The following outlines the responsibilities for service providers in responding to children and young people who are missing or absent from placement.

Family based placements

The service provider is responsible for ensuring that the carers they support are aware of their responsibilities in responding to children and young people that are missing or absent from placement as outlined in the Family based carers: Missing or absent from placement fact sheet and supporting carers in undertaking these responsibilities. If a family based carer contacts the service provider for assistance with these responsibilities, the service provider is responsible for ensuring that any relevant information is communicated to both DCP and South Australia Police, as required.

The service provider should also contact DCP to consider any additional support needs that the carer has as a result of the child or young person being missing or absent once the child or young person has returned to placement.

The When a child or young person is missing or absent: Family based placements flowchart outlines the process for family based carers. A video presentation can also be accessed here to support carers in understanding the requirements.

Non-family based placements

The service provider is responsible for ensuring that service provider personnel are aware of their responsibilities in responding to children and young people that are missing or absent from placement as outlined in the Missing or absent from placement Service Provider Requirements. Service providers must also support service provider personnel once the child or young person has returned to placement to consider any additional support needs that the service provider personnel have as a result of the child or young person being missing or absent.

The When a child or young person is missing or absent: Non-family based placements flowchart outlines the process for service providers in non-family based placements. A video presentation can also be accessed here to support service providers in understanding the requirements.

Documentation

Service providers in non-family based placements must use the Missing/Absent Person Report to record all information when the child or young person is missing or absent, even if there are only minimal concerns for the safety or wellbeing of the child or young person. A new Missing/Absent Person Report must be completed when the child or young person initially goes missing or becomes absent and can be updated with new information if the situation changes.

Service providers in non-family based placements must also complete an urgency assessment either as part of the Missing/Absent Person Report (if this is the first urgency assessment since the child or young person became missing or absent) or using the Urgency Assessment form.