Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am contacting you to request the following information:

1. Between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021;
a) How many children (under 18 years old) were recorded as ‘missing’ in your local authority?
124.
b) How many Looked After Children were recorded as ‘missing’ in your local authority?
15

2. Between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021, please breakdown;

a) How many children (under 18 years old) who were not Looked After were recorded as missing:
• Once: 78
• Twice: 13
• Three times: 7
• Four times: 4
• Five times: 2
• Between six and 10 times: 3
• Between 11 and 20 times: 1
• Between 21 and 50 times: 1
• Between 51 and 100 times: 0
• More than 100 times: 0

b) How many Looked After Children were recorded as missing:
• Once: 6
• Twice: 2
• Three times: 4
• Four times: 0
• Five times: 0
• Between six and 10 times: 1
• Between 11 and 20 times: 1
• Between 21 and 50 times: 1
• Between 51 and 100 times: 0
• More than 100 times: 0

3. Between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021;

a) How many Return Interviews were offered to children (under 18 years old) who were not looked after who had been missing?
86.

b) How many Return Interviews were accepted and received by children (under 18 years old) who were not looked after?
24.

c) How many Return Interviews were offered to Looked After Children who had been missing?
77.

d) How many Return Interviews were accepted and received by Looked After Children?
14.

e) How many accepted Return Interviews were carried out by staff:
i. From the local authority (please name the local authority department)?
All.
ii. Commissioned services (please name the commissioned service)?
None.

4. Who is the provider for your local authority’s Return Interview service? (if there are several providers, please provide details of all and the nature of their role)
These are done in house by Social Worker or Early help team.

5. Please share details of any resources or support that your local authority provides directly to children who have been missing.
This would depend on the needs of the child, if the home placement was at risk of breakdown, the Compass team (edge of care team) would become involved .