The Latest
Can't go home?
Published on Decemebr 18, 2008
An innovative approach has been used in Merton, London, to follow up children and young people when they return home or are found living somewhere else after being reported missing. The police have a duty to interview all children who have gone missing once they return home. They have found, however, that children often do not open respond to them regarding their reasons for running away from home.
Jigsaw4u works with The local Police Missing Persons’ Unit to provide a follow up interview when they return home. The project also offers and mediation work with young people who are refusing to return home.
Sindia Malhotra (Project Worker) says, "All referrals to Jigsaw4u come via the police. I make contact with the young person and arrange to meet them somewhere safe and often separate from their home, such as at Jigsaw4u or school. I inform the parents and carers of what I’m doing, but the first contact is always with the young person. This is so that the service is seen to be independent by those that we help and that their views will be properly listened to. The service is completely voluntary. If the young person or family does not wish to be involved, this is respected. A few young people I meet are looked after and some may have been placed in Merton by other boroughs."
Sindia provides us with the following examples:
"A new step-parent and a young person might not get on. This results in the young person staying out, staying around a friend's house and is then reported missing. My role is to listen to everyone and build up the communication channels by helping them to understand each other’s views. All parties involved can then start to communicate again."
"A 14 year old girl has repeatedly been reported missing by her mother. She was often refusing to come home, staying with random 'friends' and not attending school. She was continuously placing herself at risk. After several sessions she told me that she was suffering physical and emotional abuse from her mother. With the girl's permission I spoke to her mother who acknowledged that she herself needed support and was unable to parent in any other way. Her daughter was placed in foster care and during the first two months she has attended school and has not been reported missing once."
Outcomes: Reduction in the number of incidents children are reported missing and the number of repeat episodes when children are likely to be more vulnerable. In Merton in 2003, there were 335 incidents of children and young people being reported missing to the police. In 2006/7 this reduced to 252 incidents (22% reduction). This is the first year of available figures since Jigsaw4u started working in partnership with the police.
For further information contact Sindia Malholtra at Jigswa4u on 020 8687 1384
