Agenda item

To consider a report from the Director of Children and Families setting out how recent changes to the asylum system have impacted children in Leeds, as a follow up item to a report on the same subject considered in September 2023.

The Board considered a report from the Director of Children and Families setting out how recent changes to the asylum system have impacted children in Leeds, as a follow up item to a report on the same subject considered in September 2023.

In attendance for this item were:

·  Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Economy, Culture, and Education

·  Julie Longworth, Director of Children & Families

·  Farrah Khan, Deputy Director Children and Families

·  Laura Mitchell-Ghafoor, Principal Legal Officer

Following Board members questions and comments the following issues were discussed:

·  Members asked about the impact of inaccurate age assessments in terms of children being placed in accommodation designed for adult asylum seekers and whether this placed them at risk of exploitation. By way of response the Board were informed that age assessments have been a problem in Leeds where unaccompanied asylum seeking children had been housed in adult accommodation. Around the Christmas period in 2023 this had been dealt with and more detailed assessments conducted.

·  In response to further questions on age assessments and their accuracy it was noted that the funding provided to the Council to support families and individuals in these circumstances was not sufficient to cover the costs. The Board noted that where an age assessment has been found to be inaccurate the children and young people involved are dealt with through the established children looked after approaches in Leeds. There is ongoing dialogue with Government around sufficiency of funding in these circumstances.

·  Members noted that age assessments of young people who present as unaccompanied asylum seekers is not likely to be straightforward.

·  The Board were also informed of the support being offered to young people who may be subject to uncertainty around their asylum status.

·  Members asked about processes in relation to families with no recourse to public funds. In response the Board heard about Section 17 provisions which means a panel is used to inform the support provided to families for housing and food and often working with the third sector provide wider support arrangements.

·  The Board wanted to know how much the total costs were for providing support to families with no recourse to public funds. The precise details were not available at the meeting but could form the basis of a further update to the Board in 2024/25. A further update on this providing more detail on data, scale and funding was supported by the Board to be considered as part of a watching brief approach to this issue in approximately 6 months’ time.

·  In response to a question from the Board it was noted that the issue with age assessments relates to children being assessed as being adults and does not reflect adults seeking asylum but trying to access children’s provision. The Council’s involvement in age assessments is based on a referral by other professionals where there is a view that an individual is a child and not an adult.

·  The Board sought assurance on the role of the Council in relation to asylum seekers who have committed a crime against a child whilst in asylum seeking accommodation in the city. The Board heard that where there is a concern that a child is at risk of harm or has suffered harm a strategy discussion will take place between health, police and children’s social care, with the police taking a lead on any criminal proceedings and children’s social care will fulfil its statutory role of providing effective help and protection for children.

Resolved

The Board:

a)  noted and endorsed the update report provided.

b)  requested a further update to be brought to the board in 6 month time with a focus on age assessments and wider data associated with this issue.