Runaways
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SAFE @ LAST are holding a conference in Sheffield on Wednesday 5th May, about working with young runaways. It includes an evaluation of their refuge which has been conducted by the international project The Railway Children (the only emergency accommodation outside of London); guidance from the DCSF about working with runaways; and presentations from the SAFE @ LAST Misper Project, South Yorkshire Runaways Action Partnership, and South Yorkshire Police. For more information visit www.refugeatlast.org.uk/.
Sheffield Runaways Action Group (SRAG) is a multi-agency group working to improve services to children and young people who runaway from home or care.
SRAG meets quarterly. Its membership includes representatives from:
- Children and Young People (Sheffield City Council): Children Missing from Education; Children's Residential Services (Chair); Children's Specialist Services - Nine Week Team; Fostering; Gregg House Road; Looked after Children's Nurse; Management Information Systems; Performance, Planning and Performance, Permanence and Throughcare; Research and Analysis; Youth Offending Service
- A former service user
- Safe at Last - voluntary sector project working with children and young people who runaway
- Service Districts
- the Sexual Exploitation Service
- Sheffield Futures
- Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust
- South Yorkshire Police (Missing Persons Officers and Forced Marriage Officer)
SRAG is currently discussing with Safe @ Last, Chilypep and Sheffield Youth Council as to how we can best consult with children and young people and specifically young runaways, and how they can participate in the work we do.
Following a multi-agency workshop consultation in 2008, SRAG has developed a Strategy and Action Plan for Young Runaways in Sheffield. This can be downloaded from the attachment below. In summary it addresses: local and national initiatives; early identification and service provision for children and young people who are at risk of running away; support and a place of safety for those who runaway; and follow-up support for children, young people and families on return home. The Action Plan adheres to Statutory guidance on children who runaway and go missing from home or care (DCSF, 2009) and the Young Runaways Action Plan (DCSF, 2008).
A SRAG data sub-group has also been established to examine data requirements in relation to the submission of the DCSF National Indicator 71. This meets two monthly at present, and has signficiantly progressed data collection and analysis concerning those who runaway from home or care in Sheffield. Headline data from the analysis will be distributed as per the SRAG Action Plan and in the newsletter (see below).
SRAG also is a member of the South Yorkshire Runaways Action Partnership (RAP), which Dana Marrett attends. Children and young people who runaway do not necessarily stay within Sheffield, therefore links with neighbouring areas are very important. RAP are responsible for the RAP Protocol for 'Running Away from Home or Care' (2008) that is available via the protocols pages on this website.
As part of the Action Plan, we aim to communicate with a wider number of agencies and professionals than those who attend SRAG. Therefore we produce six monthly SRAG newsletters, which contains articles and information we hope will be of interest to all those who work with children and young people who go missing from home or care. You can download copies from the attachments at the bottom of this page.
An online training course about working with children and young people who run away from home or care is available for you to complete. To register, please visit our online training section.
For further information about SRAG contact Dana Marrett, Children's Residential Services Manager and SRAG Chair on (0114) 273 4966 or email Dana.Marrett@sheffield.gov.uk or Angie Heal, Policy Development Coordinator, Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board and SRAG Deputy Chair on (0114 273 5195) or email Angie.Heal@sheffield.gov.uk.
If you would like to contribute to our newsletter please contact Angie Heal.
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