Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) Support Services

The Home Office (the Authority) has a statutory duty under Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to discharge its immigration and asylum functions having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK. This includes Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) who arrive in the UK and enter the immigration system without a parent or guardian.

The Support Services for UASC ensure that their immediate needs are met upon arrival in Kent, or elsewhere, prior to entering the care of a local authority. Additionally, there is a need to ensure UASC have access to information and support to help them navigate the asylum process.

The services will operate alongside, and in collaboration with the Authority and a range of other services and Authority suppliers, to enable the effective operation of the system to manage and support UASC. It is recognised that service users may require only one, or a combination of these services at any given time. Therefore, all services areas must be available, but would be delivered on an as-required basis, according to the needs of each individual case.

The core service areas are:

Service Area 1: Deliver Services at Kent Intake Unit (KIU)

Service Area 2: Delivery of Future Orientation Sessions

The Home Office is still considering all of its options with regards to aggregation and disaggregation. One optional service line that may be included within the procurement is:

Service Area 3: Signposting, Advice and/or Referral Services. Information relating to the delivery of this service will be included within the market engagement, and a decision will be made regarding its inclusion closer to the publication of the ITT.

The content of this Notice, including the estimated contract value and indicative contract timelines, is subject to change.