An illustration of a woman climbing up an forward facing arrow, with clouds in the sky.

Missing Children Debrief and Mediation Service Team

Llamau provides an independent, child-centred debrief and mediation service for children and young people who have been reported missing to Dyfed-Powys Police. Following their safe return, we engage directly with the young person to understand the circumstances of the missing episode, identify immediate and emerging risks, and support coordinated action to reduce the likelihood of further incidents.

Purpose of the service

Llamau has been commissioned to deliver the Dyfed-Powys Missing Children Debrief and Mediation Service since 2015. The service provides specialist, independent support to missing children, young people and their families across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Powys and Pembrokeshire.

Our regional team of three debrief and mediation workers works alongside Police colleagues and wider safeguarding partners to reduce risk, improve intelligence-sharing and promote timely, coordinated responses for children and young people who go missing.

What we offer

Our approach is trauma-informed, strengths-based and focused on prevention. We create safe opportunities for children and young people to speak openly about what happened, what support they need, and what changes may help them feel safer at home, in care, in education and in their wider community.

Where appropriate, staff meet the young person face to face in a setting of their choice, helping them feel safe, respected and in control of the conversation. We prioritise direct engagement with the young person so their voice, experience and wishes inform the wider safeguarding response.

Our Process

Through debrief conversations, we help children and young people recognise and understand risks they may have been exposed to, including child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation, abuse, coercion, unsafe locations, unsafe adults and peer-related harm.

Llamau staff also listen to families and carers, supporting communication, mediation and shared problem-solving where this can reduce conflict, strengthen relationships and prevent repeat missing episodes.

Working in partnership with Police systems and multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, we support colleagues to identify patterns, concerns and intelligence relating to exploitation, harm and vulnerability.

The team works closely with partner agencies, including Children’s Services, safeguarding leads, education providers and specialist services. We make onward referrals where additional support is required and ensure relevant information is shared to strengthen safeguarding planning.

Mediation is offered where an identified need exists and where it can support safer relationships, improved communication and more sustainable outcomes for the child or young person.

Meet the Team

Project Manager

Sarah Norris

Email - sarah.norris@dyfed-powys.police.uk

De-brief and Mediation Worker

Diana Dunn

Email - diana.dunn@dyfed-powys.police.uk

De-brief and Mediation Worker

Wayne Jenkins

Email - wayne.jenkins@dyfed-powys.police.uk

De-brief and Mediation Worker

Fay Griffiths Jones

Email - fay.griffiths-jones@dyfed-powys.police.uk

Referral criteria

The service supports children and young people who meet one or more of the following criteria:

First reported missing episode to Dyfed-Powys Police.
Third reported missing episode within a 12-month period.
Referral at the request or discretion of the Child Sexual Exploitation Coordinator at Dyfed-Powys Police Headquarters.

Outcomes

By taking a preventative and partnership-led approach, the service aims to achieve the following outcomes:

Identify the triggers, circumstances and unmet needs that may contribute to a child or young person going missing.
Assess risk and vulnerability during missing episodes, including exposure to exploitation, abuse, unsafe adults, unsafe locations and peer networks.
Capture and share relevant information about locations, patterns, hotspots and individuals that may present a risk.
Strengthen multi-agency intelligence in relation to child exploitation concerns.
Support timely onward referrals so children, young people and families can access the right help at the right time.
Promote mediation and family-based support where this can reduce conflict and prevent repeat missing episodes.
Ensure the voice and lived experience of the child or young person informs safeguarding decisions, safety planning and wider strategic learning.

We report service outcomes and emerging themes on a quarterly basis, sharing learning with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, key stakeholders and multi-agency child exploitation partners. This supports both operational safeguarding activity and wider strategic understanding of risk, vulnerability and prevention across the Dyfed-Powys area.

The service that Llamau offer to our young people is invaluable and does make a huge difference to children and young people who are deemed at risk of harm of abuse and exploitation within our communities.

The staff have an exceptional ability to build trusting relationships with the young people that they work with, making them feel safe, heard, and respected. There is always a reason for a missing episode and without this service, interest and level of care from the staff most of the time we would never know the real reason meaning children would continue to be at risk of harm.

During my role as the Powys Child Exploitation officer, there were many times that children did not engage with me on visits as I was a ‘police officer’ and safeguarding opportunities would have been missed if it wasn’t for the Llamau team having the skills they have and a kinder ‘title’ that didn’t come with an authoritative status.

The staff’s warm approach allows these young people who are reluctant to speak to professional agencies/ people in a uniform to feel safe.

This service of Llamau, allows these debrief officers to demonstrate compassion, and it is clear they genuinely care for the children they work with. Their work has a significant positive impact, helping vulnerable young people feel understood and encourages them to engage in the support they need.

Services like Llamau are essential and staff members with their skills and dedication make a huge difference to the lives of young people and their families.

The Llamau team’s conversations with these young people even develops intelligence for us, helping us to build that bigger picture of what’s happening in our communities and to further safeguard/take action where appropriate.

I cannot speak highly enough of the support Llamau and provide here in Powys and I strongly hope and support the continuation of this invaluable service.