FOSTER children in Wirral went missing more than 150 times in a year – almost a tenth of the borough's youngsters in this type of care.

The number – 170 in 2016/17 – was a rise of around 10% on the year before, and the figures have been branded "appalling".

Leader of the council's opposition Conservative group, Cllr Ian Lewis, said: "To have a single child go missing is bad enough but to lose children 170 times is utterly appalling.

"Not only will the families of the young people be worried sick, but the children and young people will be at greater risk of exploitation and abuse during the days they are missing."

He pointed out that in 2016, much of Wirral council's children's services were ranked "inadequate", with others requiring improvement by watchdog Ofsted.

At the time, the council said it would act urgently to improve the service.

One of the main criticisms following that four-week inspection was that the local authority had lost track of where its care leavers had moved to.

Cllr Lewis said the figures revealed this week show Wirral has also been losing track of its foster children.

He said: "The cabinet member for children's services and her associates are constantly telling us that things are getting better.

"That's not enough – we need to see the evidence.

"Every child who goes missing in Wirral must be given the opportunity to talk through with someone they trust the reasons why they disappeared.

"This must not be another tick-box exercise by the local council – we need assurances that it’s happening.

"Every child matters and every child must be supported."

Paul Boyce, the council's director of children’s services, said the figures quoted in the report related to a period in 2016 "when it is well known that children’s services in Wirral were not in a good place".

He added: "What was happening in 2016 does not accurately reflect current practice in Wirral.

"Since I became the director for children in December 2017, I have seen a significant improvement in practice right across children services.

"Whilst I accept there is a lot still to do I was very pleased by the outcome of the latest visit from Ofsted in March this year."

The figures showed there were 170 instances of children or young people going missing while living with foster carers last year, up from around 155 in 2015/16.

According to the Data Unit, that meant "around 45" children under the age of 18, meaning an average of four incidents per child, with most lasting less than a week.

That's compared to Liverpool, where children went missing from foster care just 25 times in 2016/17, down from 50 the year before.

"Missing" means they either ran away, were abducted, or their whereabouts were unknown, and in terms of the total number of children in foster care in Wirral, the figure that went missing – around 45 – was 9%.

Mr Boyce added: "Ofsted spent a considerable amount of time testing our responses to children missing from care and found 'responses to children missing from care are ‘prompt, thorough and sensitive'.

"This report has been in the public domain since April 10 and has been shared with our partners.

"This shows that we are moving in the right direction but we in no way underestimate the challenge we face in making children services in Wirral excellent."

Children's charity Barnardos has called for all children that go missing to be given a return home interview to help prevent it happening again, as well as ensuring they receive the right support.

According to the figures, more than three-quarters of children in Wirral – 78% – were not interviewed, although many of them may have refused these.

Barnardo's chief executive, Javed Khan, said: "Barnardo's is concerned about the increasing numbers of children coming into foster care with high levels of vulnerability, including those who have been trafficked and sexually abused.

"These children are more susceptible to exploitation and abuse and more likely to go missing.

"For this reason all children should be given a return home interview, from a professional that they trust, to gather critical information which can help prevent them going missing again and ensure they receive the right support.

"We recommend that local authorities and other organisations are adequately resourced to carry out return home interviews to all missing children in a timely way."

Nationally, in 2016/17, six percent of all fostered children went missing.

Cllr Roy Perry, vice chairman of the Local Government Association's children and Young People Board, said looking after children was one of the most important jobs a council does.

He said: "Councils work hard to ensure children are settled with foster carers, and any child missing from care for any length of time is a concern for everyone.

"While the increased numbers of children going missing is worrying, it is also a sign that identification and reporting of these incidents is continuing to improve, reflecting the heightened awareness of the dangers that this behaviour can pose.

"It is encouraging that increasing numbers of foster children are now offered the chance to speak to someone independent when they return home after going missing.

"It is vital that councils and others continue to focus strongly on providing effective help and support for missing children on their return home and on preventing children from going missing in the first place."