CS03 Missing Child Form and Procedure

Missing Child Procedure

On discovering a child is missing, the following steps will occur:

• Immediately make a search of the surrounding area.
• Request help from people around me.
• If in a public building, alert the staff of the situation and ask for assistance in searching for the missing child.
• If in a place where it is possible to seal off exits and access CCTV footage, request this is done immediately.
• Ensure people involved in the search are given a description of the child and what they are wearing.
• Reassure the other children, as this could become a distressing situation for them.

If the search is unsuccessful:

• Ring the Police immediately, providing a description, and keep searching the area.
• Advise the parents, caregivers, or whānau of the situation as soon as it is reasonably practical to do so.

After the event:

• Report the incident to the appropriate organisation official.
• Review the policy and procedure to establish what went wrong and how it can be avoided in future.

Version: November 2024