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The Home Office’s consideration of children’s ‘best interests’ – Call for evidence

The Chief Inspector requests evidence for his inspection on how the Home Office ensures it acts in the ‘best interests’ of unaccompanied asylum seeking children

• From: Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration
• Published: 5 October 2017
• Last updated: 10 October 2017 — See all updates

The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) has begun work on an inspection into how the Home Office ensures it acts in the ‘best interest’ of unaccompanied asylum seeking children (commonly referred to as UASC). This is the second in what is intended to be a series of inspections focused on the treatment of children within the context of borders, immigration and citizenship. The first report, published in July 2017, dealt with the Home Office’s application of the good character requirement in the case of young persons who apply for registration as British citizens.

This inspection will look at:

• the reception arrangements for the child, focusing on the support and information provided to the child, collation of information about the child, and referrals to other parties
• how the initial encounter, and who that encounter is with, affects the child
• the Home Office’s role in carrying out age assessments (including initial age assessments), providing information and support to the child and how the Home Office works with local authorities in the case of age disputes
• the Home Office’s role in the National Transfer Scheme, and its part in making ‘best interest’ judgements when considering whether to transfer children from one authority to another
• the views of the Home Office and stakeholders about whether granting UASC leave to remain is in the ‘best interests’ of the child, the impact of granting such leave, and the amount of information and support provided to children about it

The evidence gathering process has started and the inspectorate’s established stakeholder groups will shortly be asked for their input. However, the ICIBI is keen to gather written evidence from anyone who has knowledge and experience of any of the above areas. Please write to chiefinspector@icinspector.gsi.gov.uk by 27 October 2017.

Please note that this inspection will not examine:

• the Vulnerable Children Resettlement Scheme (VCRS) – The ICIBI is separately inspecting the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, which uses comparable processes to identify vulnerable children in the Middle East
• asylum processes and the quality of decision making, which were covered in an inspection report that is awaiting publication
• the ‘Dublin III’ and ‘Dubs’ schemes, except where the latter is relevant to the National Transfer Scheme

Published 5 October 2017
Last updated 10 October 2017 + show all updates

1. 10 October 2017

   The Chief Inspector adds a deadline of 27 October 2017 to his request for written evidence for his inspection into how the Home Office ensures it acts in the ‘best interest’ of unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

2. 5 October 2017

   First published.