Locality Event Exploited and Missing Children Process Missing

Locality Event Exploited and Missing Children Process

Missing Children The Facts • No exact figures for the number of children who go missing or run away, but estimates suggest 100, 00 per year (Dof. E Stat Guidance 2014) • Children in Care 3 X more likely to go missing from their home (Ofsted Report 2013) • Particular concerns about the links between children running away & CSE (Ofsted Report 2013)

Definitions • Missing Child: a child (0 -18 years) reported as missing to the police by their family or carers • Missing from Care: a looked after child who is not at their placement or the place they are expected to be (e. g. , school) & their whereabouts is not known • Away from Placement without Authorisation: a looked after child whose whereabouts is known but who is not at their placement or place they are expected to be, such as education setting

Ice Breaker Exercise • In pairs discuss the reasons why children & young people might go missing from their home • Whole Group Discussion

Missing Children – Push & Pull Factors • Complex & Varied reasons (Ofsted Report 2013) • Some may run from a problem, such as abuse or neglect at home or experiences of bullying • Some may run to somewhere they want to be (evidence detailed in Ofsted Report (2013)of Children Missing from Care who had several placement moves) • Associated Risks if missing (CSE/Drug & Alcohol Abuse/Victim or Perpetrator of Crime)

Listening to Young People’s Experiences – Ofsted Themes 2013 • “The staff at the children’s home tried to talk to me about why I went missing. The more I went missing, the less they tried” (Ofsted 2013) • Too often, the views, wishes and feelings of children were not effectively or routinely sought by professionals • The quality of the child’s relationship with professionals was a key factor in helping children who had been difficult to engage, especially looked after children • The message from children who have experienced being missing is that they value and will eventually respond to approaches from professionals who show repeated and persistent efforts to listen and understand the children’s perspective • The more that children go missing, the more vulnerable they are and the harder we must try – children need to know it matters to us and they matter to us

GCC Process for Children who Go Missing • Young person reported Missing. Children’s Social Care/Prospects notified via Police (Missing Notification) • Return Interview to be completed with 72 hrs (consider if several missing episodes in short time) and added to LCS. The RI interview can be independent from allocated worker – ALL Y/P’s to be offered an independent RI (Prospects). • Police will also send Found notifications to Helpdesk and Prospects. If young person is not found in 72 hrs – S 47 Strategy Meeting required. High Risk Strategy required and agreed Multi-Agency Trigger Plan (Consider Police and EDT response). Taken from “Protocol on partnership working when children and young people run away and go missing from home or care”: GCC et al (2013)

Group Discussion/Exercise • In pairs, plan a return home interview (what would you ask/ where would it take place etc) • Role play the interview • Group Discussions to explore effective interventions following a missing episode (where possible use real examples from cases from within your Team / what worked/what are your local resources/supports)

Child Exploitation Definition • Gloucestershire has adopted the 2017 Df. E definition of child sexual exploitation "Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology. " • This definition is adopted across all the Authority’s activities and the wider safeguarding partnership.

Vulnerability Factors • • • • It is important to remember that CSE can affect anyone regardless of background, location and circumstance. However it has been recognised that there are possible indicators that someone may be at risk of or experiencing sexually exploitative behaviour. These include but are not limited to children and young people who are / have; living in the care of the local authority (foster care or residential) Homeless/ missing from home/ living in temporary accommodation, B&Bs or hostels Disengaged from education Involved in gang or criminal behaviour Experiencing Mental health issues or substance misuse A disability A Young carer Low self esteem Experienced a recent loss or bereavement Living in dysfunctional/chaotic households A history of abuse A lack of friends from same age group

Impact • CSE can have devastating effects on the young person’s health and well being in the present but also in some cases these effects can go into their adulthood including; • Sexual assault, rape and other physical violence • Self harm behaviour • Sexually transmitted infections / unwanted pregnancies • Mental health issues • Substance misuse issues • Involvement in offending • Isolation from family and friends • Increase absence from school

Myths…. . The Local Government Association has highlighted some general myths and assumptions that have developed around CSE. These myths include the following; • There are few models of CSE – grooming is a long complex process and can involve lone perpetrators, gangs or organised groups. It can be motivated by a number of different factors. • It only happens in certain ethnic/cultural communities- CSE crosses over all ethnic communities. Evidence nationally shows perpetrators and victims come from a range of backgrounds. • It only happens to children in care- although a potential vulnerability factor it does not exclude other young people of being potential victims.

Myth’s cont……. • It only happens to girls and young woman- Boys can also be targeted by perpetrators. • It is only perpetrated by men- Although a significant number of perpetrators are male there is some evidence that females can also groom young people. • It only happens in large towns/ cities and urban areas- CSE can occur in rural as well as urban areas. Social media has made this more accessible. • Parents should know what is happening and be able to stop it. Parents may be unable to identify what is happening and often be unable to stop what is happening due to threats and intimidation of the young person. • Children and young people can consent to their own exploitation- A child cannot consent to their own abuse. The age of consent to sexual activity is 16.

CSE Screening Tool and Referral Process • There is a screening tool that must be completed if you are concerned about a young person. The screening tool covers key risk and vulnerability factors which help you to determine the level of risk the young person is at. • Once completed this completed screening tool should be sent to the Helpdesk or the Police Central referral unit. Social Workers MUST also do this. For cases open to CSC a CSE data form MUST be completed when a screening tool is completed

Referral Process cont……. • Where a YP is not open to CSC, The Multi Agency Team will then agree the risk level and who needs to respond. • High Risk Management Meetings • Over-arching Strategy Meetings • Individual Y/P’s plans

The Role of the Multi-Agency Team Prevention: • Bi-Monthly Bulletin • Taxi-Driver Training • Multi-Agency Training • Letter drops at high risk times (Chelt Races and Glos Fair) • Disruption of perpetrators and identification of high risk victims Advice and Guidance: • Attendance at strategy discussions

Practice Issues…… • Focus on the Perpetrators – Multi-Agency disruption techniques • Consider the language you use – This is not the young person’s CHOICE! • Focus on the relationship with the young person who will be reluctant to talk to the Police. • Discovery vs Disclosure

Online Grooming • Speeds up the grooming process • Internet provides information and validation for young people who are exploring themselves • Transcends the risk factors • Impact can be as significant as face to face abuse. YP report feeling shame, exposed, embarrassed and a loss of control. • New apps are always emerging • Consider chat functions in gaming apps

Some Messages from children: • “Recognise that it is very hard for us to see ourselves as victims and therefore to have any insight into what help we need. ” • “Know it is really embarrassing to talk about sexual things to adults, especially if those sexual experiences have hurt you. We want professionals, to ask us better questions, be more inquisitive. ”

Messages cont…. . • “It is difficult to trust teachers, as soon as you speak we worry they will ring our family and this will get back to the perpetrators. However we want teachers to notice behaviour changes, to try and talk to us and notice our unhappiness. Do not blame us or ignore us, but explore behavioural changes with us and sensitively involve our parents understanding risks for us. ”

• “If we go missing our families need advice quickly on what to do. If you don’t trust us or don’t believe what we say, follow us and check it out. Parents should not get angry if we go missing but try and make us feel loved and that we can tell them anything. ” • “Passing on information makes us very anxious, so a lot of stuff does not get said. We know you need to do it, but it puts us in very risky situations if it gets passed around the community. ”

Exercise • Discuss the complexities when working with young people experiencing exploitation. • Discuss the links with Children who go Missing and other risk factors – discuss how we can keep children safe. • Consider how agencies might disrupt the behaviours of the perpetrator

Further Reading • Ofsted Report : Missing Children (February 2013) • Dof. E Statutory Guidance on Children who Run Away or Go Missing from Home or Care (January 2014) • What to do if You Suspect a Child is Being Sexually Exploited (www. gov. uk/government/publications : (June 2012) For more information on procedures and protocols please go to http: //www. gscb. org. uk/article/113294/Gloucest ershire-procedures-and-protocols