Best Practice

Legal Update: Safeguarding unaccompanied children

Kamena Dorling, head of policy and public affairs at Coram Children's Legal Centre, explores the government's plans for safeguarding unaccompanied children, including victims of trafficking.

Exactly one year after it was promised by the then ministers for immigration and children, the government published its safeguarding strategy for unaccompanied children on 1 November. The strategy's introductory and welcome message is that refugee and migrant children are children first and foremost, and must not be defined by their immigration status. It makes clear that all children seeking protection in the UK must have access to the care, services and support they desperately need.

Much of the strategy outlines future government commitments, such as specialist training for 1,000 foster carers and support workers to improve their skills and confidence in caring for unaccompanied child migrants; and research on the support for unaccompanied children and families reunited under the Dublin Regulation. The training will be backed by funding worth £200,000 between 2017 and 2019, and an additional £60,000 investment will provide additional resources for social workers.

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