Who is an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child?
The UK Border Agency defines an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child as "a person under 18 years of age or who, in the absence of documentary evidence establishing age, appears to be under that age", and who "is applying for asylum in their own right; and is separated from both parents and not being cared for by an adult who by law or custom has responsibility to do so".
Who has the responsibility for caring for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children?
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are the responsibility of the local authority in which they are present. The immigration status of separated children does not affect a local authority's duty to care for them while they are under the age of 18. The local authority should undertake a full assessment of the child's needs. The child should be provided with a copy of the findings from the assessment in their own language.
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