Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children Support Services

Description

The Home Office (HO) has a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. This includes Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) who arrive in the UK and enter the immigration system without a parent or guardian. Support services for UASC ensure that their immediate needs are met upon arrival in Kent, prior to entering the care of the local authority. Additionally, there is a need to ensure UASC have access to information and support to help them navigate the asylum process. The potential scope of services, which the Home Office (HO) is reviewing, includes: 1. 24/7 reception support at the Kent Intake Unit (KIU); 2. A national digital and telephone-based advice and referral service; 3. Delivery of in-person and virtual orientation sessions; and 4. The provision of Responsible Adults during formal Home Office processes, including asylum interviews and biometric enrolments. This market engagement exercise is intended to inform the future commercial strategy, assess viable delivery models that uphold safeguarding obligations, and explore options for the potential disaggregation of service areas. The overarching aim is to ensure high-quality, trauma-informed, and responsive support for UASC throughout their asylum journey. The content of this Notice, including the scope of services and indicative contract timelines, is subject to change.