Safeguarding – some policy updates

Safeguarding unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a policy paper setting out the government’s commitments to safeguard and promote the welfare of unaccompanied asylum seeking refugee children in England. The new strategy includes: updated guidance for councils on caring for unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery; specialist training for 1,000 foster carers and support workers to improve their skills and confidence in caring for unaccompanied child migrants; commissioning research on the effectiveness of existing support for unaccompanied children and families reunited under the Dublin Regulation and whether more help is needed. An annex outlines the mechanisms for safeguarding unaccompanied children in the devolved administrations.  A summary of responses received along with the government’s response following consultation on the guidance has also been published.

Source: DfE  Date: 01 November 2017

Further information: Safeguarding strategy: unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children(PDF)

Consultation on the revised statutory guidance for local authorities on the care of unaccompanied asylum seeking and trafficked children: government response (PDF)

Unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery: statutory guidance

The Department for Education (DfE) has published statutory guidance for local authorities in England setting out the steps local authorities should take to plan for the provision of support for looked after children who are unaccompanied asylum seeking children, unaccompanied migrant children or child victims of modern slavery including trafficking. The guidance replaces Care of unaccompanied and trafficked children: statutory guidance for local authorities on the care of unaccompanied asylum seeking and trafficked children (2014)

Source: DfE  Date: 01 November 2017

Further information: Care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery: statutory guidance for local authorities (PDF)