NRUC Information Booklet
2008
Index
Introduction
3.
Introduction
The National Register for Unaccompanied Children (NRUC) was set
up as an initiative to provide a comprehensive database that securely
stores up to date information about unaccompanied asylum seeking
4.
Frequently Asked Questions
children (UASC) entering the country. The database was the first of
its kind created on a national basis and has contributed to the child
10.
Lead Officer Nomination Form
care agenda by helping to protect children, as well as tracking their
status and providing a venue for detailing the costs of the care they
11.
NRUC Additional User Form
receive. The development of the database has provided the potential
to utilise the systems in various ways to assist the welfare of young
12.
Training Venues and Dates
people. Partners include the UKBA, Department for Children Schools
and Families (DCSF), Local Government Association (LGA) and London
Councils.
NRUC facilitates the communication between local authorities and the
UK Borders Agency (UKBA) working with UASC.
NRUC provides:
• A national picture of the location and status of unaccompanied
young people supported by local authorities.
• Tracking of young people, preventing duplication of claims
within boroughs and exploitation of young people.
• An information sharing tool between central and local government
via a single online service.
• A secure data transfer between local authorities and the UKBA.
• The viewing of CID data on supported young people, and enables
UKBA and the local authorities to reconcile records.
• Attachment of age assessments to the relevant child’s file for
• viewing by all appropriate individuals connected with the care of
the child.
• Detailed reports on a bespoke basis.
• A method for tracking and transferring new UASC cases within the
service rota operated by Croydon Council.
NRUC will be adapted to address the UASC reform programme. NRUC
is currently working with the Department for Children, Schools and
Families (DCSF) as a data source to integrate UASC data onto the
Contact Point database.
During November 08 and February 09 NRUC will be providing training
to all local authorities on the new developments to the system.
2
3
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this register strictly for unaccompanied children only?
Q: Could the information be used to remove these children to
countries where they will be at risk?
Yes. However, we are in discussions to extend the capacity.
The register is a public record of the children, which is not under the
single control of the UKBA. The data is shared with local authority
Q: Do we have to install software onto our PCs to use the system?
children’s services and it is open to monitoring by agreed
organisations promoting children’s and refugee’s rights. The
You do not have to install any software on your PCs or Laptops as the
Register will help ensure that any returns of children are legal,
Register is an on-line application. All you need is access to the
properly planned and open to scrutiny by appropriate organisations.
internet.
Q: If you do not know the DOB and they are over 16, how would you
Q: How do we nominate other users on the system?
enter them onto the system?
You can nominate other users to have access to the Register by
You would enter your assessed DOB.
contacting the NRUC Team, who will be able to issue usernames and
passwords.
Q: Does the system automatically time-out?
Q: Who adds information on a child’s status?
Yes. The system has been designed to automatically time-out for
security purposes.
Social Workers, Case Workers and other members using the Register.
Q: If we update the data on the system, can the UKBA change/over-
Q: Are we still going to have to complete the V12s?
write this data?
You will still need to complete V12s, until the UKBA instructs
No. The information that you enter onto the system can only be
otherwise.
amended by the Local Authority who entered the data.
Q: What happens to the grant claim? And will the UKBA act on the
Q: Will there be an audit trail available?
data that is being supplied via the register?
NRUC has an audit trail function that allows an overview of data entry.
UASC must be registered on the NRUC System for the purpose of
A local authority will be able to view an audit report to change its own
grant funding. The UKBA will be using the data taken from NRUC as
information, and if further assistance is needed, the NRUC team can
the basis for the Local Authorities to recover the grant claim.
be contacted.
Q: Is there anywhere on the system where we could log
Q: Will the Systems Administrator change passwords for other users
documentation that we have seen for a child?
from their Local Authority?
Yes. There are facilities for notes to be added to a case, as well as
The Lead Officer can nominate who will require access to the system.
attaching other documents such as Word documents, PDF files and
However, the NRUC Team will delegate and amend usernames and
photos.
passwords.
Q: Can Local Authorities specify reports and ask NRUC to provide
Q: How will you enter (onto the system) children who have children?
them?
And is there a way of linking two cases together e.g. brother/sister?
Yes. NRUC can provide tailored reports and have them set-up to
There will be a facility on the NRUC System to link cases together.
individual Local Authority requirements.
4
5
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can we use the database to obtain new ARC cards or papers if the
Q: Is there a limit on the number of cases per LA?
date of birth is changed?
No.
No. The usual UKBA procedures apply.
Q: What is the maximum age of children held on register?
Q: Is the National Register designed to help the UKBA collect more
information on young people from abroad?
The Register will allow cases to be closed and archived with the view
that they can be reopened if required by a child returning for
In virtually every single case the core information on the register
assistance. The age at which this happens will generally be 18, but
comes from the UKBA records in the first place. The information flows
can be adapted on a case by case basis.
from the central records and helps local agencies protect and plan for
vulnerable children.
Q: How often will the site be refreshed?
Q: Isn’t NRUC just another example of the “Big Brother” society?
Currently we have a weekly feed from the A-CID database from the
UKBA. The information on the NRUC system itself will be updated
On the contrary, “Big Brother” and other oppressive societies and
by the local authorities and will be live as soon as it is placed on the
groups operate in secrecy. They control access to records and can
system.
conceal their actions and protect themselves from challenge. In just
the same way, unaccompanied children have far more to fear if their
stay in the UK is not a matter of public record. It is the “invisible”
Q: Are all the LAs signing up to NRUC?
children that face abuse and exploitation.
All Local Authorities who are currently assisting UASC will have access
to the Register. The Register will also function as the method by which
Q: Won’t the record be abused by people who want to get hold of the
the local authorities will file their grant claims with the UKBA.
children?
There are careful technical and other measures to control who can see
Q: Will there be a user guide available?
the records. It is only open to accredited organisations and the people
who work for them are fully screened before they can use the
Full documentation (user guides and full user manuals) will be
Register.
available for the second release of the NRUC system.
Q: Who can see the information?
Q: Marrying of data – Is a new alias created if the name is changed
by a Local Authority or if a Local Authority create a new record and
A Local Authority will only be able to view its own information. If there
the UKBA create a record later?
is an instance where a local authority comes into contact with a child
who is currently or has in the past received a service from another
Local Authority updates to NRUC are immediately live. The UKBA will
local authority, then the contact details of the other local authority
be notified when a change is made and the team there will be able
worker will be provided so that an exchange of information may be
to view the new information. It is up to the UKBA to accept or reject
facilitated.
the update before entering it onto the A-CID system. If the update is
rejected, the UKBA will contact the Local Authority.
Q: Will anyone other than LAs have access to the register?
Q: Will LAs be able to add their own fields?
Local Authorities and the UKBA will have primary access to the
register. In the future, provisions will be made so that other
Not currently
organisations will have limited access to view summary results on the
register.
6
7
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us
Q: How do you log expense claims for clients?
So that we can better serve and support you, please use the
The three main areas of expense we are gathering for clients are
details below to send us your feedback or request.
accommodation, special needs, and additional payments, such as
travel.
The NRUC Team:
Q: Who will be authorised to change data?
Michael Gould - Team Manager
There will be three general levels of permissions for the Local
T. 020 7934 9656
Authorities. Top level permissions will allow all changes, while lower
E. [NRUC request email]
level permissions will have limits to the ability to view and change
the information. On request, permissions may also be tailored to the
Donna Wilson - NRUC Lead Officer
specific needs of a local authority. A Local Authority may only amend
T. 020 7934 9653
its own information.
E. [email address]
Richard Eyre - NRUC Data Officer
T. 020 7934 9833
E. [email address]
NRUC Project
59 1/2 Southwark Street
London
SE1 0AL
Fax: 020 7934 9660
www.nruc.gov.uk
8
9
This section must be completed with the Chief
Lead Officer Nomination Form
Executive or Head of Service details
Information
This section must be completed with Lead Officer details
NRUC Additional User’s Form
Name:
Name:
Local Authority:
Job title:
Title:
Department/Team:
Representing:
Work address:
Signature:
Post Code:
Email:
Date:
Telephone:
Address:
Signature:
Date:
Telephone:
P
This section must be completed with the Additional User
Email:
ack
details* (please print additional sheets as required)
Name:
Job title:
Department
This section must be completed with the Nominated
Lead Officer details
Team:
The nominated Lead Officer for
is:
Work address:
(insert the name of your Local Authority here)
Post Code:
Name:
Email:
Job Title:
Telephone:
Dept Name:
Name:
Team Name:
Job title:
Office:
Department
Address:
Team:
Post Code:
Work address:
Email:
Post Code:
Telephone:
Email:
Please choose Lead Officer type:
Telephone:
New Lead Officer Additional Lead Officer Replacement Lead Officer
Name of Lead Officer being replaced:
Return completed form to:
Return completed form to:
NRUC Project, 2nd Floor,
NRUC Project, 2nd Floor,
59½ Southwark Street, London, SE1 0AL
59½ Southwark Street, London, SE1 0AL
10
11
NRUC
NRUC
Scotland - Glasgow - 3rd November 2008
West Midlands - Birmingham - 17th November 2008
Ramada Glasgow City
Holiday Inn
201 Ingram Street
Smallbrook
Glasgow
Queensway
G1 1DQ
Birmingham
Training
B5 4EW
Training
North East - Newcastle - 5th November 2008
South West - Bath - 19th November 2008
Holiday Inn Express
Mecure Francis Hotel
Waterloo Square
Queens Square
St James Blvd.
Bath
NE2 4DN
BA1 2HH
Wales - Cardiff - 21st November 2008
North West - Salford - 7th November 2008
Venues
Park Innff
Holiday Inn
Circle Way East
Venues
Liverpool St
Cardiff
Salford
Llanedeyrn
M5 4LT
CF23 9XF
Yorkshire & Humberside - Leeds - 10th November 2008
London, Victoria - 24th & 25th November 2008
Jurys Inn
MWB
Kendell Street
10 Greycoat Place
&
Brewery Place
Victoria
Leeds
London
&
LS10 1NE
SW1P 1SB
Dates
Dates
East of England - Norwich - 14th November 2008
South East - Maidstone - 28th November 2008
Holiday Inn
Best Western Russell Hotel
Ipswich Road
136 Boxley Road
Norwich
Maidstone
NR4 6EP
ME14 2AE
For more details of NRUC’s training sessions please
email: [email address]
12
13
The NRUC Team:
Michael Gould - Team Manager
T. 020 7934 9656
E. [NRUC request email]
Donna Wilson - NRUC Lead Officer
T. 020 7934 9653
E. [email address]
Richard Eyre - NRUC Data Officer
T. 020 7934 9833
E. [email address]
NRUC Project
59 1/2 Southwark Street
London
SE1 0AL
Fax: 020 7934 9660
www.nruc.gov.uk
