Agenda item

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Specialist Children’s Services and the Corporate Director for Social Care, Health and Wellbeing updating the committee on the steps that have been taken by KCC following the unprecedented rise in the numbers of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) arriving in the county and subsequently entering KCC’s care since June 2015.

1. The Chairman gave thanks to the staff for their diligence in Kent’s work with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC).

2. The Assistant Area Director for West Kent, Sarah Hammond, gave the Committee an update on the contents of the report in regards to the steps KCC has taken since July 2015 in responding to the unprecedented rise in UASC in Kent. She confirmed the following;

a)    The large numbers of UASC arriving have tailed off following increased security on the French side. Despite this the numbers are still higher than they were this time last year.

b)    A letter was distributed to all Local Authorities from three Secretaries of State that gave praise to Kent for its response to what is considered a national emergency. It asked other Local Authorities to volunteer to assist KCC in taking statutory responsibility for some of its UASC. They were also offered an enhanced rate to take them on. The first response has been received from Wolverhampton City Council who has offered to take either 2 or 3 children.

c)    The amount of UASC KCC has a statutory responsibility for is still close to a thousand. In addition to this KCC has responsibility to close to 450 care leavers. More than 200 have been moved into placements outside of Kent.

d)    In regards to reception centres she reported that they had been able to make sure that they were safe despite the fact these are far more heavily occupied than usual.

e)    That there had been close work with health in ensuring the wellbeing of UASC. The most common ailment they have had to deal with was scabies.

3. In response to comments made and questions raised by members, Ms Hammond gave the following information;

a)    It was recognised that having too many young people in too small an area needed to be avoided.

b)    In regards to teaching English to these young people it was confirmed that colleges choose their own courses and Gravesham, although it used to have an excellent facility for teaching English, no longer does this.

c)    It was confirmed that 180 children are still unallocated to Social Workers. Additional support for them is being commissioned.

4. In response to comments made and questions raised by members the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, Andrew Ireland, also gave the following information;

a)    In regards to teaching English there were programs up and running. He has had further discussion on their broader strategy with the CEOs of Kent’s Districts.

b)    That a large proportion of UASC in Kent were Eritrean Christians.

c)    The response from other Local Authorities following the letter from three Secretaries of State had been disappointing, particularly from the larger Local Authorities.

d)    It was emphasised that although other Local Authorities had been incentivised with a financial offer there been no clear expectation of their providing assistance to KCC.

e)    He confirmed contingency plans were being developed in case the substantial response does not materialise.

5. The Cabinet Member for Specialist Children’s Services, Peter Oakford, stated that he did not find the letter from three Secretaries of State very encouraging where it asks other Local Authorities only to volunteer their assistance until the end of the financial year. There was no indication of any commitment past this. He also confirmed that they would continue to push for a more substantial response in Government in supporting Kent.

6. RESOLVED that the update and report be noted.