Missing from Care (Children)

This Missing from Care course explores the reasons and circumstances why children go missing from care, the factors involved, and what can – legally and morally – be done to return them to their setting.

Course Length. 3.5 hours

Introduction

In the UK each year a substantial number of children in care are reported as missing from their placements, with official data showing that around 11 % of looked-after children – roughly 12,700 children in England alone – had at least one missing incident in 2024–25, resulting in nearly 87,000 missing episodes, most lasting only a short time but often recurring for the same child. (Explore Education Statistics) Looked-after children are far more likely to be reported missing than their peers outside care (around 1 in 10 compared with 1 in 200). (Missing People) Vulnerable groups within care – especially trafficked children and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children – face particularly high rates of going missing, with recent reports indicating around 37 % of trafficked children and 13 % of unaccompanied children in care were reported missing in 2024. (ecpat.org.uk) Children go missing from care for a variety of reasons including the impact of prior trauma, mental health issues, breakdowns in placement relationships, exploitation by gangs or traffickers, fear of immigration-related outcomes, and attempts to return to families or familiar environments, reflecting a complex mix of emotional, social and systemic factors that increase their risk. (Missing People)

Course Contents

Course Outcomes

Successful completion of this training course will result in the award of a CPD accredited certificate covering all aspects of the above course contents.