Home Office investigating claims asylum-seeking children ‘kidnapped’ from hotel

wonderoushen Female
19 minutes ago
Shame they didn't think of all this before and follow basic child protection procedures then they wouldn't need an investigation and children and young people would end up more traumatised than they already are

Absolutely.

""...many staff in the hotels "looking after" these children and young people have had no DBS checks..".

This I find alarming. It was bad enough going back to the 80's when working in residential care, men [IC] were suspended through abuse to those in their care. I think it was the late 90s checks came in. Admittedly, [I hope] some of the staff in these hotels are honest caring folk but the door is wide open.

I think after all of this and all the other failings at or by the Home Office we seriously need to ask, is the Home Office fit for purpose? Personally I don't think it is, I think there should be a public inquiry into its many failings and to see which bits should or could be made into seperate ministry's, I wonder if its just to big, cumbersome with maybe conflicting responsibilities, as well as being poorly led from ministerial level downwards.

Also it isn't hotel staffs responsibility it is it really to do a role they aren't trained or checked for, its social services job to step into that role. The kids without parents shouldn't even be in hotels they should be in a safe environment, with trained and dns checked staff. People should be made responsible for it and removed from their positions surely. 

Trouble is I don't think there are any real rules for unaccompanied child migrants, not on this scale anyway, of course they should be looked after by trained staff and places in foster care where possible, but theres a shortage of all these, DBS checks can take ages too. This is one reason why I think the Home Office is broken beyond repair and should be disbanded and new depts formed, there also needs to be more cross departmental working, not only children but vulnerable adults are being failed by the system, children and vulnerable adults are supposed to be under the care of the Dept of Health and Social Care and we can all see how well that dept isn't working.

lindy Female
7 hours ago
""...many staff in the hotels "looking after" these children and young people have had no DBS checks..".

This I find alarming. It was bad enough going back to the 80's when working in residential care, men [IC] were suspended through abuse to those in their care. I think it was the late 90s checks came in. Admittedly, [I hope] some of the staff in these hotels are honest caring folk but the door is wide open

You're right it is alarming.

Access to public services in UK has been under strain for years - so no surprise extra demand from hundreds of uninvid migrants every day of the week places too much demand on finite resources.

The average Social Worker lasts only 8 years before leaving the profession - with similar high attrition rates for Nurses/Teachers.

In England childcare staff ratios are as high as 1 staff member for every 3 children at younger ages - so every 3 children would then need a total of 4 staff based on a 40 hr week and 24/7 care needed for 7 days a week.

From April adult NMW rate goes to £10.40 hr - so each staff member costs Employer a total £27314 pa with NI/Pension/Holiday pay - so nearly £12000 pa per child plus housing/feeding costs

""The average Social Worker lasts only 8 years before leaving the profession ...""

and sadly....newly qualified SW's are leaving within months.

Support workers per se earn little more than NMW - and would be almost as well paid in a Supermarket without the stress

 wonder why? the system does let children down repeated failures upon social services behalf too. Maybe workers see this and leave. The Home Office are they to brush this off because most of the children are aged 16 and above.. so they don't matter then? 

lindy Female
6 minutes ago
""The average Social Worker lasts only 8 years before leaving the profession ...""

and sadly....newly qualified SW's are leaving within months.

You're right lindy. Being a social worker can be a thankless task and a lot of responsibility for little recognition.

lindy Female
6 minutes ago
""The average Social Worker lasts only 8 years before leaving the profession ...""

and sadly....newly qualified SW's are leaving within months.

You're right lindy. Being a social worker can be a thankless task and a lot of responsibility for little recognition.

Sadly...there are not the foster placements for many children taken into care and some are taken out of county - for various reasons.  These kids [uk and migrants] are coping with issues that need more than the 'norm' can give them.  Again there is not the services to help.  

"These kids [uk and migrants] are coping with issues that need more than the 'norm' can give them. Again there is not the services to help"

Which largely explains why Australia only admits people who can demonstrate financial independence - and even then they are picky based on occupations they want to fill.

And if grandparents want to visit on say a 6 month visitor visa they are expected to vacate the country on expiry