National Transfer Scheme becomes compulsory

The move will mean children currently living in temporary accommodation in areas with a high number of asylum-seeking children will be moved to permanent placements across the country.

Under this change all local authorities have been given legal notice to accept transfers of children into their care, the Home Office has said.

• Rise in child refugees sparks calls for mandatory transfer scheme

• Legal Update: Transferring asylum-seeking children

Kevin Foster, minister for safe and legal migration, said the decision had "not been taken lightly" and was "vital to ensure unaccompanied asylum-seeking children receive the critical care they need and end the use of hotels for them following the unprecedented recent pressure placed on the asylum system."

"It's right we do all we can to protect unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, many of whom have gone through dangerous journeys and been exploited by despicable people smugglers.

“I am grateful for the continued, and invaluable, support of local authorities across the country who have provided crucial placements to vulnerable young asylum-seekers," Foster added.  

Local authorities will be given a 14 day notice period where representations may be put forward regarding a transfer "which will be given careful consideration", government documents state.

A start date for mandatory National Transfer Scheme transfers will be confirmed as soon as possible following the initial notice period, it adds, with any transferred made from today (23 November) included in council allocations of 0.07 per cent of their general child population.

Campaigners have long called for the voluntary rota scheme to be mandated after councils, including Kent and Croydon, were forced to stop accepting unaccompanied children arriving in the UK into their care, saying that they were unable to “safely” look after them.

In June this year, Kent County Council was looking after 430 asylum-seeking children - almost double the safe amount recommended by the government based on its child population.

Kent resumed services for asylum-seeking children on 10 September and has since accepted 247 referrals. Of these children, 150 have been secured placement with other local authorities.

Roger Gough, leader of Kent County Council and Sue Chandler, cabinet member for integrated children’s services said: “This is the right decision for an effective, stable and fair system, not just for Kent services and residents but also for those local authorities that have previously volunteered to accept unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and will ensure that all these children get safe, appropriate care without delay.

“We would like to extend our thanks to the ministers and officials at the Home Office and Department for Education for their support and this decision and we look forward to the success of the new National Transfer Scheme.”

In August, Croydon Council said it was looking after 156 asylum-seeking children, despite 0.07 per cent of its child population being just 66.

Croydon Council leader Hamida Ali has welcomed the reports, saying the government has “finally moved to the right position” but called for funding to be increased to cover “the full cost of support”.

“All councils should share our important national duty to care for children and young people who could not be more vulnerable. But that must be backed with government funding which covers the full cost of support. 

“For years Croydon Council has been caring for more unaccompanied children than almost anywhere in the country. Compassionate councils who rightly play their part in what is a  national effort should be supported with full funding not financially penalised,” she said.

The government announced earlier this year that it will pay councils £143 per child per night under the scheme.

Councils are also entitled to £270 per week for each former asylum-seeking care leaver.

Jamie Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association, said the changes to the scheme must “take into account existing pressures in local areas” adding that “the majority of councils have stepped forward voluntarily to offer homes and support to asylum-seeking children”. 

“Councils will want to continue to work closely with government to ensure the rights and needs of children are at the heart of these new arrangements. These need to enable local partners to give children the help they need, including mental and physical health support and appropriate education.

“Councils continue to face challenges in finding appropriate homes, with ongoing issues around centrally-led age assessment and delays in decision-making adding uncertainty for both councils and young people. These new arrangements must continue to swiftly take into account existing pressures in local areas, with greater join up across government to improve engagement with councils on all the programmes that support new arrivals to start new lives in the UK,” he said. 

Despite noting that the changes to the scheme will be temporary, the Home Office is yet to announce an end date for the measures.