Case No. UKUT-00227-(IAC)

OF ACCOUN T ABILITY 2.11. Responsibility for the UK Border Agency’s contribution to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children lies with each member of staff according to their role. They are accountable to their line managers for this, with ultimate accountability for the Agency’s contribution lying with the Chief Executive. Within the UK Border Agency each function or unit led at senior civil service level mustbe proactive in ensuring that staff at all levels within that unit are aware of the duty and its relevance to their work. The approach might take the form of regularly finding time at team meetings to ensure that the requirements are known and understood or issuing specific instructions depending on the role andwork of the unit. Managers should aim to encourage and enable a positive attitude to the needs of children among their staff as well as setting out clear formal instructions.2.12. There must be clear arrangements whereby staff who become aware of instances wherethe duty is not being taken properly into account are able to report their concerns. These may be general concerns about the effectiveness of these arrangements; they mayrelate to the way in which a particular child was dealt with by the UK Border Agency; or, they may relate to the attitude and behaviour ofstaff towards children. Where staff members have any concern of this sort, they should first consider raising the matter with their linemanager or with a line manager above that level (e.g. their countersigning officer). However, there may be occasions when because of the nature of their concerns, staff feel unableto report their concerns in this way. In such cases, staff should express their concerns to the UK Border Agency’s Children’s Champion or other senior official with lead responsibility for children’s issues. The Children’s Championshould treat the matter as a confidential referral as far as possible.