Empowering Social Workers to Secure Immigration Status for Children in Care

Strategic Insights -

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) has published two guides to support social workers in securing immigration status for children in their care. The guides address the critical issue of undocumented children in the UK, with an estimated 215,000 children across the country lacking secure immigration status. These young people risk exclusion from education, employment, and housing, and may face removal from the UK. GMIAU stresses that immigration status must be built into care planning, not left until a child turns 18.

Key Takeaways:

  • The guides aim to empower social workers to play a more active role in securing children's immigration status, particularly in complex situations.
  • Social workers can act on behalf of children directly in some cases, such as citizenship or family-based applications, with free legal immigration advice being in short supply.
  • The guides outline scenarios where Appendix FM applications may be appropriate, including cases of children being abandoned, trafficked, or left without valid immigration status.
  • GMIAU's guide highlights the importance of gathering evidence and completing applications correctly to secure stability for children.
  • An estimated 215,000 children across the country remain undocumented, with at least one in ten children in care not being British citizens.

The two guides published by GMIAU provide practical advice on:

  • Appendix FM applications, including how to gather evidence and complete applications correctly.
  • British Citizenship for Children in Care, including when and how local authorities can make citizenship applications on behalf of children.

The guides emphasize the need for social workers to explore family overseas, support asylum claims, or apply for leave to remain in the UK, to secure stability for children in their care.

Statistics:

  • Estimated 215,000 children across the country remain undocumented.
  • At least one in ten children in care are not British citizens.
  • 16-page Annex FM: A Guide to Understanding and Completing Annex FM Applications provides guidance on Appendix FM applications.
  • 29-page British Citizenship for Children in Care A Guide for Social Workers provides guidance on British citizenship applications.

Sources:

  • Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
  • "Annex FM: A Guide to Understanding and Completing Annex FM Applications"
  • "British Citizenship for Children in Care A Guide for Social Workers"
  • GMIAU offers training and consultation sessions for local authorities in Greater Manchester.