Supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

Scenario

A council has been criticised for the way that it supports asylum seekers. In particular there have been instances of racist bullying at school which have appeared in the national press.

Action

The director asks the principal social worker to benchmark the support provided to asylum-seeking children and young people, including links to health services. The principal social worker uses NICE's recommendations on looked-after children and young people and post-traumatic stress disorder as part of the benchmarking standard, along with other relevant national guidance and good practice.

Further guidance

The guidance recommends that mental health services and services for people with PTSD are accessible for black and minority ethnic and asylum-seeking children and young people, with appropriate interventions and support.

Relevant resources

Visit the children's social care topic page for all NICE guidance and quality standards on children's social care.

Guidelines

• Child abuse and neglect guideline

• Harmful sexual behaviour guideline

• Children’s attachment guideline

• Looked-after children and young people guideline

• Antisocial behaviour and conduct disorders in children and young people guideline

• Transition between inpatient mental health settings and community or care home settings guideline

• Transition from children’s to adults’ services guideline

• Domestic violence and abuse guideline

Quality standards

• Child abuse and neglect quality standard

• Children’s attachment quality standard

• Looked-after children and young people quality standard

• Antisocial behaviour and conduct disorders quality standard

• Transition between inpatient mental health settings and community or care home settings quality standard

• Transition from children’s to adults’ services quality standard

• Domestic violence and abuse quality standard