Every three minutes a child runs away from home or care1. They could be forced out, fleeing conflict or abuse, responding to peer pressure or an exploitative relationship. 40% of children who experienced sexual exploitation were reported missing from home or care at least once2, which is why our services combine support for those at risk of or who have experienced CSE.
Our approach
We are responsive to the needs of each young person and, having listened to their story, we build trusting relationships and tailor our support to meet their individual needs. This may include return to home interviews, CSE screening and assessments, and interventions which enable young people to recognise and reflect upon the causes, signs and symptoms of CSE. Working closely with a range of partner agencies including Police and children’s social care ensures we can respond quickly in an integrated manner.
Responsive to needs
We operate a flexible and needs-led service including outreach work to support children disengaged from services, group work for young people to identify risks and provide peer support, one-to-one therapeutic interventions, non-appointment based interventions and out of hours support.
Using data to inform best practice
Catch22 uses a bespoke database for recording and monitoring children and young people who go missing more than once. This enables us to target resources for those most at risk and share intelligence with Police and statutory agencies including children’s services and Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) across county lines.
We have close working links with Troubled Families services to provide support across the whole family and to address underlying issues, strengthen the family’s ‘pull’ factors and reduce risk.
Raising awareness and developing skills
We raise awareness for young people through preventative and targeted workshops and provide bespoke training for practitioners on the use of Catch22’s CSE screening tool. We also support workforce development through training social workers and school staff, engage with foster carers and parents through schools and parenting forums, and train other professionals including emergency response and hospital staff.
Using volunteers
We recruit, train and supervise a diverse range of volunteers, including role models who undertake home visits to best support families.
Our impact
Cheshire has seen a 41% reduction in annual reported missing person incidents since Catch22 began working there through our Pan Cheshire Missing and Child Sexual Exploitation Service.
From January 2014 to May 2015:
- 71% of children we worked with reported an increase in safety and security
- 57% of children we worked with reported an increase in wellbeing
- 20-25% of children we worked with do not go missing again following a single intervention.
‘As missing person coordinator I link in with Catch22 daily and believe the service they provide to be invaluable in helping to keep children safe.’
Police Missing Person Coordinator
This film tells the real story of a young person supported by Catch22:
All names have been changed and the young person is portrayed by an actor
Further information
- Download our two-page overview of our missing and CSE services
- Watch our film about a young person supported by Catch22
- Read our two-page overview of our Young People and Famillies work
Get in touch
Contact us if you have an enquiry about Catch22’s missing from home or care and child sexual exploitation services and a member of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please note that we are unable to provide emergency support or urgent responses through this enquiry form.
1 Missing Persons: Data and Analysis 2012/2013, National Crime Agency (November 2014)
2 Out of Mind, Out of Sight, CEOP (June 2011)
