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<p>The rise in the number of small boat crossings has placed significant pressures
on local authority care placements for young people. Out of necessity, and with the
best interests of the child in mind, we have had no alternative but to temporarily
use hotels to give some unaccompanied children a roof over their heads whilst local
authority accommodation is found.</p><p>The safety and welfare of those in our care,
including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), is our primary concern and
the Home Office has robust safeguarding procedures in place to ensure those in our
accommodation are as safe and supported as possible as we seek urgent placements with
a local authority. Young people are supported by team leaders and support workers
who are on site 24 hours a day, alongside social workers and nurses.</p><p>The National
Transfer scheme (NTS) has already transferred 3,148 children to local authorities
with children’s services between 1 July 2021 and 30 September 2022. This compares
to 739 children transferred in the same time period in the previous year. We are providing
local authorities with children’s services with an additional £15,000 for every eligible
young person they take into their care from a dedicated UASC hotel, or the Reception
and Safe Care Service in Kent, by the end of February 2023.</p><p>All UASC in interim
emergency hotels are referred to local authorities under the mandated NTS within the
shortest time frame possible. The time it takes for a local authority to identify
a placement varies and has meant some UASC experiencing delays in transferring.</p>
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