Specialist supported housing: A safety net for separated migrant children
Spiros Georgiou, head of care and supported housing (homelessness and mental health) at Hightown Housing Association, explains why dedicated, specialist supported housing services can be the most appropriate setting for separated migrant children.
It is not just adults and families who come to the UK to seek sanctuary: in 2024, four per cent (4,104) of asylum applications came from unaccompanied children, young people fleeing conflict, persecution and hardship who reached the UK alone with no parent or guardian.
Under the Children Act, local authorities have a legal duty to provide accommodation for these children, ensuring they receive the care and support they need, regardless of their immigration status. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) – also referred to as separated migrant children – accounted for nine per cent (7,380) of the 83,630 looked after children in England in 2024, up from six per cent in 2020. Numbers have increased steadily since the Covid pandemic, peaking at 7,410 in 2023.
To alleviate pressure on “entry” local authorities – which are typically near major ports and areas with significant immigration facilities – the government has mandated a dispersal programme, the National Transfer Scheme (NTS), whereby unaccompanied children are safely referred to a “receiving” local authority. Most UASCs are aged 16-17 and local authority placements for them tend to reflect this – 37 per cent are placed in foster care and a further 44 per cent are accommodated in supported housing schemes.
In Hertfordshire, Hightown is commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) to provide supported housing for up to 28 16-17 year-old UASCs at any one time, spread across four schemes in Hemel Hempstead, Radlett and St Albans. Rated “excellent” by HCC, the service provides a safe, stable and nurturing environment with 24/7 specialist support where young migrants can begin to rebuild their lives. The young people have often experienced the most extreme forms of trauma, making them highly vulnerable and with very specific, complex needs; dedicated, specialist services such as ours can therefore help to minimise the welfare and safeguarding risks that can arise when young migrants are placed in settings with non-migrant looked-after children.
To meet the complex needs of the young people we support, we adopt a person-centred, psychologically and trauma-informed approach, understanding the emotional and psychological experiences of each individual, in order to break down barriers and facilitate their recovery.
One of the hardest challenges for the young people we support is the lengthy and complicated process of applying for asylum; without a trusted adult to explain the process, complex immigration and legal systems are almost impossible to understand, so we work closely with the Refugee Council, who have the specialist knowledge to guide them through. Almost a third of the young people in our care do not get a decision on their asylum application until after they have turned 18, which means they are unable to access supported accommodation; this can be quite challenging for some young people, as they must live with the uncertainty. Aside from the emotional challenges, there are also many practical difficulties to overcome. Our staff empower the young people in our care to develop essential life skills such as cooking and budgeting and support them to access education, learn English and develop social skills. However, many come from diverse backgrounds and cultural “norms”, so it is vital to help them develop an understanding of the local culture, whilst supporting them to embrace their own cultural background and customs, such as attending mosque or buying Halal food.
Most importantly, we go the extra mile to build each young person’s trust; as a result, we see their confidence and ability to live independently grow hugely over time, so that when they move on from the service, they are ready to start living the life that every young person deserves.
Contact Hightown via the following email, for more information on their work: cash.services@hightownha.org.uk
