Issue - meetings

Resolved: the committee noted the report and agreed to receive and update on the recommendations of the independent review in 6 months.

Kevin Bonavia (Cabinet Member for Refugees) introduced the report:

1.1  The independent review of the council’s No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) service analysed case studies provided by officers, advocacy groups (including Project 17) and a survey of service users. The council has responded to the recommendations and produced an action plan.

1.2  There has been positive improvement in recent months. There have been fewer disputes and the removal of the embedded Home Office caseworker has enabled the council to pay for advocacy support at the Southwark Law Centre. The council is focused on culture change within the NRPF service and is planning to commission external training.

There was a discussion and the following key points were noted:

1.3  Officers are working with Project 17 in response to the review’s recommendation to carry out training on language and attitudes. The committee asked for this to be made clearer in the action plan.

1.4  Every assessment carried out under s17 of the Childrens Act 1989 is a Child in Need assessment. Assessments are more comprehensive where there are safeguarding considerations. This is in line with how social services operate.

1.5  The independent review sampled 100 random cases and did not find any examples of illegal or indefensible decision making. The committee asked for the total number of legal reviews brought against the council and the number of these that were successful.

1.6  The Terms of Reference for the review were agreed by the Executive Director following meetings with advocacy groups and senior officers.

1.7  The committee expressed concern that 40% of respondents to the review’s survey of service users did not feel that they had been shown respect. Officers said that everyone should be treated with respect and they will address these concerns.

1.8  The committee asked how it was being communicated to residents that there was no longer an embedded Home Officer caseworker in the NRPF service.  The Cabinet Member said the council has communicated its pledge to becoming a sanctuary borough.

1.9  The NRPF service aims to communicate decisions to service users in writing within 24hrs. Changes are being made to letter templates to include information on rights to review.

1.10      The committee agreed to receive an update on progress with the recommendations of the review in six months. This should include hearing from stakeholders the council is engaging with.

Resolved: the committee noted the report and agreed to receive and update on the recommendations of the independent review in 6 months.