1. Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme Update for Kent Housing Group 14 September Ashford Borough Council Offices
Christine Grosskopf, Kent County Council
Tel: or

2. What is the SVPRS?
Government set up the scheme in Feb 2014, but it was significantly expanded in Sept 2015 when the PM announced it would assist 20,000 people by 2020.
The scheme involves taking particularly vulnerable refugees straight from the Middle East and resettling them in the UK.
The refugees are given five years Humanitarian Leave to Remain and as such are able to work and claim benefits and other public funds from day one.
Local authorities are key to the delivery of this offer. The scheme is currently voluntary and dependent on local authorities agreeing to take part.

3. Funding Year one funding for local authorities Adults: £8,520
Children 5-18: £8,520 plus £4,500 for education
Children 3-4: £8,520 plus £2,250 for education
Children under 3: £8,520
It is important to note that the above figures do not include the Housing Benefit and other DWP benefits (which will be paid in the usual way) or the medical care costs (which will be paid direct to the CCGs - £2,600 per person).
Extra payments may be available for education for refugees under the age of 18 and also a special cases fund will be set up to provide extra support for the most vulnerable refugees and for exceptional issues.
Years two to five funding for local authorities
Following the Spending Review, the Government announced further details of the funding:
Year 2 - £5,000 per person. Year 3 - £3,700 per person.
Year 4 - £2,300 per person. Year 5 - £1,000 per person.
There will also be support for education and health in years 2-5, which will be funded
separately to the local authority tariff.

4. Update on offers and arrivals
District/Borough
Latest position
ASHFORD
250 people (approx 50 families) over the 5 years; currently have 6 families. Resettlement support is provided by Ashford Borough Council staff.
CANTERBURY
10 families over the 5 years; 2 linked families arrived 7 September. Resettlement support is provided by Canterbury City Council staff.
DARTFORD
Wish to take one at a time and will be reviewed after each family.
DOVER
12 families over the 5 years; one family arrived early July, another on 7 September. Resettlement support is being provided by Migrant Help.
GRAVESHAM
5 families over the 5 years.
MAIDSTONE
Due to receive 2 linked families for the same property in October.
SEVENOAKS
To be confirmed.
SHEPWAY
10 families over the 5 years; 2 linked families arrived 7 September; one more later in September. Resettlement support is being provided by Migrant Help.
SWALE
10 families over the 5 years (2 per year); one family arriving late September. Resettlement support is being provided by Migrant Help.
THANET
8 families over the 5 years.
TONBRIDGE & MALLING
10 families over the 5 years; 1 family arrived in April. Resettlement support provided by Rethink.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
10 families over the 5 years; 2 families arrived in December, one in August and due to receive 2 (possibly 3) more in October. Resettlement support provided by Rethink.
TOTAL
Approx 130 families over the 5 years

5. Phase 2 – how the scheme is now working
Phase 2 of the scheme involves a much greater role for the regional Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMP). Kent is part of the South East Strategic Migration Partnership (SESMP).
The South East region are expected to find homes for approximately 3,000 people by the end of the Parliament in This equates to about 800 per year.
In summary the process will work as follows:
The Home Office will allocate cases to the SESMP who have about 3 weeks to confirm which families can be taken. Families will then arrive about 6 – 8 weeks later.
The SESMP coordinator (Susan Fawcus) will liaise with KCC to discuss timescales for arrivals and to match cases with offers of accommodation appropriate to family size, composition and additional requirements e.g. medical conditions, disabilities.
KCC will liaise with the housing authorities (local councils), health, education and other key partners in order to confirm which cases can be matched to offers of accommodation.
The Home Office will plan the travel and arrival of accepted cases. They will liaise directly with Kent County Council and the relevant local councils over the arrival details.
There will be a rolling programme of allocation and matching, starting at the end of June 2016 for regular arrivals on charter flights from September In addition there will be some arrivals on scheduled flights.
The support provision will be planned and coordinated as previously.

6. Resettlement Support
The aim of resettlement support: to resettle the families into the UK, helping them to access all the appropriate services and start to be fully integrated into their communities.
Intensive at the beginning, then slowly reducing, with the ability to increase when needed.
Home Office stipulate that this must be for at least one year.
The support must comply with the HO Statement of Requirements.

7. Options for resettlement support
Ashford/Canterbury model: council staff provide the support.
Other districts so far: KCC commissions the support from an external provider or voluntary group (we are hoping to add to the list of providers soon).
The district council commissions the support from an external provider or voluntary group.
KCC uses staff from an internal division to provide the support.

8. Other support/services
Regardless of which option is used for the resettlement support KCC can help with:
Liaison with SESPM and the Home Office
Setting up of the property through KSAS and West Kent Extra
Liaison with Education, Early Help, Health, Social care, ESOL etc

9. Governance and oversight
MOU between the local council and KCC
Equal partners
Local Steering Group overseeing the scheme in that area
Joint data controllers
KCC commissions support provider on behalf of both
KCC draws down the funding on behalf of both – pays support provider, interpreters, KSAS, West Kent Extra, Education etc PLUS the district for any expenditure incurred for the family
KCC has our own Steering Group overseeing our coordination role
Regular Kent wide meetings of all districts, KCC and other partners – but no formal governance role
Regular updates to Joint Kent Chiefs and Kent Leaders who have previously endorsed the approach taken in Kent

10. THANK YOU 