Enables a strong focus and a partnership approach to disruption activity in relation to those who may seek to exploit children in Wakefield.

West Yorkshire Police coordinate and lead the Perpetrator RAM locally, with meetings held every six weeks and chaired by a Detective Inspector. Partner agencies attend to share information and intelligence about actual or suspected perpetrators of exploitation and contribute to disruption activities. The RAM and Perpetrator RAM coordinate to share information in respect of children at risk and those who pose a risk to others.

Children who have been reported missing in Wakefield are discussed daily at the missing meeting, with actions coordinated and agreed each working day.

Allocated social workers are invited to attend to share information, or in the case of children who do not have an allocated social worker, raised via a referral into the IFD.

Missing co-ordinators within the CVE and Police teams work closely to review children reported missing and ensure up-to-date and accurate knowledge about new missing episodes.

The Children Missing from Home and Care Protocol sets out the expectations and timescales of how agencies respond to children who are missing in the Wakefield area. All children who are missing are offered a Return Home Interview (RHI) within 72 hours by the CVE and Missing Service. The RHI process provides an opportunity to understand the issues prompting a child to go missing and a chance to commence interventions to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Click here for practice guidance in respect of how to approach and undertake an effective RHI.

Wakefield district follows the Philomena Protocol, a national scheme for agencies to record key information which can be used in the event of a vulnerable child going missing.

Monthly multi-agency led drop-in advice clinics for practitioners.

The clinics provide a forum for practitioners to receive advice, support and guidance where exploitation or risk of exploitation of a child is suspected and are made up of practitioners from the CVE Team, Police, Liaison and Diversion, Youth Justice Service and the Ivison Trust.

Clinic suports:

• Concerns that a child is vulnerable to exploitation but there are difficulties around engagement.
• Advice as to whether concerns in respect of exploitation may necessitate a referral to Social Care Direct and subsequently the CVE Service.
• Concerns where a child may be exploiting others.
• Advice and support on how to engage a child who may be vulnerable to exploitation.
• Information shared within this forum to assist the CVE Team and Police to triangulate any evidence or intelligence which may assist in the early identification of victims and perpetrators of exploitation.