Agenda item

Steve Crocker, Director of Children’s Services at Hampshire County Council will present a report updating partners on the government National Transfer Scheme for unaccompanied asylum seeking children and refugee children which came into effect from 1 July 2016.

The Hampshire Partnership received a report advising on the proposed Government National Transfer Scheme for unaccompanied asylum seeking children and refugee children, which came into effect on 1 July 2016.  Steve Crocker, Director of Children’s Services at Hampshire County Council summarised the background to the scheme and outlined the national picture.  The Partnership’s attention was drawn to section 6 of the report setting out funding and placement options and to the table on page 5 of the report setting out an overview of the position for the South East Region as at April this year.  The Director reported that Dover is one of the main routes by which unaccompanied asylum seeking children arrive into the UK, which puts the services provided by Kent County Council under a lot of strain as their numbers continue to rise month by month.  The Government recognises that Kent cannot continue to bear the responsibility for these large numbers indefinitely therefore the Government’s approach is to relieve Kent and introduce a programme for widening the dispersal around the UK.

The Director reported that unaccompanied children automatically become 'looked after children' and as such have care leaver status conferred upon them when they reach 18; if the government’s anticipated numbers arrive then this would constitute a 12% increase in the number of children in care in Hampshire.  Attention was drawn to Section 9.2 of the report which detailed arrivals via the National Transfer Scheme since its introduction on 1 July and section 9.3, arrivals from the Calais Camp under the Dubs Amendment.  In comparison to other authorities, Hampshire has taken a significant number of these children.  Current indications from the Home Office suggest there are approximately 400 children who have been dispersed around France following the break-up of the Calais camp.  At this time, the ages of those children are not known.  It was noted that a meeting would be held soon to discuss the programme for widening dispersal around the UK.

It was noted that fostering placements are scarce and there is no indication from Ofsted that the requirements of the regulatory framework surrounding foster carers will be reduced.  Several groups have been approached and discussions are ongoing with Faith groups, private landlords and with organisations such as the British Red Cross.  The Director requested that if Partners know of groups/organisations that can offer placements to provide him with details. 

In response to concerns about Government funding, Councillor Perry reported that David Simmonds is leading on work for the LGA in this regard, which will make representations to the Government to highlight the extent of the issue and to highlight concerns that this should not be something that local taxpayers are expected to pick up.  The Director drew attention to a report recently published by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) which indicates the funding currently being offered is not enough and needs to be uplifted significantly.

In conclusion the Partnership noted that the numbers of unaccompanied asylum seeking children arriving in Hampshire will continue to grow over the coming months and years.  A co-ordinated approach to their integration and support within Hampshire communities was therefore essential to achieve the best outcomes for these children.  The children are amongst the most vulnerable within Hampshire’s communities and will require particularly high levels of support.