Public health information

In March 2016, Public Health Kent produced a health needs assessment for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. In order to develop a robust needs assessment, Rachel Coyle reviewed the detail of the Initial Health Assessments of 154 children and young people that had arrived in Kent in 2015, as well as wider data from other sources.

The needs assessment has been a key document for clinical commissioning groups in Kent to mobilise the right health services to meet the needs of this group. In addition, colleagues in Public Health Kent have worked with the CCGs to support children and young people with support and information about preventative health care.

 Key documents

Sexual health handbook

Sexual health, asylum seekers and refugees – a handbook for people working with refugees and asylum seekers in England.

Sexual Health – an introduction (leaflet)

Sexual Health – An introduction to contraception and sexually transmitted infections (leaflet)

UASC Sexual Health Training

This resource has been developed as an aid to start a conversation with young people who have grown up in other cultures and now live in the UK. Find out more about our experiences providing outreach support to UASC in west Kent.

Letter for professionals

Accompanying letter template for facilitators.

There have been several outbreaks of measles in the UK recently which have included traveller and Romanian communities. Therefore we would like ask your colleagues to encourage individuals who have not been vaccinated within these communities to register and attend the GP practice for MMR vaccination.

It is particularly important that those who are travelling to countries such as Romania, where there are a high number of measles cases, are vaccinated with MMR prior to travelling.

Individuals should also be aware that if they are unwell and concerned that they may have symptoms of measles such as high fever, runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes and spots inside the mouth (small red spots with bluish-white centres), that they should first call the GP practice prior to attending to avoid contact with other individuals in waiting rooms etc.

Please see link below with posters and leaflets to support these discussions:

Please see supplementary guidance for cases and outbreaks in asylum seeker accommodation settings.

Please see NHS England guidance for clinicians and providers in the implementation of antibiotic prophylaxis and vaccination for unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors arriving in the UK.

Please register at the Health Publications website as an NHS provider and you can order 500-100 of leaflets, 200-300 of posters and record card packs. If you register as an individual you will be restricted as a member of the public to 5 copies of any resource. Once you have registered, you can also call 0300 123 1002 to place orders over 500 copies.

Further information can be found in the publications summary.

 Resources for young people

The Designated Doctor and Designated Nurse for Looked after Children within your Integrated Care Board (ICB) area will have a role in ensuring that there is enough provision within the local area to meet the needs of any UASC placed within the ICB.

They will also work closely with the Named doctor and nurse within your provider organisation to deliver the service.

There will be a Director of Children’s Social Services who will have the overall responsibility for the care of UASC. There is likely to be Assistant Directors with specific areas of responsibility. There is likely to be a LAC/UASC Service Manager and the young person’s social worker.

 Video resources

 External links

The health needs assessment was undertaken by Rachel Coyle, Public Health Registrar and Samantha Bennett, Public Health Consultant in Kent County Council. The health needs assessment was supported by the Kent UASC Project Team. The assessment is the most detailed and in-depth research into the health needs of the current population of UASC in Kent. The findings have helped to inform and focus current and future resourcing and commissioning.

The Kent Transformation Plan for Children, Young People and Young Adults  outlines how all partners in Kent will transform emotional wellbeing and mental health services between 2015 and 2019. The transformation programme across Kent has funded the  Emotional Health and Wellbeing Action Research Project – so that we can better understand the emotional health and wellbeing needs of our UASC population.

Landing In Dover

The immigration process undergone by unaccompanied children in Kent.  A report of findings undertaken in 2011 focussing on the immigration procedures to which unaccompanied children arriving in Kent are subject to.

Fact of Age

In the immigration context, age also determines how the immigration authorities treat the young person. Under the Immigration Rules, children are provided with specific procedural safeguards in asylum interviews and the manner in which their evidence and credibility are assessed is different to that of adults. Policy also requires that separated children are not normally detained and separated children are not returned to their county of origin in the absence of suitable reception arrangements.

Find out more about the Children’s Commissioner

The Migrant Children’s Project works to protect and promote the rights of children and young people affected by UK immigration control.

The Refugee Council Children’s Section works directly with separated children, as well as giving advice to those involved in their support. The Children’s Section has operated since 1994, and is the only national service of its kind. The team employs around 14 fully supported Advisers, many of whom speak the languages of the children they are working with.

The Separated Children in Europe Programme (SCEP) is a European NGO-Network of 31 organisations from 28 European countries. The SCEP Network seeks to improve the situation of separated children through research, a shared policy and advocacy at national and regional levels.

Visit the website

Freedom from Torture, formerly the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, has been working for more than 30 years to provide direct clinical services to survivors of torture who arrive in the UK, as well as striving to protect and promote their rights.

Since its inception, over 50,000 individuals have been referred for help. Thanks to the dedication of staff and volunteers – as well as scores of passionate supporters and funders – thousands of torture survivors have been able to rebuild their lives in incredibly difficult circumstances.

International family tracing and finding missing relatives