Laura Sharman 21 April 2016

Councils to share responsibility for unaccompanied child refugees

Unaccompanied children seeking asylum will be dispersed across the country in a bid to relieve the strain on those councils caring for a large number.

The new scheme, which gets underway in July, has been launched following concerns that the number of child refugees have been heavily concentrated in a few places such as Kent.

However, immigration minister James Brokenshire warned that the Government may intervene with new legislation if councils fail to take on their share of lone children.

Town hall chiefs have welcomed the announcement, saying it will provide children with better access to services and support.

Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Asylum, Refugee and Migration Task Group, cllr David Simmonds, said: ‘We have long argued that placements for unaccompanied children need to be carefully planned at a national level to ensure that there is sufficient funding, care placements and support services available, and this simply isn’t the case while a small number of councils are left to look after large numbers of refugee children.’

However, the LGA called on the Government to provide more clarity on the funding available for councils to look after unaccompanied children seeking asylum.

Cllr Simmonds added: ‘We are concerned that the Government is still unable to clarify the long-term funding arrangements for councils looking after unaccompanied children, or provide any detail of how a national dispersal mechanism will operate.

‘No council should be made to choose between supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children and providing vital services for their local community, and these outstanding questions must be resolved as soon as possible.’

The LGA also warned that any new scheme must be aligned and funded alongside existing schemes for resettling refugees and unaccompanied asylum seeking children to ensure there is sufficient capacity to support vulnerable people.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Teaching Assistant

Durham County Council
£24,404 – £25,183 pro rata
Teaching Assistant Grade 3   £24,404 – £25,183 pro rata Full Time, Term Time Only + 2 Weeks Temporary – required from 1st September 2025 until  31st A Peterlee
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£31,650 – £33,483
Classroom Teacher M1-M2   £31,650 – £33,483 Full Time, Whole Time Temporary – required from 1st September 2025 until  31st August 2026 Would you like Peterlee
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Teaching Assistant

Durham County Council
£24,404 - £25,183 pro rata
Teaching Assistant Grade 3 £24,404 - £25,183 pro rata Full Time, Term Time Only + 2 Weeks Temporary – required from 2nd June 2025 until 3rd January 20 Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

North Northamptonshire Council
£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

South Wales Trunk Road Agent
£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recuriter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent
Linkedin Banner