Separated young people

In Cumberland we refer to our Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) as separated young people. As with most local authorities, most of our separated young people have joined us after arriving in the UK through the home’s office transfer scheme. We recognise that their journey has been exceptionally traumatic, often on the way they have been subject to abuse and neglect and lost family members or friends either as part of their journey or by moving away from home. Most of our separated young people live in support accommodation but for a few they live with their foster families. Initially most of our young people lived more than 20 miles from Cumberland however as we have developed our sufficiency response, we have seen young people move into the Cumberland area and new young people move into Cumberland when they arrive with us. 

Whilst several of the sufficiency intentions are captured in the fostering, children’s home and supported living sections within this strategy and we would invite you to think about our separated young people when you are reading them. 

The Separated Children (over 18) Accommodation Transformation Project has been established by Cumberland Council to drive the transformation and Review of Pathway accommodation across Cumberland. 

The scope of the project, is: 

• develop a clear vision and strategic direction for the future approach to Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (18+) Accommodation for Cumberland Council
• to Develop a Clear Model for future service provision for Previously Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) who are now Adults, through analysis of existing children (need), patterns of geographical future demand (future need) and evaluation of different models of service delivery (internal-external)

Improve sufficiency

Whilst several of the sufficiency intentions are set out in other areas of this strategy, such as the recruitment of foster cares or staying put, amongst others there are some additional intentions which have been captured below. 

Improve sufficiency through: 

• ensure carers and supported living providers have the right level of knowledge and skills to support our separated young people in locally provided home, understanding the impact of trauma because of being separated, potentially exploited and as part of their seeking asylum claim
• work with local landlords and housing providers to ensure taster flats and suitable accommodation is in areas which support separated young people to access the special services which they need liked to their identity and need and whereby they can ensure their social needs are supported
• delivery of the outcomes set out in The Separated Children (over 18) Accommodation Transformation Project Group as outlined above