Children's Commissioner uncovers failings in the care of vulnerable children
In a report released on the 3rd March 2008, the Children’s Commissioner revealed a number of concerns relating to young asylum seekers being denied the level of care and access to health and education provision as required by the Children Act 1989 and its associated regulations.
Using evidence gathered from files and from interviews with children, the care procedures used in the London Borough of Hillingdon were examined, after it was revealed that some practices were leading to asylum seeking children being removed from the ‘looked after’ care system at the age of 16 years, without their individual needs being independently assessed and without proper consultation.
Sir Al Aynsley-Green is now calling on the Government to ensure that all local authorities have adequate funding to allow them to properly assist all children in their looked after system. Further recommendations in the report are directed at the Government, Children’s Services, the London Borough of Hillingdon and those working with asylum seeking children in order to safeguard their best interests and to ensure that they are provided with all the necessary information to fully participate in decisions about their future.
For further information and the full report, click here.
