News

A government policy that can lead to children of failed asylum seekers being taken into care was halted from April until this month after councils raised legal concerns, Community Care has just learned.

The move came after councils received different legal opinions about how they should respond to the policy that stops failed asylum seekers and their families from receiving benefits, leaving them destitute and councils with the duty to care for the children.

The Home Office stopped families from having their support withdrawn. The policy has now restarted.

Ian Johnston, director of the British Association of Social Workers, said he was concerned that councils could choose to support only the children and not their parents, in line with the policy.