DEPARTMENT FOR
CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2008/0114) issued by
The Government News Network on 16 June 2008
Local Authorities
must gather information about young people who run away from home
or care to ensure that the right services are in place to help,
Minister for Young People Kevin Brennan said today at the launch
of the Government's Young Runaways Action Plan.
Speaking at an event with the English Coalition of Runaway
Children, MPs and key stakeholders in Downing Street, Kevin
Brennan set out clear expectations regarding the level of service
and support that local agencies should be providing for young
runaways. In particular they should:
* Identify those at risk of running away as part of their
targeted youth support arrangements;
* Have arrangements in place to help young people who have run
away, particularly out of hours, keeping them safe and off the streets;
* Conduct a return interview for every young person, identifying
and addressing their reasons for running away;
* Work closely with the voluntary sector, clearly defining roles
and responsibilities and ensure there is support for young people
that spans across local area borders;
* Evaluate the local need for and provision of emergency
accommodation for young runaways;
* Gather information on running away to inform the level of
support locally, and to support the new national indicator.
The Action Plan explores some of the underlying causes of running
away as well as setting out the important role that key partners
such as the police, local government, voluntary sector and
children's services play in helping us to deliver long term
improvements for young runaways.
The Government is already taking steps to ensure that children
and young people know where they can access help if they are
thinking of running away, and what alternatives are open to them:
* Resources are being developed for use in schools and youth
centres to educate young people about the risks of running away,
and to point them to the support available if they are thinking
about running;
* A review of emergency accommodation provision is underway, to
ensure young runaways have somewhere safe to stay; and
* The Missing from Care and Home guidance is being reviewed to
ensure a joined up approach with other guidance on missing from
education, trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said:
"Identifying young people who may be at risk of running, and
providing the support they need to face their problems is critical
to keeping young people safe.
"Today's action plan is a clear demonstration that we
remain committed to helping young runaways and I would like to
thank all those who have been involved in its development."
Kevin Brennan said:
"I want every child and young person to enjoy a happy,
healthy and safe childhood that prepares them for adult life.
While we know that this is the case for the majority of our young
people, there are still some for whom this is not a reality and
who don't feel safe at home.
"That is why it is vital that we work together to spot the
warning signs, and make sure that young people get the help they
need to resolve their problems before they decide to run. But
equally, if a young person does run away, we need to respond
quickly with services in place to keep them safe and off the streets."
Children in care are particularly vulnerable and are three times
more likely to runaway, often to be closer to friends and family.
The Children and Young Persons Bill will require that as far as is
reasonably practicable that a placement allows the child to live
near their home; does not disrupt their education; and is within
the local authority's area, reducing the risk of children
running away.
To further support children in care, Kevin Brennan also announced
today that 10 local authorities would get a share of almost £5
million to help children stay in care beyond the age of 18. The
Staying Put pilots will give children in care the chance to
benefit from a stable family placement so that they only move to
independent living when they feel properly prepared and ready.
This will allow children in care to make the transition to
adulthood in a more gradual way, just like other young people who
rely on their families for this type of support.
Andy McCullough, Chair of the English Coalition for Young
Runaways, said:
"These plans are the culmination of a lot of hard work
between all of the key players. It is incredibly positive and
proof that the government is serious about protecting this
vulnerable group of children. However we will need to deliver on
this action plan if we are to ensure a safe future for children
who feel they have no other choice but to run away."
The commitment and support of partners has been central to the
development of the action plan.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Young Runaways Action Plan is available on the DCSF
website at: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/publications/
2. The Government outlined its commitment to improving support
for young runaways in January 2008 when it set up a
cross-Government working group to drive progress.
3. The Children's Secretary Ed Balls has Cabinet level
responsibility for runaways and, led by Kevin Brennan, DCSF has
taken the lead in co-ordinating policy developments across
Government to ensure appropriate services are in place to respond
to the needs of those who run.
4. The Government has a responsibility to safeguard the young and
vulnerable and Chapter 2 of the Children's Plan - Safe and
Sound - sets out our vision for making children's safety
everyone's responsibility.
5. The Staying Safe Action Plan (February 2008) built on the
Children's Plan commitments, giving more detail on what we
will do to ensure children and young people are, and feel, safe.
The Staying Safe Action Plan is underpinned by a Public Service
Agreement to improve children and young people's safety which
will drive forward work in this area and ensure that effectiveness
of the policies is monitored at a national level.
6. The Staying Put pilots were first set out in the Care Matters
Green Paper and later confirmed in the White Paper, Care Matters:
Time for Change.
The Care Matters: Time for Change White Paper sets out the steps
the Department will take, together with local delivery partners,
to improve outcomes for children and young people in care.
The successful authorities are: Bristol; Cheshire; Dorset;
Lincolnshire; Merton; Northamptonshire; North Tyneside; North
Yorkshire; Warwickshire and York.
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