ADCS President Andy Smith, said:
“Where unaccompanied asylum-seeking children arrive in this country, their care and best interests must be at the heart of any decision made. These children and young people are fleeing desperate situations and arrive here alone in search of safety.
The increasing numbers of arrivals in gateway authorities, such as Kent, by boat has created unprecedented demand on their services and though Local Authorities will do all that they can to help, we need more support from government. For example, there are unresolved and ongoing issues with the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) that the Association has been raising for several years. These include issues around funding rates and making immigration decisions more quickly so that children and young people have certainty about their immigration status before their 18th birthday and the need to ensure placements and specialist mental health support is available when and where they are needed.
We need to work together to ensure there is a sustainable and equitable response to this humanitarian crisis that operates in the best interests of children and young people who are fleeing desperate situations and have risked their lives in search of safety.”
ENDS