Return Home Interview Service

Who are we?

We are the Children’s Participation and Advocacy Service, we offer Return Home Interviews to children and young people under 18 who have been reported missing to the Police. We give them the opportunity to speak to someone independent about their missing episode and any further worries or concerns.


Timescales

We will aim to make contact with the child/young person or their parents/carers within 24 hours of being notified of them returning home. This only applies to weekdays as we do not work weekends.

We will then aim to speak to the child/young person within 72 hours, we will try to do this in person but if preferred, we can do this over the phone.

Where there are concerns for the child/young person’s wellbeing and mental health, these timescales may vary. We are not an emergency service and the 72 hour timescale is only guidance, not a legal requirement. We will work around their needs and what’s best for the child/young person.

We ask that if we are coming out for a home visit, that parents/carers encourage them to come out of their bedrooms where possible. Return home interviews can also be carried out by anyone, so if the child/young person does not want to engage with us, parents/carers are welcome to have that chat and pass on any information. They also may just choose to chat with another professional already working with them, in which they can then complete the form, instead of us.


Outcomes

Return home interviews are optional, so if the child/young person does not want to engage we will mark it as ‘refused’. If they do engage, we then complete a return home interview form with the information they shared. This will then be shared with Police, and if applicable, their Social Worker.

Any safeguarding concerns will be passed on to the child/young person’s parent/carers following the return home interview.

We will update Residential home staff of the outcome of the return home interview, and any stand out themes, in order for their records to be updated. This may be verbally in person during the visit, or afterwards via phone or email. We are not required to share copies of the forms with staff or parents/carers.


Contact information

If you have any questions or queries regarding the Return Home Interview Service please contact our Missing Co-ordinator, Katherine Thomas, via email at katherine.thomas@northtyneside.gov.uk. Please see links to external charities for young people and families to access information and support.


Who are we?

We are the Children’s Participation and Advocacy Service, we offer Return Home Interviews to children and young people under 18 who have been reported missing to the Police. We give them the opportunity to speak to someone independent about their missing episode and any further worries or concerns.


Timescales

We will aim to make contact with the child/young person or their parents/carers within 24 hours of being notified of them returning home. This only applies to weekdays as we do not work weekends.

We will then aim to speak to the child/young person within 72 hours, we will try to do this in person but if preferred, we can do this over the phone.

Where there are concerns for the child/young person’s wellbeing and mental health, these timescales may vary. We are not an emergency service and the 72 hour timescale is only guidance, not a legal requirement. We will work around their needs and what’s best for the child/young person.

We ask that if we are coming out for a home visit, that parents/carers encourage them to come out of their bedrooms where possible. Return home interviews can also be carried out by anyone, so if the child/young person does not want to engage with us, parents/carers are welcome to have that chat and pass on any information. They also may just choose to chat with another professional already working with them, in which they can then complete the form, instead of us.


Outcomes

Return home interviews are optional, so if the child/young person does not want to engage we will mark it as ‘refused’. If they do engage, we then complete a return home interview form with the information they shared. This will then be shared with Police, and if applicable, their Social Worker.

Any safeguarding concerns will be passed on to the child/young person’s parent/carers following the return home interview.

We will update Residential home staff of the outcome of the return home interview, and any stand out themes, in order for their records to be updated. This may be verbally in person during the visit, or afterwards via phone or email. We are not required to share copies of the forms with staff or parents/carers.


Contact information

If you have any questions or queries regarding the Return Home Interview Service please contact our Missing Co-ordinator, Katherine Thomas, via email at katherine.thomas@northtyneside.gov.uk. Please see links to external charities for young people and families to access information and support.