What missing from care, child exploitation and extra-familial harm mean

In this course, missing from care means a child is not where they are expected to be and their whereabouts or safety are not confirmed, or they are away from the home without permission under local procedure. Homes should follow their own definitions and the local authority or police protocol rather than inventing a private threshold on shift.

Working Together 2026 describes abuse and exploitation that happens outside the home, including for children looked after in residential settings. This is often called extra-familial harm. It can occur in peer groups, community spaces, transport routes, shops, hotels, taxis, parks or online, and different forms of harm can overlap.

Key terms in frontline practice

• Missing from care: the child's whereabouts are not known or their safety is not confirmed under local procedure.
• Away from the home without permission: local systems may use different terms, but the episode still needs an active response.
• Child exploitation: abuse for someone else's gain, even if the child appears to cooperate or receives something in return.
• Extra-familial harm: harm outside the family home base, including in peer, community and online contexts.
• Context matters: adults, peers, locations, vehicles, devices and group chats can all form part of the risk picture.

A child may describe gifts, rides, parties, protection, love, money, status or belonging. Staff do not need a neat diagnostic label before acting. Ask whether someone is using power, need, fear, debt, loyalty or secrecy to control the child.

When a child is repeatedly absent or drawn into unsafe people, places or online contact, think safeguarding first and labels second.