Asylum

About

SESPM is working with our local authorities, the Home Office and their contracted asylum accommodation provider to achieve a more equitable distribution of asylum accommodation in line with the region’s population.  In addition to asylum dispersal the region also has been home to contingency accommodation through the Covid-19 pandemic and through recovery. 

Within the South East the following organisations hold the Asylum support contracts:

• The Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contract (AASC) is held by Clearsprings Readyhomes. 
• The Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility Assistance services (AIRE) contract is held by Migrant Help.

Asylum: Latest Home Office Releases

The following materials have been published on gov.uk:
• Memorandum of Understanding between UK and Rwanda
• Factsheet: Migration and Economic Development Partnership – Home Office in the media (blog.gov.uk)
• Factsheet: Cost of the asylum system – Home Office in the media (blog.gov.uk)
• Factsheet: Maritime primacy – Home Office in the media (blog.gov.uk)
• Factsheet: Linton Asylum Accommodation – Home Office in the media (blog.gov.uk)

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children

The partnership has a seconded Principal Social Worker, Katie Thrussell, who is assisting councils on Migrant Children.  Katie is providing expert support which for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC), including organising practitioner training in key areas including Age Assessment, Trauma Training and Child Trafficking as well as coordinating a practitioners’ group. SESPM also sits on the National Police Chiefs Council task and finish group on UASC issues.

The new National Transfer Scheme (NTS) model was announced in November 2021 by the Home Office. Participation of local authorities is currently mandated and the South East allocations are managed by our Principal Social Worker in liaison with the 19 upper tier authorities with responsibility for social care.