutory guidance is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-who-run-away-or-go-missing-from-home-or-care"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-who-run-away-or-go-missing-from-home-or-care</a>.</p><p>The
guidance also makes clear that children’s home regulations require providers to have
up-to-date procedures in place to prevent children going missing and to take swift,
effective action if they do go missing to ensure their safety. We also expect the
child’s care plan to include details of arrangements in place to keep the child safe,
and to minimise the risk of the child going missing from their placement, whether
this be a children’s home or a foster placement.</p><p>The Department is working closely
with representatives from local authorities, police forces, Ofsted and the children’s
voluntary sector, to consider how the current ‘missing’ statutory guidance might be
refreshed and further strengthened. This will help to ensure it continues to be fit
to support local authorities and their partners to protect vulnerable children. We
will issue further updates on this work in due course.</p>
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