What to do if…
a vulnerable adult goes missing while in your care

What to do now

1. Report the adult missing. Call 999 if they may be in immediate danger or vulnerable to harm. Otherwise use the police online missing-person service or call 101. Say clearly that they are a vulnerable adult in your care, explain why you are concerned and note the police reference number.

2. Tell the call handler about anything that may increase the risk, including missing essential medication, inability to keep themselves safe, health or communication needs, severe weather, nearby water or traffic, or unusual behaviour before they disappeared.

3. Keep everyone else safe. If possible, ask another responsible person to supervise those remaining in your care while one person coordinates information and speaks to the police.

4. Without delaying the report, check the immediate premises, grounds, unlocked rooms, toilets, garden, sheds and outbuildings. Call or message the adult, check for notes or messages, ask staff or nearby people when they last saw them, and check usual nearby places. Tell police exactly what has been checked. Leave dangerous or specialist searches to the emergency services.

5. Gather information the police may ask for:

   • full name, age, date of birth and home address
   • a recent clear photograph and physical description
   • clothing, footwear, bags and distinctive marks
   • the exact time and place they were last seen
   • their movements and behaviour before they went missing
   • medical conditions, medication and care or support needs
   • communication, mobility or sensory needs
   • their phone number and any vehicle registration
   • familiar routes, regular destinations and previous missing incidents
   • important belongings they took or left behind

6. Find any completed Herbert Protocol form or similar missing-person profile and make it available to police. Also locate any relevant care plan or risk assessment, but do not delay reporting while looking for documents.

7. If you are caring for the adult through an organisation, notify the manager, on-call lead or safeguarding lead and follow the organisation’s missing-person procedure. Write down times, calls, sightings, places checked and information given to police.

8. Keep a charged phone available and nominate one person to receive police updates. Tell police about new messages, sightings or changes in risk, and let them know if you or anyone else is searching.

9. If the adult contacts you, calmly ask where they are, whether they are safe and whether they need urgent help. Pass the information to police immediately. If they return or are found, tell police online or by calling 101; call 999 if there is an emergency. Police may need to confirm that the adult is safe and well.