Statistics produced by Ofsted have raised concerns about increasing numbers of children going missing from foster care and their susceptibility to child sexual exploitation (CSE).
Figures published last month show that 4,245 young people went missing from foster care on 13,305 occasions during 2013/14, compared with 3,345 children going missing a total of 9,764 times in 2012/13 (see graph).
The most common reason for children going missing in 2013/14 was because they wanted to get in contact with family or friends - accounting for 6,596 incidents, or 51 per cent. But alarmingly, 528 incidents were linked to CSE and 431 to substance misuse (see pie chart).
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
