Every missing episode is a safeguarding event — why young people go, the exploitation link, prevention and missing plans, what to do the moment you notice, reporting to police without the mythical 24-hour wait, the return done well, and independent return home interviews.
What this course covers
- Treat every missing episode as a safeguarding event, not a behaviour problem
- Understand push and pull factors, and the link between going missing and exploitation
- Use the young person's missing plan and report to police without delay when the threshold is met
- Manage the episode well — searching, reporting, recording and keeping contact open
- Handle the return warmly and make sure an independent return home interview is offered
How much does Missing from Care & Home training cost?
£4 per person on Care2Learn, with no minimum order and no subscription. If your team needs a full training matrix rather than one course, a subscription at £2 per learner per month covers every course in the catalogue — see the 2026 price comparison.
Who needs it
Residential childcare workers, supported accommodation and supported living staff, and everyone who supports looked-after young people — plus the seniors and managers who write and review missing plans. Completion is recorded with the date taken and the date it is next due, so it appears correctly on your training matrix and can be evidenced at inspection.
What the learner receives
A certificate in their own name carrying the CPD Aligned seal, showing the completion date and the renewal date a year later, downloadable at any time. The record belongs to the learner, not just the employer — it travels with them rather than sitting in one provider's system.
Related courses
Providers usually assign these alongside Missing from Care & Home.
- Child Criminal Exploitation & County Lines — 45 min online, £4 per person
- Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) — 45 min online, £4 per person
- Contextual Safeguarding — 40 min online, £4 per person
- Safeguarding Children — 45 min online, £4 per person
You can also browse the full catalogue, or read about the Care Certificate for staff new to care.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Missing from Care & Home training take?
About 40 min of e‑learning, across 12 sections with 14 assessment questions. Learners can stop and resume at any point, and it works on a phone.
What does Missing from Care & Home training cover?
By the end of the course a learner should be able to treat every missing episode as a safeguarding event, not a behaviour problem; understand push and pull factors, and the link between going missing and exploitation; use the young person's missing plan and report to police without delay when the threshold is met. The full list of learning outcomes is set out above.
Is Missing from Care & Home CPD Aligned, and how is it assessed?
Yes — the certificate carries the CPD Aligned seal. The assessment is multiple choice with a pass mark of 70%; attempts are recorded and learners can retake it. Renewal is set at 12 months from the completion date, so the course reappears on your training matrix when it is due.
Is there really a 24-hour wait before reporting a young person missing?
No — that is a myth the course tackles head on. You report according to the young person's risk and their missing plan, often immediately, with a prepared pack of photo, description, contacts and known addresses. The course also covers keeping contact warm during the episode and the independent return home interview afterwards.
Does this count towards the Care Certificate?
No — this is a standalone course rather than one of the Care Certificate standards. The Care Certificate is available as its own guided course for staff who are new to care.
Add Missing from Care & Home to your team
£4 per person, or included on a £2 per learner subscription.
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