ROC Project ( Running – Other Choices)

1. ROC Project(Running – Other Choices) SDF Conference 31 March 2005

2. Research • Aberlour Child Care Trust commissioned University of York to carry out research in Scotland on Young runaways • Looks at prevalence, causes and consequences as well as recommendations • Published as “Missing Out” by Aberlour in 2002

3. Definition “Running away is used here to mean any young person who spends time away from the family home or substitute care before the age of 16 without the permission of their parents or carers or as a result of being forced to leave by their parents or carers.” “Missing Out. Young Runaways in Scotland” (Wade 2001, Aberlour Child Care Trust)

4. Methodology • Research carried out in 1999/2000 with over 3000 young people and more than 40 agencies in contact with runaways in six contrasting areas of Scotland. • A survey of a representative sample of school pupils established the prevalence of running away and the characteristics, experiences and needs of young people who run away. • In depth interviews were also conducted with 37 young people and with 42 agency professionals in three of these areas.

5. How Many Run Away? One in nine children (11%) in Scotland run away or are forced to leave home beforethe age of 16 due to difficulties in their lives. • 6000 – 7000 children under 16 run away every year in Scotland for the first time. • Although most young people reported having run away, one in seven had been forced to leave before the age of 16. • Three quarters of the young people had run away once or twice but a quarter had run away three times or more.

6. Who Runs Away? • No evidence of a significant difference in running away rates between urban, town and rural areas in Scotland. • Rate of running away was slightly higher in poorer families in Scotland, but the link between poverty and running away is at best indirect. • Running away is mostly a teenage phenomenon but around one in five first run away before the age of 11.

7. Who runs away? • Females are more likely to run away than males. However, males are more likely to start running away at an earlier age. • Running away rates for young people from different ethnic groups are broadly similar. • Young people in substitute care are over-represented amongst runaways in Scotland. Two fifths (40%) of those who had been in care at some point in their lives had run away compared to 9% of those who had never been accommodated. However, running away was not always directly linked to young people’s experiences of being looked after nor to the quality of care they received.

8. Why do young people run away? Reasons for being away “…Running away, even for a brief time, is rarely undertaken casually and usually signifies that a young person needs some help to work through their feelings whether from family, friends or professionals.”

9. The Home Context Young people are more likely to run away from problems they are experiencing in step-families (14%) and lone parent families (16%) than is the case for those living with both birth parents (7%). • Most commonly young people referred to arguments and conflict, often quite persistent, with parents or step-parents as underpinning their decision to run away, conflict was a major factor for 39% of the young people.

10. The Home Context • However, emotional and physical abuse and feelings of neglect and rejection were major reasons for almost one in five (19%) of those who ran away. • The need to avoid conflict between parents or to escape parents own problems (drugs/alcohol dependence, mental health problems) was the main reason identified by a significant minority of young people (11%).

11. The School Context One in four of the young people (25%) reported that problems at school had been an ingredient in their decision to run away. Only 6% mentioned specific school issues as a main reason for running. These included being bullied, truancy and fear of parental reaction to trouble they had got into at school. However, even if only a small minority of young people run away because of problems at school, running away is closely associated with difficulties at school.

12. The School Context • 30% of runaways had been excluded from school compared to 10% of those who had never run away. • 13% of runaways had often truanted compared to 2% of other young people. • 33% of runaways were unhappy at school compared to 16% of those who had never run.

13. The Personal Context • Young people who ran away were much more likely to report feelings of depression, loneliness, worry about the future, and low self-esteem than were non-runaways. • 29% of runaways reported having problems with drugs compared to 7% of non-runaways. • 28% of runaways reported having problems with alcohol compared to 6% of non-runaways. • 21% of runaways reported having been in trouble with the police compared to 8% of non-runaways.

14. Life experiences comparisons for young people(Non-runaways + sub-groups of young runaways)

15. Young people’s experiences of being away • 28% of young people slept rough while away • 1 in 7 young people away for 2 nights or more admitted resorting to risky survival strategies (eg stealing, begging, prostitution) • 1 in 6 young people experienced either physical or sexual assault when missing overnight • 18% of rough sleepers used risky survival strategies compared to 2% of those staying with friends or relatives • 37% felt frightened while away

16. Young People’s Experiences of being away • 84% said being away gave them time to think • 73% said running was a relief from pressure • 38% stayed with friends

17. What would have helped? • Information about local services. Publicity ought to be widely available in schools, youth centres and other venues where young people gather. • Opportunities for advice, counselling and family mediation prior to or at the time of running away. Help during parental separation, divorce and family reconstruction; support for parents with drug and alcohol problems; help to limit mistreatment by parents and to resolve persistent family conflicts.

18. What would have helped • School based preventative services. Suggestions included discussions about problems in family life, peer and professional counselling initiatives and information about helpful services. • Respite accommodation to prevent those under 16 who do run away from exposure to the streets. This kind of ‘Refuge’ ought to be small, homely, well supported and offer young people the space to plan a supported next step.

19. Running–Other Choices (ROC) • Children’s Promise – Practice Manager and Admin support • Scottish Exec – Project Worker (Bi-Lingual) • Greater Glasgow (NHS) Health Board- Mental Health Promotion Worker • Railway Children – Accommodation Development Worker

20. ROC (Running – Other Choices) Project Aim To assist young people to find solutions to the problems that have caused them, or may cause them, to run away.

21. Context ROC Project Community based work Flexible individual support Open referral system Preventative work – (PSE curriculum)

22. Methods of Work • Building Relationships • Setting Goals Choice Resilience Building Family Mediation Advocacy Emotional Support Access Services Art Therapy School Issues Coping Skills

23. ROC Partnerships • Strathclyde Police “G” Division • Schools – preventative work • Social Work Services – looked after and accommodated children and young people

24. Schools Work • PSE Lesson delivered in 4 Secondary Schools -approx 35 classes • Help to access service – Pastoral care staff, Posters, Supporting peer group work

25. Individual Work • Referrals since March 2002 – July 2004 -133 85% female, 35% male • Age range 75% 13-15 year olds, 9% under 11 • Referrals from Police (26%), Education (19%) Social Work (18%), Self (7%)

26. Accommodation Development Worker • Previous Refuge models – Leeds (The Children’s Society), London (St Christopher’s Fellowship) • Networking and building partnerships • Other residential models • Local need

27. Why Refuge? • Children’s (Scotland) Act 1995 • Children’s/Young People’s Rights • Right to Protection from harm • Time and Space for young people and families to reflect and change – 7-14 days • Preventative?

28. ROC Refuge • Scottish Executive Youth Crime Prevention Fund - £600,000 March 2003 • Run residential Refuge for 3 young people • Demonstration Project – Evaluation Stirling University • Flexible staffing • Railway Children – Refuge Manager

29. Refuge Provision • Opened July 2005 • Initial publicity through agencies • Shared Admission Assessment with Stand-by Social Work Services • Target 12-15 year olds at risk and running • Refuge Protocol with Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Police

30. Use of Refuge • Since July 2004 Refuge accessed by 30 young people on 39 occasions • Stay up to 7 days, extended in exceptional circumstances • Work with young people, families, carers and agencies mainly social work services • Plans to return home safely with support or investigate other options

31. Profile of young people • 18 female and 12 males admitted • 10 were 15 years old, 9 were 14 years old and 8 13 years old • Range of ongoing issues including physical abuse, neglect, sexual assault, self-harm, eating disorder and parental problems (drug/alcohol misuse and mental health problems)

32. What happens after Refuge? • Two thirds of young people returned to family/extended family home • Six young people accessed Respite care • Three young people accommodated by local authority • Young people offered Outreach support from ROC Refuge and Outreach Team

33. Further developments • Have recruited 3 new contracted staff to meet demand • Launch Refuge on April 28 • Investigate use of Refuge foster carers