An inspection of the initial processing of migrants arriving via small boats at Tug Haven and Western Jet Foil (December 2021 – January 2022)

Publish a strategy for the Small Boats Operational Command / the processing of small boat arrivals, covering Western Jet Foil and Manston, in consultation with stakeholders, which incorporates:the ongoing work to develop a 2024+ visionclear exposition of the command and control of the operation including clarity on responsibility, accountability, and authority (RA2)the Manston Recovery Planthe risks and mitigations to operations associated with high inflow (numbers of arrivals) and low outflow (insufficient asylum accommodation)the resources required to deliver an effective operation, including staffing levels for contractors and for Home Office staffclear milestones and deliverablesa robust process for review of the strategy

Partially accepted: Border Force is currently reviewing the strategy for the Small Boats Operational Command (SBOC), following its move to Border Force in December 2022. We will develop our overall strategy and transformation plans to incorporate all the elements recommended by the ICIBI, although these will be an internal working documents to ensure operational integrity.

Implementation: November 2023

Develop a data strategy for the small boats operation which:defines the data needs, including coverage of areas such as vulnerability, safeguarding, security, detention, and asylum screening onsiteassures the quality of data in line with government guidelinesincorporates developments to IT systems to provide data that is accurate, consistent and reliableis supported by guidance for staff on recording, reporting and sharing data internally and with the appropriate agencies

Home Office accepted: The Home Office continues to enhance its strategic approach to managing data and supporting the effective delivery of the Small Boats Operational Command. SBOC has recently appointed a dedicated senior data director and data lead to oversee the improvement of data and to put in place systems and automated processes that will address previous findings regarding duplicate or inaccurate entries. This will be enhanced by the development of a dedicated SBOC Data Cell to provide assurance oversight and increase data quality. The Home Office continues to build the structures and processes necessary to appropriately record, report and share data required to effectively manage the operational activity within SBOC. Guidance and training are available for staff who handle data in the course of their operational duties.

Implementation: Ongoing and subject to monthly review

Conduct a training needs analysis for SBOC operations to produce a comprehensive training and development plan. This should cover all existing and new staff and contractors, and incorporate:vulnerability and safeguardingsecurity and intelligence

Home Office accepted: A comprehensive training needs analysis was conducted in October 2022 leading to the creation of the SBOC Foundation Course programme. This is a three-week course, with core content in relation to the areas highlighted in this recommendation and has been rolled out to new frontline SBOC staff, before operational deployment, and existing staff who require it. The extant training needs analysis will be regularly reviewed to ensure future learning needs are identified as they arise.  This will include any new and changed roles as SBOC expands and is integrated into the wider Border Force learning and development system. In parallel, a learning needs analysis in respect of points a and b is also being conducted for all contracted staff with a view to aligning training standards for contractors in direct contact with arrivals with those of HO operational staff.  This will include medical staff, Detention Custody Officers and security staff. The focus of this is all current and future relevant SBOC operational roles, or supervisory/managerial roles, involved in delivering operations. All of these roles will be included in a comprehensive Training and Development plan. Wider SBOC recruitment for roles such as corporate functions will not be in scope.

Implementation: 31 October 2023