Recommendation 21

HM Government · verbatim extract Accepted

Government Response In relation to the recommendations at paragraphs 133 and 134, the pressure on the asylum system from illegal, dangerous, and unnecessary small boat arrivals has continued to grow and requires us to look at a range of alternative accommodation site options which are more appropriate and offer better value for the taxpayer than expensive hotels. When we receive new information about a supported asylum seeker, either at the point of application or when their circumstances change, we will assess whether this information indicates that they should be treated as vulnerable. If a vulnerable status is supported, we will identify accommodation which is suitable for their ongoing needs whilst they are in receipt of support. Asylum seekers are assessed against our Allocation of Accommodation Suitability Criteria before being accommodated at sites including ex-Ministry of Defence sites and barges, and room sharing across the wider accommodation estate. We are committed to ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of service users is supported whilst in our care. In August 2022, we commissioned user-centred research into how to improve mental health and wellbeing in initial asylum accommodation, we are implementing changes based on this research. The Safeguarding framework is in place and published 3 . The Asylum Support, Resettlement and Accommodation Safeguarding Board meetings have been re-established in light of structural and staffing changes experienced across both internal departments and key stakeholders in the past several months and, having worked to gather details of new stakeholders for a revitalised cast list reflecting the current priorities, the next meeting is due to take place in August 2023. The focus of the board will be to drive continuous improvement, share best practice and generate consistency across all of the contracts within the Safeguarding space. This work will be undertaken on a regular basis with a clear focus on improving outcomes for vulnerable asylum seekers, as well as to identifying patterns, trends or needs for improved partnership working. However, despite the temporary suspension of the board, regular communication in other forms still exists and actively takes place between internal teams and external partners on safeguarding matters, whether this be case specific, event-driven matters, or thematic led discussions. Asylum Support Operations has recently updated the Accommodation Special Requirements policy/process to reflect the roles of Service Delivery Teams in addressing any issues in sourcing adequate accommodation that meets the needs of vulnerable Service Users. This process has been significantly enhanced and articulates timebound activity required to address any failure. The process: is clear to follow; is consistent across all providers; ensures clear deadlines are given for proposals; and provides a robust escalation mechanism for when those deadlines are not met. As part of this process, information is gathered about anyone who is considered vulnerable (against a set criterion) to identify any additional needs they may have, such as physical disability or mental health, and to understand how this might relate to identification of adequate accommodation. This ensures that information is quickly escalated to accommodation providers and that greater oversight is maintained when finding the right accommodation for that person.