The number of unaccompanied refugee children in Dorset has increased in recent weeks

The number of unaccompanied refugee children cared for by Dorset Council has increased in recent weeks.

Currently, 18 children are in the care of the council, 10 of whom have been settled in the county in recent weeks. Dorset Council’s Corporate Parents Council heard the children had been taken into care by the council following government directives to try to find places.

Sarah-Jane Smedmore, Corporate Director for Care and Protection, said: “We welcomed this and really thought about how we can find the best places and spaces for these young people to live and enjoy. thrive, get an education, get support. and to get the health services they also need, so we are working with our partners to make that happen.

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Committee chair Cllr Kate Wheller told the council it was too early to tell what the situation might be with the Ukrainian refugees at the moment, but she said there were “policies and processes in place”, if that happened.

Ms Smedmore said some council workers were preparing for any arrival: ‘We are awaiting guidance from the government, but there are people in the council who are working very hard to make sure we are ready for whatever happens. we are asked to do.

“We know that we have already had successful resettlement and we would like to build on what we know is working well and think seriously about how we would support any person, any family, in relocating here with us,” he said. she stated.

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