New initiative to help runaway children

CHILDREN and young people who run away from home, or go missing from care, will get help as a result of a partnership between Warrington Borough Council, the police and other partners.
A new Pan Cheshire Joint Protocol 2015-2017 enables agencies to better collect and share data on children who are missing, absent or at risk – also identifying patterns such as “hot spots” of activity in local areas.
It comes as figures show more than 300 children in Cheshire go missing on at least three occasions a year – many from Warrington.
The document also sets out procedures for a missing looked after child, prevention strategies and better collecting and sharing of data on children who go missing or absent.
Cheshire has had a protocol in place since 2011 but it has now been refreshed to ensure a consistent approach across all agencies and in response to receive government guidance.
It also introduces new police definitions of “missing” and “absent” which will now apply across Cheshire.
Cllr Jean Carter (pictured above), Warrington Borough Council’s lead member for children’s services said: “Our aim is to stop young people running away in the first instance by working collaboratively. This is why we are improving our preventative services for children and young people who are at risk of running away and this protocol will help us do this.
“But it is equally important that we have clear processes in place when children and young people do go missing, so we can respond quickly and effectively, the protocol will also help us to do this.”
David Parr, chairman of the Pan Cheshire Strategic Missing, Child Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Group, and Halton Borough Council chief executive said: “This protocol is an important tool to help us all work together to safeguard children and engage with families across Cheshire.
“It will help us to understand why young people run away, reduce the occasions young people run away and develop robust responses when they do, so we can find them quickly and keep them safe.  It builds on existing good practice already established across Cheshire.”
Richard Strachan, chairman of Warrington Safeguarding Children’s board, said: “Across Warrington, we are fully committed to safeguarding vulnerable children and young people and this is just one more example of the partnership approach to achieve this.”
Children experiencing difficulties can contact Catch22, a national charity and social business that offers return interviews to children and young people in Warrington as an independent service as identified in national guidance.
The case workers based in Warrington endeavour to see young people within 48 hours of being found after going missing, to offer support and to prevent any further missing incidents.
Catch22 also offers a 24 hour helpline (0808 168 9698) to children that may be experiencing problems at home in order to prevent a child resorting to running away.
To view the Pan Cheshire Joint Protocol, visit http://www.online-procedures.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/PC-Missing-from-Care-Home.pdf