Planning Better Outcomes and Support for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children

1. Planning Better Outcomes and Support for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Home Office Consultation Paper February 2007 A Scottish Local Authority Perspective

2. Scottish Context • Currently 6,000 UASC supported by Local Authorities in UK. • Annual intake around 3,000 UASC. • Scotland approximately 100 UASC cases - 80% in Glasgow approximately 80-100 former UASC now 18-21 years old. Most UASC • Enter the care system when they are on average considerably older than other children/young people. Generally don’t enter the care system for the same reasons as other children/young people. • Smuggled -v- trafficked.

3. Current Support • Recognition of variations in approach to support:  Quality of services  Degree of specialisation Access to:  Translation  Education  Accommodation  Cultural support  Integration  Capacity & Costs

4. Definition/Legal Context UASC • Home Office definition is an individual who is under 18 years old and applying for asylum in their own right and is separated from both parents and not being cared for by an adult who by law or custom has responsibility to do so. • The Children’s Commissioners, ADSS and Scottish Executive recognise the legislative framework for this group is the Looked After Children and Care Review Acts. In Scotland the recent joint inspection of services to asylum seeking families used “Getting it Right for Every Child” and the ministerial vision as their benchmarks. • Although the finding of the judicial review against Hillingdon is not binding in Scotland, it is very likely that the same principles would be upheld in a Scottish Court. • In general this means little differentiation in standards and support to UASC, confirming entitlement to leaving care services and stresses the need for thorough assessments of needs.

5. UASC Support The Home Office is recommending the establishment of a number of “Specialist Authorities” who would specialise in the provision of services for UASC. • The term ‘Specialist Authority’ can mean a consortium or grouping of Local Authorities who come together to provide the range of services required to respond to UASC. Examples: • A Safe Transfer Scheme supported by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities including - Manchester, Bury, Bolton and others. • London Rota Scheme - Croydon carry out initial assessments and a number of other Local Authorities provide accommodation ona rota or contracted basis. • Is there a Scottish model to be developed?

6. UASC Support continued • The Home Office suggesting that additional funds would be made available to help support and care for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. At present Glasgow seems to be the only Local Authority in Scotland making a reclaim. • The consultation suggests moving funding away from a per capita scheme to one closer to reflecting real costs of service provision. • The range of support services provided through voluntary organisations is far more developed in England. If a similar support model to be developed in Scotland what would be the priorities and how would funding be secured? • Links to Scottish Executive “Fresh Talent Initiative” and SERIF plans. How does Scottish Executive funding for care leavers, education and health play into this Initiative?

7. Professional Issues • Age Assessment role of Local Authority for under 18 years. • Support to under 16 years in foster care recommended: capacity issues. • Models of care in more independent living 16 - 18 years old. • 90% of UASC will have claim rejected - impact on care planning. • Role of Local Authority as corporate parent - linking access to education, health, community and leisure facilities and training as well as good childcare standards. • Assessment and care planning needs to be continuous and recognise immigration considerations (New Asylum Model case worker).

8. Professional Issues (contd) • Family reunions, voluntary returns, enforced returns? • Community cohesion, political consequences, publicity. • Safe transfer to named official in country of origin. • Can some principles be applied to very young children with stay in Scotland - 7 year plus compared to 16 - 17 year olds?

9. Other Key Considerations • Potential for voluntary organisations to be providers/impact on Local Authority. • Cluster numbers for a specialist authority - concern re placement creep into Scotland from English Local Authorities at present. • Support to care leavers (UASC) currently on system. • Need to learn lessons from dispersal of adults and families - contracts, funding, compliance accountability, community support.