Do you care for someone with Dementia and worry they may go missing? If you do, the Herbert Protocol is here to help you find your loved ones, friends and neighbours should they go missing.
Carers, family or friends of a vulnerable person, or the person themselves, can fill in a Herbert Protocol form in advance, containing information to help the police if the person goes missing.
The form includes details about the person, their past, their habits and places they go. Then if they go missing you can give it to the police and save time at the start of a search.
By submitting a completed form, this means you do not have to try to remember the information when you are under stress if someone goes missing. And it saves time, so the police can start the search sooner.
The form can be filled out by a carer, family member, friend or the person themself, although please get permission from the person at risk or their relatives before completing a form.
If this is not possible, a care home can fill out the form if they think it is in the person’s best interests.
You can fill in this form on your computer or print it out and fill it in by hand, and then keep it somewhere safe where it is easy to access if the person goes missing.
Care homes must store the form legally in accordance with data protection laws.
You could also give a copy to relatives, friends and neighbours if needed.
You only need to give the form to the police if the person goes missing.
It is also important to keep the form up to date, for example changes to their medication or daily routine, although if you need to make an update you will need to complete a new form.
To access the Herbet Protocol form, please follow this link to the Lincolnshire Police website.
