The Bungalow - East Sussex County Council

18. Unauthorised Absence of Young People
18.1 Upon discovering that a young person is missing, police may be
informed immediately and a ‘missing persons’ form completed and sent
by facsimile to the police. The following people are also informed:
• Resource Officer
• Children’s parents/guardian
• Social Worker
• Emergency Duty Service
• Any other relevant person
18.2 On return all relevant people are informed. The circumstances
surrounding the absence will be investigated and discussed with the
young person, to ascertain their whereabouts and activities whilst they
were missing, with a view to helping the young person to keep
themselves safe in the future.
18.3 Every effort is made to return the young person safely and all incidents
of going missing are collected centrally within the Department and
subsequently transmitted to the National Missing Persons Help line.
19. Electronic or Mechanical Surveillance
19.1 No forms of electronic surveillance are used in any of the units save a
“baby listener” at Sorrel Drive. This is a portable device, which can
help alert staff (especially Night Care Officers) to a young person
becoming distressed or suffering an epileptic fit.
19.2 All the bedrooms have call points, these are fitted to allow young
people to summon assistance and do not have any surveillance
facility.
20. Fire Precautions
20.1 The Unit is inspected by the East Sussex County Fire Officer to ensure
that fire precaution conditions are satisfactory. We maintain the
following: -
• Adequate precautions are taken against risk of fire.
• Adequate means of escape in the event of fire.
• Adequate arrangements are made for detecting, containing and
extinguishing fire.
• Adequate arrangements are made for warning of an outbreak of fire
and for evacuation in the events of fire.
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