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<p>There has been a significant increase in the numbers of young people making unnecessary
and dangerous journeys to the UK and the Home Office has had no alternative but to
temporarily use hotels in order to give some unaccompanied asylum seeking children
(UASC) emergency accommodation and support while permanent accommodation with a local
authority is identified. We are determined to end the use of hotels for these young
people and Home Office officials are working tirelessly with local authorities to
move children into care placements through the National Transfer Scheme (NTS).</p><p>We
take the safety of those in our care seriously. We have robust safeguarding procedures
in place to ensure all young people in emergency interim hotels are safe and supported
as we seek urgent placements with a local authority.</p><p>Young people are supported
by team leaders and support workers who are on site 24 hours a day. Further care is
provided in hotels by teams of social workers and nurses. All contingency sites have
security staff on site 24/7 and providers liaise closely with local police to ensure
the welfare and safety of vulnerable residents.</p><p>The NTS has seen 4,875 children
transferred to local authorities with children’s services between 1 July 2021 and
31 March 2023, which is over six times the number of transfers in the same time frame
in previous years, (October 2019 – June 2021 there were 793 transfers).</p>
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