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).
So what is driving the increase, and what should be done to protect children in foster care?
The number of incidents rose most steeply for placements provided by independent fostering agencies (IFAs), which accounted for 7,805 incidents in 2013/14, compared with 5,462 in 2012/13 - an increase of 43 per cent.
Common reasons
Jackie Sanders, director of public affairs at The Fostering Network, says that although IFAs look after only about one in three of all children in foster care, councils usually commission their services to find homes for older children and adolescents with highly complex needs, meaning they may be more likely to go missing.
In 2013, research by the organisation found that children living with independent fostering providers' carers are on average placed further away from home than those placed by the council - another factor that could affect their likelihood to go missing.
She says it is vital children are carefully matched with their foster carers, and that foster carers are given all the information about the child as soon as possible to help keep the child safe.
"The key is whether the carers are confident as to the whereabouts of the child, and that they have access to their fostering service at all times for advice and support, as many incidents are likely to take place at night or at weekends," she says.
"Where foster carers are looking after children thought to be at risk of sexual exploitation, substance use or other dangers, they need to be properly trained and supported to spot warning signs and know how best to keep them safe, and be sure who to turn to for help. There is a huge role here for children's social workers and other professionals, supporting the child and helping them to understand the risks they may be taking.
Andy Elvin, chief executive of fostering and adoption charity Tact, says not all instances of children going missing are serious.
"It does not always mean missing in the police sense because we have to notify the local authority when the child is missing even when we might know that they are with family or friends. But that is not to minimise the serious cases and the fact that going missing regularly is a sign of CSE or the young person finding themselves in a risky situation.
"The main lesson is to make sure that the reason they are missing is clear and that cases where no one knows where they are get escalated quickly. If there is any sign of CSE or other harmful practice, action must be taken urgently to protect the child or young person."
The government has moved to improve support for children who run away, whether it be residential care, foster care, any other form of care or from the family home.
Return interviews
Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home, published in January 2014, imposed a duty on councils to offer children an independent return interview upon their return home to find out why they ran away and how to prevent it happening again.
Harvey Gallagher, chief executive of the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers, says return interviews could contribute to greater understanding of why young people go missing.
But he says: "Because of the difficult financial situation and the tough times children's social workers are facing, it doesn't seem likely there will be additional support provided based on the findings of the return interview. I'm not sure the resources are available."
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