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Protecting Child Asylum Seekers – Improving Local Provision Through Multi-Agency Working

Date: 9th September 2010btn-register-now (3)
Time: 10.40am-3.15pm (including networking lunch)
Venue: The Commonwealth Club, Westminster
Cost: £225 per place, £175 for two or more places

Please click here to view an agenda

‘Our coalition government is committed to ending the detention of children for immigration purposes – we think this is the right thing to do. I hope that we can have plans agreed within the next few months. I am launching a comprehensive review of alternatives to child detention, including opening a dialogue with relevant stakeholders, organisations and experts. This work has already started, because it is in all our interests, including those children currently in detention, to do it quickly, but to also do it well and safely.’
  - Rt Hon Damien Green MP, Minister for Immigration, 17th May 2010              

The Context

The new Coalition Government has announced that it will end the detention of child asylum seekers as soon as possible and carry out an immediate review into alternative measures. This follows recent widespread acknowledgment that much more needs to be done to ensure the protection and safety of asylum seeking children (UASC) entering the UK. Increased statutory duties to protect children placed on the UK Border Agency, along with recent reports critical of local provision, reinforce the need for local authorities, UKBA and their partners on Local Safeguarding Children Boards to improve multi-agency working, from entry in to the UK through to the conclusion of the asylum process and beyond.   

The Speakers

  • Nadine Finch – Children, Families and Immigration Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
  • Jane Dykins - Head of Children’s Section, Refugee Council
  • Cllr Roger Lawrence – Chair, LGA Asylum and Refugee Task Group
  • Ljaja Sterland – Project Officer, NIACE
  • Richard Ross – UASC Team Manager, Solihull MBC
  • Philip Ishola – Service Manager and London Trafficking Pilots Lead, LB Harrow
  • Susan Ellery – Principal Manager, Children in Care, West Sussex CYPS

The Issues

Throughout the day delegates will have the chance to engage with the panel, investigating key issues such as:

  • Investigating the implications of the imminent end of child detention and considering alternative options
  • What are the key barriers regarding access to local public services for asylum seeking children, and how can these be most effectively tackled?
  • How to ensure unaccompanied asylum seeking children are treated as children first and foremost?
  • What changes can be made to the decision making process to ensure less distress and build greater stability for children?  
  • How to improve partnership working and referral procedures between UKBA and local stakeholder organisations?
  • Building clear lines of accountability in terms of provision and care for asylum seeking children
  • Considering the implications of new duties placed on UKBA to keep all child asylum seekers safe from harm
  • How can we begin to eradicate the illegal trafficking of children into the UK?
  • How to improve the collection and application of records in relation to child asylum seekers in the UK?

Objectives and Outcomes

The morning of this Policy and Practice Briefing will provide delegates a forum to  debate  the recently announced Government review and discuss how successfully child asylum policy is being implemented across the country. Delegates will consider the key issues raised by recent reports.

The afternoon will investigate successful examples of partnership working and information sharing between UKBA and other stakeholder agencies, as well as case studies of  best practice through Local Safeguarding Children Boards. Delegates will gain ideas and insights to take back to their organisations and roles.

Who should Attend?

Delegates will be drawn from local authorities, Local Safeguarding Children Boards, UK Borders Agency, local refugee co-ordination teams, refugee support services, local refugee offices, early years and children’s and education services, asylum charities, refugee legal service organisations, Sure Start centres, refugee healthcare organisations, police authorities, connexions, charities and academia.

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