Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Watson (in advisory role)

Commissioner:         Bradwell

Recommendation:

That the proposed voluntary arrangements to discharge the Council’s statutory duties for the dispersal of UASC, through a regional scheme be approved.

Consideration was given to a report which detailed information about the National Transfer Scheme for unaccompanied asylum seeking children and sought approval to discharge the Council’s responsibilities through a regional scheme.

It was reported that Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) in the United Kingdom were children who were outside their country of origin to seek asylum in the UK, and were separated from their parents and relatives, and were not in the care of someone with responsibility for doing so. The government had legislated earlier in the year to introduce a national dispersal for UASC, which was named the National Transfer Scheme.

It was further reported that Migration Yorkshire had worked with the local authorities in the Yorkshire and Humber region, and with the Home Office, Department for Education and Department for Health, to develop a regional approach which brought together the specialist knowledge and skills to appropriately support such vulnerable children. The region therefore sought an approach that:

·           Did not rely on an already overburdened placement system

·           Recognised the unique experience and needs of these children and developed tailored packages of care

·           Maximised the collective resources of the region

·           Developed regional coordination at every stage of the child’s care

·           Benefitted from explicit flexibilities and freedoms to deliver care/education and health services differently

·           Used shared intelligence to ensure that young people are placed and supported in a way that maximises any community risks

·           Pooled sparse specialists and resources to ensure a consistent offer.

The report detailed a preferred option which would see an anticipated 726 children being received, assessed and placed within three regional centres with the intention of maximising collective resources, ensuring coordination and reducing duplication between local authorities. It was noted that the ‘Parental Responsibility’ (PR) status for each child would be allocated using a fair and equitable process agreed by all parties. The Yorkshire and Humber region had a well established track record in collaborative working supported by the ‘Sector Led Improvement Programme’ and such an approach would be extended to health partners.

Commissioner Bradwell agreed:-

That the proposed voluntary arrangements to discharge the Council’s statutory duties for the dispersal of UASC, through a regional scheme be approved.