Torfaen Will Use ‘Herbert Protocol’ To Help Locate People With Dementia Who Go Missing

A missing person’s protocol for people living with Dementia will be used in Gwent for the first time following a partnership between five Gwent local authorities and Gwent Police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Torfaen will start using ‘The Herbert Protocol’ in the next few months, an initiative that will be used for people living with Dementia in care homes but is also planned for wider community use. It will involve asking carers, family members and friends to complete a form about their loved one such as medication required, mobile numbers, places previously located, a photograph etc. This information can then be shared quickly with the relevant agencies should their loved one be reported as missing. The protocol has been used successfully across England over the last year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Executive member for Social care and Housing, Councillor Richard Clark said: ‘This is a great initiative that will give families looking after a loved one with Dementia a little more peace of mind. It’s extremely distressing when a loved one with dementia goes missing, The Herbert Protocol encourages care homes, families, friends or neighbours, to hold information about the person with Dementia that can help the police find them if they do go missing.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Detective Sergeant Stephanie Blakemore, who is leading the development of the scheme for Gwent Police, said: “Research into Dementia shows that those who are suffering with this condition will often re-visit places they used to be familiar with many years ago. I am hopeful that this new scheme will allow us to provide a quicker and more effective service, not only to the individuals but also to the families of those suffering with this condition.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Steve Bartley, the Safeguarding lead with the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, said: “The Commissioner has given her 100% backing for this protocol and is very excited by it. Something like the Herbert Protocol can make a real difference to lives across Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Herbert Protocol is a preventative measure and supports the principles of the new Social Services and Wellbeing Act such as partnership working, early intervention and promoting wellbeing. The Act goes live on April 6th. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The protocol also supports local towns across the region in working to become dementia friendly communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​