Return Interviews 2023-2024 - Find a freedom of information request

We are conducting a small research project to understand more about the current delivery of return interviews for children who have returned following a missing episode. Return interviews are set out in the Department for Education's 2014 statutory guidance on children who runaway or go missing from home or care. We would like to understand how they are being delivered now, and whether local authorities would recommend any changes to the guidance around them.



We are requesting date for the period between 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024. Thank you so much for your time in responding to our questions.



1. How many individual children were reported missing within your local authority?

2. How many total incidents were reported of children going missing within your local authority?

3. How many children were looked after by the local authority between 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024?

4. How many individual looked after children went missing?

5. How many incidents were reported of looked after children going missing?

6. How many return interviews were offered to children following a missing incident?

7. How many return interviews were completed following a missing incident?

8. How many of these return interviews were completed within 72 hours of the child returning from the missing episode?

9. Who provides return interviews to children following a missing incident in your area?

Please select:

 Social workers (this could be the child's social worker)

 Dedicated team or individual within the local authority

 Youth worker

 An independent service commissioned by the local authority

 Other

Please provide any detail possible about who is delivering return interviews in your area:

10. Do you provide or commission any follow-up support for children and young people following an RHI?

Yes/No

o If yes please give details:

11. Please tell us more about your return interview service. Would you like to see any changes in national guidance? What are the barriers to effective provision? What is working well in your area?
 

 I can confirm that the following information is held by Lincolnshire County Council;

1. 755

2. 1686

3. 1090

4. 68

5. 388

6. 1055*



* Please note that in addition to the above 1055 RHIs offered, an additional 337 missing incidents were recorded as 'missing again' where these incidents would have been discussed during a later RHI. 'Missing again' refers to those instances where the individual is reported missing again before a RHI could be organised.

7. 922

8. 800

9. ð Social workers (this could be the child's social worker)

ð Other - All RHI's are allocated to their named social or early help worker where they are open and if a child is not open we would approach the school to see if they have a relationship with the child, those that are not completed via school are allocated to a duty early help worker to complete, and if support needed these are then opened to services.

10. Yes - provide support - all RHI's have management oversight and if an unmet need is identified Lincolnshire County council (LCC) allocate a worker if the family consent.

11. LCC have really positive results and a high amount completed within the 72 hours, and LCC have created guidance to support this process and to offer additional resources for staff.