Independent Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) Support Service Procurement

Contract for the Independent Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) Support Services. The service delivers support and advice to UASC in two distinct phases on arrival in the UK.

• Provide experienced staff to manage a safe area for UASC to wait within the HO asylum processing facility in Dover.
• Provide initial support appropriate to the needs of newly arrived children. This will include answering initial questions about the asylum process and care services in the UK.
• Share any immediate safeguarding concerns, and any observations made about the child’s welfare, or any other pertinent information shared by the child with the appropriate authorities.

and also the priority is to assist UASC to understand the end-to-end asylum process, including their rights and responsibilities as looked after

children. The desired outcome is young people that feel empowered to navigate the asylum system.

This should include:

• Support UASC to advise the Home Office of material changes in their circumstances
• Where children do not have existing legal representation for their asylum application, to refer to a Legal Aid Agency accredited legal representative, or to offer the necessary information to the relevant social worker or carer
• Inform UASC of options available to them through the Red Cross International Family Tracing Service when appropriate.
• As appropriate, act as appropriate Adults for children at substantive asylum interviews and other asylum process events.
• Assist children to understand their rights and responsibilities while being a looked after child in England, and to make relevant referrals as necessary to support them with this
• Work with Local Authorities to make sure that children are receiving the right level of support, including but not limited to accommodation, education, and mental and emotional health support.
• As appropriate, assist the child to make positive cultural connections.
• Provide a general advice and signposting service for Clients following the Final Asylum Decision supporting the triple planning process to ensure that the UASC is aware of all options and possible outcomes including voluntary returns programme.