WMSMP

Following the inspection by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) of asylum casework from August to May 2021, 9 recommendations were put forward.

1. Introduce, as a matter of urgency, a published service standard.
2. Prioritise claims for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC), as per the
Immigration Rules.20
3. Conduct a detailed and rapid analysis of every asylum claim awaiting an initial decision in the
WIP by reviewing each decision making unit’s ‘Workflow Tracker’, focusing on identifying and
removing erroneous casework barriers and identifying cases where a grant would be possible
without an interview.
4. Revisit recommendation four from the 2017 ICIBI inspection of asylum intake and casework,
with specific reference to:
a. Screening
Ensure standardised training for all those conducting screening interviews across Immigration
Enforcement, Border Force and UK Visas and Immigration, with a focus on identifying
vulnerability and safeguarding.
b. Substantive interviews and decisions
Design – in consultation with stakeholders – deliver and provide regular refresher training for
all Decision Makers (DMs) and Technical Specialists (Tech Specs).
c. Quality assurance
Urgently finalise and implement training for Tech Specs and others who conduct
quality assurance.
5. To address workplace culture, create a mandatory regular ‘face behind the case’ style training
course focused on asylum.
6. To help improve retention, ensure there is clarity among DMs on opportunities for progression
and, in consultation with DMs, conduct a review of InSight weekly targets.
7. Introduce Calibre assurance assessments for screening interviews.
8. Ensure all first line quality assurance takes place before asylum decisions are served. Ensure
that trends in Second Pair of Eyes (SPoE) feedback are identified and analysed, and that the list
of decisions requiring mandatory SPoE is reviewed quarterly.
9. Expedite ‘Transformation’ plans specifically relating to the creation of a new digital case
prioritisation and allocation tool, and the substantive interview appointment booking tool.

The Home Office has since responded to these recomendations, accepting or partially accepting all nine of them.

An inspection of asylum casework (publishing.service.gov.uk)

The Home Office response to the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration’s report: An inspection of asylum casework (August 2020 to May 2021) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Children’s services across the UK have been informed of the intention to temporarily mandate the scheme which provides placements for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children across the UK. This has been indicated in response to increased hotel use and recent pressure on the asylum system.

For the full article please see the link below:

National Transfer Scheme to become mandatory for all local authorities – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Home Office have released the latest Quarterly Immigration Statistics for the year ending September 2021. Information includes those: coming to the UK, extending their stay, gaining citizenship, applying for asylum, and being detained or removed, as well as immigration for work, study and family reasons, including new visa routes where these are operational.

The WMSMP will be circulating a summary of these statistics soon to partners and colleagues who have signed up to receive these.

Immigration statistics, year ending September 2021 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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The Home Office has published guidance for asylum seekers and their children staying in temporary accommodation whilst their claim is processed.

Locations where applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme are able to go and scan their biometric ID documents scanned if they do not have an android device has been published.