answer text |
<p>The Home Office dispute the findings of the report. Many of the points raised in
the report are factually incorrect and the report has not been written following an
‘inspection’ or visit of the site to gain first-hand experience/evidence/knowledge.</p><p>The
site at Wethersfield provides safe and secure non detained accommodation for asylum
seekers who are free to come and go.</p><p>The welfare of asylum seekers is our utmost
priority. The Home Office ensures that accommodation provided is adequate and meets
the regulatory standards. The Home Office assesses an individual’s suitability to
reside at the sites and only accommodates single adult males who are considered suitable
to reside there. Guidance on the suitability criteria used can be found here: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fasylum-accommodation-requests-policy&data=05%7C02%7CASRA-briefingcorrespondence%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Ccb7196fe18bd4236f7d708dc4286954c%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638458392995949127%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GiwRLl1K%2BYsKmQ0EmCdHmkFyCZjNJg7r2X%2FY0QHs%2BHQ%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">Allocation of accommodation</a>.</p><p>An allocation policy and suitability
criteria will ensure that no one is housed in accommodation that does not suit them
or their needs. If, during their stay, it emerges that an asylum seeker is no longer
suitable for the site, they will be moved to different accommodation. The service
provider who is running the site on behalf of the Home Office is responsible for the
safeguarding of migrants. Our service providers are experienced in managing asylum
seeker accommodation in an orderly and secure manner.</p><p>The Home Office operates
a Safeguarding Hub to support vulnerable individuals. Both the Home Office and its
accommodation providers have robust processes in place to ensure that where someone
is at risk, they are referred to the appropriate statutory agencies of the police,
NHS, and social services, to promote appropriate safeguarding interventions.</p><p>As
well as making safeguarding referrals to the appropriate statutory agencies, other
actions include attendance at adult protection meetings with the police, and the Home
Office liaise with external and internal partners to share information. The statutory
agencies retain responsibility for all decisions on intervention activity.</p><p>All
asylum seekers in the UK may contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
if they need help, advice, or guidance; that includes raising issues relating to safeguarding.</p>
|
|