Concerns have been raised about changes to a Home Office scheme which would see Sunderland take on care responsibility for more unaccompanied children seeking asylum. Together For Children (TFC), the ‘outstanding’ Ofsted-rated agency delivering children’s services on behalf of Sunderland City Council, has responsibility for children and young people in the area.
This includes children and young people found to be seeking asylum within the Sunderland area and those referred to the city via the Home Office National Transfer Scheme. At a council meeting this month, it was revealed recent changes to the National Transfer Scheme in late-October, 2022, could have major implications for council finances.
Councillors heard that TFC had been successful in finding homes for all children referred via the national scheme so far, with its ‘Next Steps Team’ developing a “bespoke pathway and expertise” in supporting young people. However, changes to the national scheme will see the ‘transfer deadline’ for all unaccompanied asylum seeking children not currently in the care of a local authority halved from 10 working days to five working days.
