How it works
Our RUNA workers make contact with every child who is reported missing to the police in Bolton. They work closely with police officers in carrying out independent return interviews with young people, alongside ‘safe and well’ checks. They discuss the dangers and address the problems which cause children to run away. They support both the young person and their family in order to minimise future risks. RUNA links up with other professionals in taking co-ordinated action around children at risk of harm and exploitation.
With the support of Bolton Council, we provide a ‘response’ service which is triggered each time a ‘missing’ report is filed. In addition, we received additional fixed-term funding from the Big Lottery to provide a ‘support’ service until 21st October 2021. This supported children at repeat risk of running, but who fall under the threshold for statutory agency intervention.
Our team also offers a ‘prevent’ service for young people through the provision of one-to-one information, advice and guidance on risks and dangers, social media safety, rules and boundaries, emotional health and self-esteem, substance use, appropriate relationships, and recognition of child exploitation - linking with careers support and educational/employment opportunities and access to health services.
A unique aspect of our service is the joint visits and intelligence sharing arrangements we have with Greater Manchester Police, who have placed a dedicated ‘Missing from Home’ officer to work alongside our staff. The continued success of our joint work in Bolton is now being used as a model for other areas. This is exemplified through our involvement with the Greater Manchester ‘Missing from Home’ Forum.
Outputs and Outcomes
Prior to our ‘response’ and ‘support’ service approach (which commenced in 2015), only 14% of return inter-views in Bolton were conducted within the ‘72 hour’ government target of a young person being found. Over our 2021/22 financial year, we are pleased to report that 90% of our return interviews with young people were offered within the 72-hour government target and 70% conducted within 72 hours.
RUNA attended to 1,386 missing incidents in 2021/22, compared to 1,054 in the previous year. Similarly, the total number of return interviews completed last year was 1,041 compared to 956 in the previous year. We attended to a total of 565 missing young people last year - a figure which has been broadly consistent over recent years. Our overriding concern is to do all we can to bring this number down. It is significant that 82% of young people had reduced their missing episodes from case opening to closure.
Of the 565 we worked with last year, 461 went missing from their home in Bolton and 104 were Looked After Children (LAC’s) within the care system. Last year, the average number of missing episodes per child for children who live at home was 1.5 (compared with 1.7 in the previous year). For those who were LAC the figure was 3.4 (compared with 3.2 in the previous year). This continues to illustrate that LAC’s experience more missing episodes and require more support.
By the end of our 5-year Big Lottery funded 'support' service, we had worked with a total of 334 individual young people, and over 3,000 young people in school group settings. Additionally, in November 2021 our ‘prevent’ service delivered a programme of preventative support at Ladybridge High School to 180 children.
Parental feedback received this year has once again included many positive comments on improvement in their child’s behaviour, emotional health, school attendance and communication. Some of the comments we have received from parents are:
"The worker was brilliant!"
"RUNA has helped and he is always home at a reasonable time now."
"She has not been missing since. RUNA did a really good job and got on with her well. They got on the same level."
"We talk to each other more. We used to argue a lot."
"She is sticking to curfews and we are talking to each other more."
