Return Home Interview service to support children who run away or go missing from home or care.

Section 13 of the Children Act 2004 requires local authorities and other named statutory partners to make arrangements to ensure that their functions are discharged with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This includes planning to prevent children from going absent or missing and to protect them when they do. The council is committed to commissioning an Independent Agency (from herein to be referred to as The Service Provider) to bring challenge and provide independent support to children who go absent or missing from home or care. The Service Provider will deliver the provision of a Return Home Interview in accordance with this specification for children up to the age of 18 years. This includes the completion of the appropriate documentation following the process agreed by Sunderland City Council to ensure we are targeting and supporting the identified children.