The warning has been made in an independent report following the death of a 16-year-old girl in April 2007.
The review, published by Newcastle Safeguarding Children's Board, examined agency involvement with the teenager, known as R.
It highlights how a young person is legally a child with regard to the Children's Acts yet has a different balance of rights and responsibilities compared to younger children. However, adult-orientated services and legislation may or may not support their needs.
"Tragic cases such as this one highlight that it is those youngsters with the highest needs and the greatest risk to themselves whose care may be made more difficult by the inconsistencies in current statutory provisions," the report states.
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