Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking and Refugee Children – National Transfer Scheme

Policy Officer – East Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership (EMSMP)

Grade H £31,288 to £35,093 (37 hours per week)

Fixed term secondment:November 2016 – March 2017

(with further extension subject to confirmation of funding)

JOB PURPOSE

To support local authorities in the East Midlands in the development, implementation and ongoing management of the UASC national transfer model.

1.Background

1.1East Midlands Councils is offering a secondment opportunity to assist in the co-ordination of the East Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership’s responsibilities for the development and ongoing management of political and partnership structures for the East Midlands on migration issues in particular those in relation to the regional transfer model for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC).

1.2The work involved with this important and high profile programme will include working with local authorities to support participation, managing transfers both into and within the region, and oversight of the impact of the scheme on local authority areas.

1.3The ideal person will have experience of working within a local authority, partner regional agency or equivalent organisation; ideally within a children services, policy development and/or partnership working context. You will also have the ability to manage conflicting priorities and to meet demanding deadlines. Knowledge of recent developments in central government policy on asylum seekers (particularly UASC), refugees and migration issues and high-level computer literacy with an appreciation of the potential of IT information management systems and e-governance.

1.4In return we can offer learning and development opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and a positive working environment within a respected organisation at a regional level. Our offices are based at Pera Business Park which offers ample parking, on-site café and gym facilities.

2.Requirements

2.1In order to support a fair and equitable distribution of unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee (UASC) children across the country, East Midlands Councils (through the StrategicMigration Partnership) is the single point of contact for all local authorities in the region in co-ordinating and facilitating the transfer of unaccompanied children both within the region (e.g. from Northamptonshire) and into the region (e.g. from Kent).

2.2The post holder will support East Midlands Councils to meet its responsibilities in respect to the following roles:

a)Through the regional transfer protocol, work with participating local authorities to identify where to place the region’s allocation of UASC under the UASC National Transfer Scheme.

b)Work with local authorities to ensure effective operational understanding of the Scheme.

c)Provide information on the number and type of planned places becoming available to inform forward planning of future transfers to the region and to best inform the Central Allocations Team.

d)Work with the local authorities to source and make available places required to accommodate the full range of UASC (e.g. differing nationalities, and those aged under 16 and over 16).

e)Receive case referrals from the Central Allocations Team and match these to participating local authorities in the region through a prompt and efficient allocation process.

f)Provide accurate information to enable discussions with local authorities to resolve any difficulties placing cases, including brokering agreement where necessary to the transfer of a case to another authority within the region.

g)Identify issues of concern that impact on successful placements to enable the SMP to escalate them quickly to the Home Office. This may include availability of key wraparound services.

h)Advise local authorities regarding the transportation of UASC across local authorities to ensure that best value for money is consistently achieved.

i)To support participating local authorities in securing economies of scale in services provided to UASC arriving under the Scheme.

j)Collate, provide and clarify information from local authorities in the region to contribute to the review or evaluation of the UASC National Transfer Scheme at national, regional and sub-regional levels where requested.

k)Capture key learning, good practice, issues and new developments and share with regional and national stakeholders to support scheme development.

3.Accountability

3.1The post-holder (or equivalent) will be line managed by the East Midlands SMP Lead Officer with support from EMC Executive Director and ADCS Lead Director of Children’s Services.

4.Salary

£31,288 - £35,093.

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