UASC Reform Steering Group

UASC Reform Steering Group

Action points from 22 October Meeting, LGA

Steering Group Attendees: Helen Murray (Chair) - LGA; Rona Blackwood - Save the Children; Zena Cooke - Islington; Judith Dennis - Refugee Council; John Donaldson - COSLA; Olvia Fellas - NRPF; Karen Goodman - Kent; Emma Jenkins - LGA; Helen Johnson- London Councils; Nicola Rea - Manchester; Richard Ross - Solihull

Attendees: Brian Kinney and Jerry Harland - UKBA

Apologies: Naomi Alleyne - WLGA; Steve Liddicott - Croydon; Dave Newall - West Midlands; Anne James - Leeds; John Ransford - LGA; Mark Rogers - Solihull; Chris Spencer - ADCS; Emily Warren - WLGA

1. Purpose of the Group

It was agreed that although the Group had been set up to provide a multi-agency consultation response to the UASC reform consultation, it was agreed that it could still usefully provide a sector led, strategic overview of UASC reform, with a particular focus as acting as a sounding board for UKBA and providing further clarity on the implementation and development of the reform programme for the sector. It also could provide a key role looking at reform in the broadest sense, including looking at the impacts on wider issues such as cohesion, health, education and the interface with other government departments.

The response to the UASC reform consultation established some key principles and these are probably remain are still applicable to the group's future work:

Local Government supports reform of the current system, which is outdated and under-resourced and does not provide the most effective and consistent provision.
We wish to work across government to establish a framework that recognises that ensure that UASC are treated as children first and foremost and effectively funds local authorities for the services provided.
The Home Office needs to work with local, regional and national agencies to turn the proposals outlined in the document into a workable reality.
Until a resolution is found to the current issues around funding, in particular the cost of post 18 care, local authorities are unlikely to be in a position to co operate with any schemes.

Action points:

Terms of reference to be amended by the LGA to reflect the revised role of the Group.

2. Feedback from UKBA on the reform programme

Timelines for the issue of UASC funding were shared by UKBA:

UASC Grant 07/08 - (Special Circs Payments) Have been paid
UASC Grant 08/09 The grant agreement with instructions as to how to seek support had been circulated. First payments will be made in w/c 26 October 2008.
Leaving Care Grant 07/08 Payments meant to be made by DCSF by the end of October. 22/44 verifications had been completed.
Leaving Care 07/08 - (One off special circs payments) Once DCSF have finalised the LC grant claims for 07/08, UKBA will be in a position to settle the special circumstances claims, taking into account any other funding streams available to LAs.

The Group agreed with the UKBA suggestion that a small, time-limited working group be set up as soon as possible to look at post-18 issues, particularly around eligibility and the possibility of issuing guidance around support. It was agreed that any recommendations needed to be approved by the Group before being referred to UKBA.

Timelines for the programme were also shared by UKBA:

November - stakeholder events (to include representation from the LGA)
End of December: expressions of interest from costing from LAs
January: assessment of capacity and cost
February - report to Minister
April - phased roll out (NB LAs can come on board at any point). LAs would enter into a contractual arrangement with UKBA in terms of the costs of the support provided.

It was agreed that a small working group looking at the front end process of reform would be established. This would cover age assessment and the impact of childcare legislation and inspection/performance monitoring in relation to reform, particularly around the proposals around transfers to assessment centres after arrival.

Action points:

For the Steering Group

Group members to inform Emma Jenkins as soon as possible if they wish to participate in the Post 18 issues working group.
Group members to inform Emma Jenkins if they wish to participate in the `Front End' working group.

For UKBA

UKBA to circulate the UKBA contact number to assist the authorities finalising the verification process for the Leaving Care Grant 07/08.
UKBA to look into paying those who had completed their audit and paying the percentage of the claims that had been verified in the other LAs, to stay within the deadline.
UKBA to approach LGA/London Councils to act as `brokers' between UKBA/DCSF/LAs to ensure audits are completed, if necessary.
UKBA to send the cost templates (based on those developed by Zena Cooke) to be used in regional meetings to Emma Jenkins for circulation to the Group to see if these could be endorsed by the group.
UKBA to liaise with Group re the offer of holding a national meeting with all key stakeholders to look at the wider issues, including representation from other government departments.

3. Next steps

The Group would reconvene in the new year and UKBA would be invited to attend to provide an update again.