Resources for Working with Young People
General Resources
UNHCR produced a report on participatory assessment of the reception and early integration of unaccompanied refugee children in the UK.
The Children’s Legal Centre in Wales produced a best practice guide for social workers supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
The Independent Care Review in Scotland produced a report to identify the things that were having the biggest impact on children’s lives, and to diagnose the bridges and barriers to long-term change.
The UK Trauma Council have a page dedicated to resources for professionals supporting children and young people seeking asylum.
The National Children’s Bureau (NCB) have created an Information Pack for Providers of Supported Accommodation working with UASCs.
The National Transfer Scheme (NTS)
The National Transfer Scheme for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children is a UK Government scheme to enable the planned transfer of an unaccompanied asylum seeking child from one local authority to another local authority in the United Kingdom. The NTS was launched in July 2016, and became mandatory for all local authorities in November 2021.
About the NTS
The NTS protocol for UASC has been created to enable the safe transfer of unaccompanied children in the UK from one local authority (the entry authority from which the unaccompanied child transfers) to another local authority (the receiving authority). The care responsibilities is shared by the local authorities across the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Local authorities should aim to safely transfer the child from the entry authority within 10 working days.
Only unaccompanied children that meet the definition of a UASC, as set out in paragraph 352ZD of the Immigration Rules, are eligible to be referred to the NTS.
The Home Office provides guidance and information on the new NTS protocol, which includes frequently asked questions. This is linked in the button below.
Foster Care
We have a growing number of young people arriving in the North East of England without their parents or a responsible adult to take care of them. Providing a home for an unaccompanied asylum seeking teen can be an extremely rewarding experience, as you provide them with the safe and secure environment they need to thrive.
Becoming a Foster Carer
You can change a young person’s life by offering them a home – a place to recover from previous trauma, and to start adapting to life in the UK. Most young refugees are in their mid to late teens, so foster carers are essential in helping them transition to adulthood in a new country. If you think you could provide a home for a young refugee, visit our Give Hope a Home page.
Fostering Resources
CoramBAAF
CoramBAAF offers a range of resources for fostering and caring for unaccompanied children.
The Fostering Network
The Fostering Network has a page offering information on how foster carers can help unaccompanied children seeking asylum.
Fostering Across Borders
The Fostering Across Borders (FAB) website contains a variety of resources for faster carers including a training manual, information leaflet, videos, and five country of origin factsheets.
Children’s Legal Centre (Wales)
The Children’s Legal Centre in Wales created a guide to provide information, guidance and advice on fostering unaccompanied asylum seeking children and young people (UASC).
Age Assessments
The age of an unaccompanied child is important. It determines a child’s access to education and support, effects the way in which their asylum claim is processed and can even be a decisive factor in a claim for asylum. If a child or young person’s age is disputed, an age assessment should be conducted. Click the button below for more information on age assessments.
Training and E-Modules
British Red Cross SAFE Project Online Course
The British Red Cross’ SAFE eLearning courses aim to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals and family-based carers (foster carers and kinship carers) who provide care and support to unaccompanied and separated children in Europe.
International Organisation for Migration
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) offers free country information sessions on Syrian Arab Republic, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Afghanistan. They also offer sessions on UASC.
Future Learn
Future Learn has developed a course on caring for children moving along: protecting unaccompanied and separated children. This course is delivered completely online.
Disaster Ready
The Disaster Ready website has a four-hour online course on supporting children who have gone through difficult experiences. Please note you will need to register for a free account to access the course.
