UNDERSTANDING GOING MISSING - ISSUES FOR SOCIAL-WORK AND SOCIAL-SERVICES

Recent research about young people and adults who 'go missing' raises important issues for social work and the social services. Large number s of young people go missing each year, becoming vulnerable to exploit ation and at risk of committing crime and suffering from other social difficulties. Adults leave behind families with practical and emotiona l difficulties. A definition of 'going missing' should focus on absenc e from social expectations and responsibilities. Five groups of missin g person are identified: runaways, pushaways, throwaways, fallaways an d takeaways, reflecting different social situations in which going mis sing occurs. It is argued that going missing is one of a range of choi ces which people in difficulties may make, depending on their approach to problems in their lives and the availability of opportunities. Eff ective local co-ordination to focus on reasons for going missing, on r eunions and returns to residential care or home, and to provide emotio nal and practical help to people 'left behind', are required, provided that care is taken to protect people who go missing because they are subject to abuse and violence.