Page 18 - Getting it Right for Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire

Vulnerabilities This section provides some guidance in relation to specific vulnerabilities, which research has identified as potentially impacting adversely on a child’s well-being. Where there is more detailed multi-agency guidance for North Ayrshire staff in relation to a particular vulnerability, this has been signposted. Where no other guidance is signposted, staff should view the guidance in this document as the key guidance for responding to that particular vulnerability. Staff should ensure they continue to adhere to their own organisations policies and procedures when applying this guidance. Section 1 - Principle Guidance Children and young people who run away or go missing. Definition Running away is difficult to define due to the many views of individuals depending on their own experiences. One definition of a young runaway is “a child or young person under the age of 18 who spends one night or more away from the family home or substitute care 7 without permission or who has been forced to leave by their parents or carers.” Outwith this definition children and young people may abscond or be missing for smaller periods of time. Overview of Key Issues The level of risk for an individual child is dependent on the needs, vulnerability and resilience of that child or young person. The welfare of the child or young person must be the primary consideration for practitioners and in some cases concerns may be raised about the safety of the child or young person after a shorter absence than outlined in the previous definition. Running away may be an indicator of emotional upset and turmoil in the young person and the stimulus for this behaviour can lie in a number of areas such as:- Family Disputes School Issues Peer Group Issues Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Neglect Emotional Abuse 7 Vulnerable Children and Young People - Scotland www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1141/0034405.pdf accessed on 5/02/2014. Young Runaways Getting It Right For Vulnerable Children and Young People in North Ayrshire Live V1.2 April 2014 Page No:18