The Herbert Protocol. A Pre- Detailed Missing Person Report Questionnaire

Description

The Herbert Protocol is a questionnaire that can be used should there be a concern that a person you know or care for may go missing. The Herbert Protocol is designed to assist with High Risk Vulnerable persons who suffer from Alzheimer’s, Dementia or memory issues. Caring for Vulnerable People suffering with memory issues can be challenging. There is always a risk that at some point they may go for a walk and fail to return home. This may be a short walk to the garden or local village, but with memory issues that are complex like Dementia, people may wander further, remembering old memories or addresses, rather than the current home.
Planning for moments like these are important. The Herbert Protocol is a form that carers, family or friends of a vulnerable Person, or the person themselves can fill in. This form contains a list of important information to help Gardaí if a person goes missing including, name, address, and telephone number. Medication requirements, times gone missing before, and locations found. There is also a section with past addresses and work places especially if the vulnerable person has work or lived in Northern Ireland or the UK previously.
The idea of keeping this form is to have up to date information on a vulnerable person. The form is to be filled out to the best of everyone’s knowledge. Filling in the form with a relative can be a valuable way of communicating as it causes them to think about where they used to live and work. This triggers memories that they like to talk about, and can enrich your visit.
Keeping this form saves time and the worry of trying to recall sensitive information during a stressful time of a loved on going missing. It allows Gardaí to begin searching for a missing person as soon as possible.
The Herbert Protocol is an initiative used by our colleagues in the PSNI and the UK Police. It is named after George Herbert, a war veteran of the Normandy Landings who lived with Dementia. He went missing while trying to find his childhood home and unfortunately died before he was found.
The Herbert Protocol has been used in Northern Ireland and the UK for some time. It is vital we in An Garda Síochána work together with similar protocols due to the large population living and crossing boarders for work purposes and living.
Update the form regularly to make sure the information is always accurate in the instance you might have to hand it over to Garda. There is no need to hand it to Gardaí before then and the form will be

Aim of Initiative

The aim of the Herbert Protocol is to put life saving measure in place for Vulnerable Persons who may go missing. By having this form of important information available to hand it means vital time can be saved and there is less stress on family, friends or care workers in remembering sensitive information. Gardaí will be aware of old addresses and locations frequented by the vulnerable persons. The Herbert Protocol also contains information of vital medications required by the missing person and the times they are required to be taken at, should that become an issues.

Who is it aimed at

The Herbert Protocol is aimed at vulnerable persons living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. It is also aimed at family, friends, and carers of these vulnerable persons so there is a procedure in place. The Herbert Protocol can also be aimed at Day Centres, nursing homes, or places caring for people living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Cooperation and assistance from colleagues in Alzheimer’s Ireland
2. publicizing the project to raise awareness
3. Support of care staff and families of vulnerable persons

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. reaching the correct target audiences
2. providing training and assistance to AGS members so they can assist members of the public with the form
3. having the form accessible to all persons, not just online but available is stations

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Help in stressful times
2. Up to date information available
3. Working together for a quicker response time in finding missing persons