Case No. UKUT-00227-(IAC)

WITHIN THE DEVO L VED ADMINISTR A TIONS OF W ALES , SCOTLAND AND NO R THERN I RELAND 2.26. Statutory children’s services have been devolved to each of the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Referrals to children’s services must be made to the relevant public authority by the UK Border Agency when members of staff have identified childrenas being in need or at risk. Differences in legislation and local arrangements for making referrals must be respected and, where necessary, the relevant UK Border Agency regional directors will ensure that these differences are taken into account and suitable arrangements developed in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.2.27. For instance, in Scotland there is a Children’s Charter that sets out what children and young people need and expect to help protect them from harm. It has been developed through talking to children and young people whohave experienced the need to be protected and supported - but what it says applies to any child.2.28. It is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/education/ccel-00.asp and UK 1 7 Th e a r rangement s i n o v e r vie w a r e o n th e Hom e Of f ic e w e b s i t e a t http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/ safeguarding-vulnerable-persons/child-trafficking/ Border Agency staff working in Scotland should seek to be guided by and to follow it in their interactions with children. LOCAL SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN B OARDS AND INTER-AGENCY W ORKING 2.29. In support of effective interagency working, the UK Border Agency should participatein LSCBs where appropriate and invited to do so, and should seek to contribute in accordance with Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006). The UK Border Agency isnot a statutory member of LSCB nor is it a statutory partner under section 13 (section31 in Wales) of the 2004 Act. Instead the UK Border Agency will be invited to participatein those LSCBs where its presence is agreed to be necessary or desirable by Directorsfor Children and Learning in Regional Government Offices, or the Director of Children’s Services with responsibility for the particular Board or by the UK BorderAgency regional director. The work of LSCBs is co-ordinated by regional and national meetings and the UK Border Agency will make an appropriate contribution to these by agreement with the meeting organisers. The UK Border Agency should also take part inany appropriate inter-agency training arranged by LSCBs. In Scotland and Northern Ireland the UK Border Agency will co-operate with Child Protection Committees in the same way.2.30. The UK Border Agency will allow any LSCB in whose work it participates as an invited partner to include it in these monitoringand continuous improvement processes and must respond appropriately to concerns that are expressed as a result. The UK Border Agency is also subject to inspection from the independent Chief Inspector of the Border Agency which may include children’s issues in its inspections, and from the Chief Inspector of Prisons who inspects all facilities in which children and young people may be detained.2.31. The UK Border Agency will assist other appropriate agencies who have contact with children and who are seeking to safeguard a child and promote his or her welfare.