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Chapter 7 | Accommodation and Care of Unaccompanied or Separated Children
trast in Northern Ireland 35 its Department of Health,
Social Services and Public Safety takes a more purposive
approach advising health and social workers:
Difficulties can arise in finding suitable accommodation
for unaccompanied minors who are an isolated
and vulnerable group...service providers should monitor
the situation and be in a position to take action
under the Children Order 36 should this be required. It
should be emphasised that in the provision of services,
they should be treated as children first and then as
asylum seekers and refugees. 37
■ 3. The Separated Children in Europe Programme 39
states that separated children should be found
suitable care placements as soon as possible after
arrival or identification. Care authorities should
conduct a careful assessment of their needs.
Where children live with or are placed with relatives,
these relatives should be assessed for their
ability to provide suitable care and undergo
police checks, and separated children over 16
years of age should not be treated as “de facto”
adults and placed on their own, without adult
support, in hostel or reception centre settings.
During the research period it became clear that the
Department for Education and Skills did not believe
it had any particular responsibility for unaccompanied
or separated children. Researchers were told
that these children were the responsibility of the
Home Office and certainly the Department has not
undertaken any substantive research into their needs
or issued any policy documents in relation to them.
On occasion it has sent representatives to meetings
about unaccompanied or separated children but it is
not actively involved in any discussions about their
accommodation, the returns pilot, or their treatment
within the asylum determination process.
Compliance With International Standards
■ 1. The UNHCR believes that whether unaccompanied
asylum seeking children are in foster
homes or elsewhere, they should be under
regular supervision and assessment by qualified
persons to ensure their physical and psychosocial
well-being. 38
■ 2. Article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of
the Child states that children have the right to
a standard of living adequate for their physical,
mental, spiritual, moral, and social development.
Recommendations
■ 1. All unaccompanied or separated children
should be accommodated under section 20 of
the Children Act 1989.
■ 2. A full assessment of each unaccompanied
or separated child’s needs should be conducted
within seven days of him or her being accommodated
in accordance with the Framework for
the Assessment of Children in Need and Their
Families.
■ 3. An unaccompanied or separated child
should never be placed in bed and breakfast
accommodation.
■ 4. Particular attention should be paid to the child’s
medical, psychological, and emotional needs.
■ 5. A named social worker should be appointed
for each unaccompanied or separated child and
he or she should liaise closely with the child’s
legal guardian when he or she is appointed.
■ 6. The local authority should carry out an initial
statutory Looked After Children Reviews after 28
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