Independent report
A re-inspection of the use of hotels for housing unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (September – October 2023)
This re-inspection of the use of hotels for housing unaccompanied asylum-seeking (UAS) children had a particular focus on the implementation of the recommendations from the previous 2022 ICIBI inspection.
Documents
Details
Inspectors undertook the following activities for this re-inspection:
- reviewed open-source material, including published reports
- held a familiarisation meeting with the Home Office on 4 September 2023
- requested documentary evidence and data from the Home Office and analysed the returns
- on 21 and 22 September 2023, visited the two hotels being used to accommodate UAS children, and spoke to 17 children being housed there, with an Ofsted inspector in attendance in an advisory capacity
- held in-person interviews with nurses, social workers, support workers, security staff, and team leaders
- conducted stakeholder engagement through interviews with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in the operation
- undertook virtual interviews with Home Office staff
- undertook virtual interviews with a range of stakeholders, including NGOs, Kent County Council and the Department for Education
- held a verbal feedback session on 27 September 2023 with Home Office senior management, sharing initial thoughts and indicative findings from onsite activity