Consultation Responses

UK Border Agency Code of Practice for Keeping Children Safe from Harm

The UK Borders Act of 2007 gave a duty to the Border and Immigration Agency to ensure that it takes appropriate steps to ensure that children are kept safe from harm whilst in the UK. It published a draft Code of Practice to give details of how BIA intends to ensure that staff are aware of and abide by this requirement. The consultation document also asked for views on whether or not the government should remove the reservation on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

CFAB’s response to this draft Code of Practice recommends that the UKBA recieve special training to be able to engage with children in an appropriate way, and that all children should be given opportunities to express their views and participate in decision making. The best interest of the child have to be the guiding principle in each individual's case, and taht more thought should be given to scenarios involving contacting family members in overseas countries. We also urge the government to remove the reservation on the UNCRC.

CFAB's response

Published in April 2008

 

Safeguarding Children who may have been Trafficked

This draft practice guidance from the Department of Children Schools and Families aims to provide practitioners across all relevant agencies and the voluntary and community sector with the most up to date best practice in identifying and safeguarding children who may have been trafficked. It is supplementary to the Government’s statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (HMG 2006).

The draft guidance from the Department outlines the reasons for child trafficking, the methods used by traffickers, the roles and functions of relevant agencies and procedures practitioners should follow to ensure the safety and well being of children suspected of being trafficked. Please find below ISS UK's response to the document, and the Department's document in full, as well as a summary of the responses.

CFAB's response

DCSF draft document

Government response to consultation

Published in August 2007

 

Planning Better Outcomes for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children

This consultation paper deals with processes surrounding unaccompanied asylum seeking children, concentrating on the immigration and care arrangements for the young people while they are under 18.

CFAB's response calls for a number of changes to improve outcomes and support for unaccompanied children, including but not limited to regulated, efficient and transparent procedures, standardised local authority support structures, a needs-led provision of services and ongoing training for social work and immigration staff. While we welcome the idea of specialist services within a particular geographical area, we have concerns over the critieria and infratructure to be used for such services.

CFAB's response

Home Office consultation paper

Published in May 2007