 |
answer text |
<table><tbody><tr><td><p>Asylum Operations have, over the last two years increased
the number of decision makers and support staff. There are recruitment strategies
in place to maintain staffing at the required levels to allow us to manage asylum
intake and reduce the overall time to make initial asylum decisions. These include
rolling recruitment campaigns, a staff retention strategy to ensure it retains its
highly skilled asylum decision makers, and the further expansion of digital processes
to increase case working flexibility. Asylum Operations has also been exploring further
options to get the system moving again following the outbreak of COVID-19 earlier
in the year with steps being taken to improve efficiency, focusing on process improvements,
better quality decisions and transformation. Asylum Operations has also developed
a recovery plan focused on returning interviews and decisions back to pre-COVID-19
levels as soon as possible. We are also seeking to secure temporary resources to assist
from within the Home Office and other government departments, along with other potential
options. We are fully committed to ensuring that our operational teams have the resources
they need to run an efficient and effective migration system. In addition to the new
technology and processes, we have over 1,500 UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) European
Casework staff in post to process applications, along with 250 staff handling calls
and emails in the Settlement Resolution Centre, helping people apply<strong>.</strong>
Visas & Citizenship are flexing resources to manage caseloads and therefore currently
do not require additional recruitment to assist with indefinite leave to remain applications.</p></td></tr></tbody></table>
|
|
