Children who runaway from home or care
Children who are missing from home are unhappy, vulnerable and may be at risk of harm as a consequence of their need for food and shelter or from the people with whom they come into contact. Risks can include physical harm, sexual exploitation, drug abuse, and involvement in a range of other criminal activities. These risks apply whether the child is missing from their own family home or where children become missing while they are looked after by the local authority. The primary consideration is the welfare of the child and their safe recovery.
If a child goes missing, the Multi-Agency Protocol for Children and Young People who Run Away or go Missing from Home or Care must be followed. Consideration should always be given to the possibility that the child has gone missing because of abuse within their home or placement or because of other safeguarding concerns.
A Police Safe and Well Check is carried out as soon as possible after a child returns home. Its purpose is to check for any indications that the young person has suffered harm, where and with whom they have been, and to give them an opportunity to disclose any offending by or against them. Interviews with the child following their recovery should always explore the reason for them running away and refer on, or link into, care planning as appropriate.
Children with families whose whereabouts are unknown
Professionals and local agencies working with children and families where there are outstanding concerns should be aware that a series of missed appointments may indicate that the family has moved out of the area or even overseas. Children’s Social Care and the Police must be informed immediately such concerns arise.
Equally, gaps in normally continuous records should be questioned when families move into an area. It is particularly important to identify the location and circumstances of all the children who are members of the family.
Particular consideration needs to be given to appropriate legal interventions where it appears that a child for whom there are outstanding safeguarding concerns may be removed from the UK by his/her family in order to evade the involvement of agencies with safeguarding responsibilities.
In the case of children taken overseas contact should be made with the Consular Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk Tel: 02070 081500) who may be able to follow up a case through their consular posts in the country concerned.
Children missing from Education
Some children may go missing from education because:
- They fail to start provision and therefore never enter the system
- They cease to attend because of exclusion or withdrawal
- They fail to complete a transition between providers
Children who are missing from education may also be at risk of significant harm, and every local authority has a Child Missing Education named point of contact. Every practitioner working with a child has a responsibility to inform their CME contact if they know or suspect that a child is not receiving education.
Any agency concerned that a child is at risk of significant harm and their whereabouts are unknown should make a referral to Children’s Social Care and to the Police.
Ref:
Pan Cheshire Missing from Home Joint Protocol v8
Missing from Home and Care Risk Assessment
DCSF Young Runaways Action Plan 2009 DCSF
Statutory guidance on children who run away and go missing from home or care 2009 DCSF
