WIREDGOV

Responding to the APPG for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults and the APPG for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Parliamentary Inquiry into children missing from care, Councillor David Simmonds, Chairman of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said:

"A child missing from care is a concern for everyone involved in the protection of vulnerable children and councils agree that joined up working with the police, the heath service, independent care homes and other agencies is crucial.  This report highlights the complexities of the present system and the need for an overhaul. 

"Government needs to play its part and ensure that independent care homes report new sites to individual councils by law.  We also need a single agreed definition of the term ‘missing' for all agencies to work to, so that we have a clearer picture of the problem.

"Council-run care homes make up only a quarter of the care system and local authorities have to rely solely on Ofsted ratings for independent homes.  A rigorous review of the rating system is required so that councils can be assured they are placing children in adequate and safe surroundings."

Author: LGA Media Office
Contact: LGA Media Office, Telephone: 020 7664 3333