Highland organisations doing their bit to help children seeking asylum
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Highland organisations face challenges meeting the costs of caring for children seeking asylum, a new report has detailed.
Under current legislation all local authorities across the UK are required to accommodate a share of unaccompanied children and young people arriving in the UK and seeking asylum.
In a report to next week's meeting of Highland Council's health, social care and wellbeing committee members are told that, as of April, there were 33 young people living under the care of Highland Council, brought here under the terms of the Home Office's National Transfer Scheme (NTS) which seeks to move them on from initial accommodation in the Kent area where most arrive in small boats across the English Channel.
All of the 33 were male and all bar one, who is 15, were aged 17-18 years old.
Providing a further breakdown the report notes that most (12) were from Afghanistan while seven were from Iran, five from Albania, three from Sudan and two each from Iraq, Kuwait and Turkey.
Of the total, though, five went "missing", with three of those later located by police in Belfast, Sheffield and London. The other two were in supported fostering placements in London.
Despite no longer being resident in the area, though, Highland Councuil remains responsible for their care, including being financially responsible and the report states: "This is a complex area in which local authorities across Scotland are facing major pressures, which has been raised with COSLA as the representative body."
Core funding to councils for care provision as of the end of March totals £143 per child per day for those aged under 18 and £270 per week for those aged 18 and over. Under care rules local authorities can be responsible for some young people up to the age of 26.
Local authorities previously received an additional £6000 per child if they managed to transfer them to accommodation within their area within five days, a figure that temporarily rose to £15,000 between December 16 last year and February 28.
Highland secured £255,000 through this funding stream, the cash intended to allow local authorities to fund necessary additional services.
This funding has now ceased and the report states: "Highland's financial modelling has highlighted that the funding provided, including the additional funding previously granted, does not actually cover the full costs of the partnership services necessary to meet supported children's complex needs.
"This is particularly the case if a young person requires a placement in Highland foster care or residential care.
"This budget pressure will increase significantly if a placement is required in independently purchased foster care, residential care or secure care.
"This annual cost for each child can range from over £45,000 to £149,000 (foster care) and over £300,000 to £450,000 (residential care).
"Secure care is higher again...planning indicates that other under-16s are anticipated to transfer to Highland as part of the NTS."
There is no indication in the report whether any of the young people currently cared for under Highland Council auspices require any of these more expensive care options.
Despite financial concerns the report is clear that organisations in the Highlands are aware of their responsibilities to help care for these vulnerable young people.
The report refers to unaccompanied children arriving in the UK from overseas and seeking asylum as "separated" children and young people "placing emphasis on the recognition of the trauma they have faced and continue to face being separated from their families."
It adds: "Highland is clear that these are children first and foremost."
And it details how a visit to Kent in April last year – to raise awareness of children's experiences on boats arriving in the UK across the English Channel – was "deeply harrowing and moving" for the council officers involved.
A steering group works to meet the needs of all the young people, with input from education, health, housing and social work services as well as the police, High Life Highland and a third sector alliance of charities Aberlour, Barnardo's and Action for Children, the report stating that "young people are arriving at high frequency and high volume requiring intensive activity at pace from key members across the partnership."
The committee is due to meet next Thursday (May 18) when members will be asked to note the findings of the report including the creation of the strategic partnership, the complex and often changing policy background and financial arrangements and the financial pressures faced by public bodies.
