Families with No Recourse to Public Funds
Scope of this chapter
NOTE
This is an area subject to legal change, and legal advice should be sought as necessary. This guidance applies only to England and Wales.
The principal legislation is found in the Immigration Acts of 1971 and 1999; provisions of the Immigration Act 2016 have come into force, while others have not yet taken effect. Provisions that have not yet come into force include those that will end asylum support for refused families, limit the availability of Home Office support for refused asylum seekers, and introduce reforms to local authority support provision for destitute families and care leavers without immigration status.
This chapter will be updated as UK immigration legislation continues to evolve following the UK's exit from the EU, and as the Immigration Rules and Guidance are amended to reflect case law.
Related guidance
- Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery
- Public Funds: Migrant Access to Public Funds, including Social Housing, Homelessness Assistance and Social Care (Home Office)
- NRPF Network
Amendment
Section 5.2.5, Providing Support was updated in May 2024 to reflect the Home Office increase in financial support to individuals waiting to find out if they will be given asylum in the UK.
No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) refers to persons:
- Who have been given leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom subject to a condition that they do not have recourse to public funds (section 115(9)(b) of the Immigration Act 1999 (the Act)) [1];
- Unlawfully present in the UK or without lawful status in the UK (e.g. an illegal entrant, an unsuccessful asylum seeker who has exhausted their rights to appeal or a visa overstayer).
“Public funds” are defined in regulation 6 of the Immigration Rules (see Section 3, What is meant by 'Public Funds' and ‘Excluded Benefits’ below).
When a person has leave to enter or remain that is subject to the NRPF condition, the term 'no public funds' will be endorsed on their residence permit, entry clearance vignette, or biometric residence permit.
The NRPF condition may be lifted in certain circumstances (section 3(1)(c)(ii) of the Immigration Act 1971) [2].
Other persons who are subject to “immigration control” include those who have leave to enter or remain in the UK given as a result of a maintenance undertaking (e.g. adult dependant relatives of people with settled status who have given an undertaking to maintain and accommodate the dependant). These persons are not entitled to claim “excluded benefits”; see section 115 (1) of the Act, which sets out the benefits to which they are excluded from entitlement.
These persons are also often referred to as having NRPF, but there are differences in the limits to access to public funds between persons subject to a NRPF condition [Rule 6 of the Immigration Rules] and those otherwise subject to ‘immigration control’, e.g. under section 115 (9)(c).
To determine the benefits or entitlements a person may be eligible for, their immigration status must be clarified. In the interim, there may be assistance that can be provided to families and children, depending on their individual circumstances.
In the case of persons who have NRPF, their immigration status will usually be ascertained by reference to the document giving leave, although at the time when the person approaches the local authority for support or a referral is made, the relevant documentation may not be readily available.
[1] “unless he falls within such category or description, or satisfies such conditions, as may be prescribed.” – Section 115 (3) of the immigration Act 1999
[2] Permitting access to public funds Version 5.0 16.4.2025
No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) refers to persons:
- Who have been given leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom subject to a condition that they do not have recourse to public funds (section 115(9)(b) of the Immigration Act 1999 (the Act)) [1];
- Unlawfully present in the UK or without lawful status in the UK (e.g. an illegal entrant, an unsuccessful asylum seeker who has exhausted their rights to appeal or a visa overstayer).
“Public funds” are defined in regulation 6 of the Immigration Rules (see Section 3, What is meant by 'Public Funds' and ‘Excluded Benefits’ below).
When a person has leave to enter or remain that is subject to the NRPF condition, the term 'no public funds' will be endorsed on their residence permit, entry clearance vignette, or biometric residence permit.
The NRPF condition may be lifted in certain circumstances (section 3(1)(c)(ii) of the Immigration Act 1971) [2].
Other persons who are subject to “immigration control” include those who have leave to enter or remain in the UK given as a result of a maintenance undertaking (e.g. adult dependant relatives of people with settled status who have given an undertaking to maintain and accommodate the dependant). These persons are not entitled to claim “excluded benefits”; see section 115 (1) of the Act, which sets out the benefits to which they are excluded from entitlement.
These persons are also often referred to as having NRPF, but there are differences in the limits to access to public funds between persons subject to a NRPF condition [Rule 6 of the Immigration Rules] and those otherwise subject to ‘immigration control’, e.g. under section 115 (9)(c).
To determine the benefits or entitlements a person may be eligible for, their immigration status must be clarified. In the interim, there may be assistance that can be provided to families and children, depending on their individual circumstances.
In the case of persons who have NRPF, their immigration status will usually be ascertained by reference to the document giving leave, although at the time when the person approaches the local authority for support or a referral is made, the relevant documentation may not be readily available.
[1] “unless he falls within such category or description, or satisfies such conditions, as may be prescribed.” – Section 115 (3) of the immigration Act 1999
[2] Permitting access to public funds Version 5.0 16.4.2025
The Home Office may assist an EEA national with a voluntary return, including arranging and purchasing travel documents and financial assistance, if they are without status or leave to remain in the UK.
An EEA national wishing to return to their country of origin should be advised to seek legal advice about how this will impact their future residence rights. If they have pre-settled status, they may need advice on how returning will affect their ability to meet the continuous residence requirement for applying for settled status.
See also: Get Help to Return Home if You're a Migrant in the UK (GOV.UK).
The current definitions of excluded benefits (section 115 (1)) and public funds (regulation 6 of the Immigration Rules) are slightly different. They can be subject to change.
The table below outlines the benefits/public funds covered by both Section 115 and Regulation 6.
| Section 115 of the Act – “excluded benefits” – these are excluded for anyone subject to ‘immigration control’. | Rule 6 – applies to those subject to an NRPF condition and those unlawfully in the UK. |
|---|---|
| Attendance allowance | Attendance allowance |
| Carer's allowance | Carer's allowance |
| Child benefit | Child benefit |
| Child tax credit | |
| Council tax reduction | |
| Disability Living Allowance | Disability Living Allowance |
| Housing benefit | Housing benefit |
| Housing under Part VI or VII of the Housing Act 1996 and under Part II of the Housing Act 1985 | |
| Health in pregnancy grant | Health in pregnancy grant |
| Income support | Income support |
| Income-based jobseeker's allowance | Income-based jobseeker's allowance |
| Income-related allowance | Income-related allowance (ESA) |
| Job start payment | |
| Personal Independence Payment | Personal Independence Payment |
| Severe disablement allowance | Severe disablement allowance |
| Social fund payment | Social Fund payments for maternity or funeral expenses, cold weather payments, winter fuel payments, or budgeting loan payments. |
| State pension credit | State pension credit |
| Working tax credit | |
| Universal credit | Universal credit |
| A discretionary payment made by a local authority under section 1 of the Localism Act 2011, not including any payment made under the Energy Rebate Scheme 2022 |
Therefore, the restrictions on access to benefits or services are marginally more extensive for someone subject to a condition of NRPF than for someone subject to ‘immigration control’. These are the exhaustive lists of benefits and public funds to which persons with NRPR are ineligible.
(Section 115 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and paragraph 6 Immigration Rules)
Further, under section 118 of the Act, a local authority must secure that a tenancy of, or a licence to occupy, housing accommodation is not granted to a person subject to “immigration control”.
It follows that the provision of services and support to a child in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 is an example of benefits/services which may be provided as they are neither public funds nor excluded benefits. However, depending on their status, migrants may be excluded from the assessment of need or support by a local authority under Section 17, although a Human Rights assessment may still be required (see Section 5.3 Assessments when the Exclusion under Schedule 3 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 Applies - Human Rights Assessment).
Another example of services that can be provided to families with NRPF is compulsory school-age education, which is not included in the definitions in section 115 and regulation 6 and is public funds for the purposes of the Immigration Rules.
Likewise, NHS treatment does not fall within the definition of public funds for immigration purposes. However, migrants coming to the UK for more than six months and who are not settled in the UK are required to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge.
Contributory benefits and statutory payments are not classed as public funds for immigration purposes and hence are not considered to be restricted for immigration purposes, including, but are not limited to the following:
- New-Style Jobseeker's Allowance;
- Guardian’s Allowance (if in receipt of Child Benefit);
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA);
- Maternity Allowance;
- State Pension;
- Statutory Sick Pay;
- Bereavement Support Payment;
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit;
- Statutory Parental Payments (Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay;
- Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay and Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay).
This is not an exhaustive list.
People with the following types of immigration status WILL have recourse to public funds:
- Indefinite leave to enter or remain, or no time limit (apart from adult dependent relative);
- Right of abode;
- Exempt from immigration control;
- Refugee status;
- Humanitarian protection;
- Discretionary leave to remain, for example:
- Leave granted to a person who has received a conclusive grounds decision that they are a victim of trafficking or modern slavery;
- Destitution domestic abuse concession.
- UASC leave;
- Applicants where a decision has been taken that NRPF condition should not be applied on grant of permission or the NRPF condition has been lifted upon application by the applicant. The criteria for disapplying the NRPF condition are that the applicant is a) destitute, b) at imminent risk of destitution, c) there are exceptional circumstances, or d) there are reasons relating to the welfare of a relevant child which outweigh the considerations for applying the condition (treating the best interests of a relevant child as a primary consideration).
NOTE that the High Court in ST (a child, by his Litigation Friend VW) & VW v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] EWHC 1085 (Admin) held that immigration caseworkers, when deciding whether to accept that the applicant is 'destitute or at risk of imminent destitution' are required to 'have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare' of any children involved in the application, in accordance with section 55 Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.
A family with NRPF may notify a local authority of a request for an assessment or apply to a local authority in respect of a need for accommodation and/or financial support; also, the local authority may receive a referral from a relevant agency seeking an assessment or identifying a potential need for a family and/or child.
Concerning children, a local authority must carry out an assessment under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 if it believes that a child is in need and shall appoint a lead practitioner to undertake the assessment. An initial assessment should be made within 1 working day of a referral, deciding on the next course of action. A full assessment should be concluded within 45 working days. The threshold for assessment is relatively low, and the local authority can only refuse to assess if there is no realistic prospect that the child is in need.
As a matter of practice, an assessment will usually take the following steps in assessing whether it has a duty to provide support to a family with NRPF:
- Pre-establish the facts relevant to the case, including whether there is a relevant child, or whether the family or child has other resources available to it to meet need;
- Assessing need: determining eligibility for the provision of support/services in the light of the facts established, and providing necessary support and services to meet the assessed need.
When a family is referred for or requests accommodation and/or financial support, the local authority will need to consider:
- Whether there is a duty to undertake a child in need assessment, this is part of the initial assessment (see above);
- What the parents' nationality and immigration status is in order to:
- Ascertain eligibility for employment, welfare benefits or asylum support; and
- Determine whether the family can only receive support if this is necessary to prevent a breach of their human rights.
- Whether emergency support needs to be provided whilst assessments are being carried out.
At this first point of contact, the parent can be asked for information relating to their financial circumstances, which may be used to inform the child in need assessment to determine whether the family are eligible for support. Families should not be refused support without proper enquiries being made to identify the needs of the child.
5.1.1 Threshold to Undertake a Child in Need Assessment
Assessment will be conducted in accordance with the Working Together to Safeguard Children. A child in need assessment is likely to be required for any family with children presenting on the basis that they do not have adequate accommodation and/or sufficient income to meet their/the child’s living needs because of their inability to access benefits or employment, or where the child's circumstances suggest this may be the case. For example:
- The child regularly does not have adequate food, warmth, shelter or essential clothing;
- The child has a disability, in which case the child is a child in need;
- When a parent's limited financial resources or having no recourse to public funds increases the vulnerability of the children to criminal activity, e.g. illegal working; and
- When a parent is unable to provide for material needs, which negatively impacts on the child.
Where evidence is provided that families are destitute or homeless, then the child is in need.
5.1.2 Checking Immigration Status
When a family requests accommodation and/or financial support, the local authority will also seek to establish the nationality and immigration status of the parents for several purposes:
- To ascertain any possible entitlement to welfare benefits, housing assistance, employment or Home Office asylum support;
- To identify whether the parent is in an excluded group and so can only be provided with support where this is necessary to prevent a breach of their human rights (see Section 5.3, Assessments when the Exclusion under Schedule 3 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 Applies - Human Rights Assessment);
The primary reason for establishing the parent's nationality and immigration status is because local authorities need to find out whether the family can receive 'support or assistance' under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 or if such support is only available where it is necessary to prevent a breach of their human rights - see Section 5.3, Assessments when the Exclusion under Schedule 3 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 Applies - Human Rights Assessment.
However, the absence of clarity about immigration status, or the extent to which the family or child has access to public funds by reason of immigration status, should not inhibit assessment of the family and child’s needs, in particular in cases of urgent and/or immediate need.
5.1.3 Emergency Support
Local authorities will conduct a detailed investigation into the family's financial and housing circumstances to determine whether the family is eligible for support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989.
Under section 17, a local authority has the power to provide emergency housing and/or financial support to a family when a child's welfare is at risk whilst assessments or enquiries are being carried out, including where this is apparent at the point of first contact.
While the initial pre-assessment screening for a visa application does not include interim support, a family with children facing destitution due to their immigration status can seek urgent interim support from the local authority under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. The local authority has a duty to assess the child's needs and can provide temporary accommodation and financial support to prevent the child from coming to harm.
5.2.1 Which authority must undertake an assessment?
Various court cases have found that the duty to assess under section 17(1)(a) of the Children Act 1989 is triggered by the physical presence of a child in the local authority's area. There may be a requirement for an additional local authority to cooperate, e.g. where the child resides in one local authority area but attends school in a different local authority area.
5.2.2 Assessment Considerations
As part of the assessment, the local authority would need to establish what other support options are available to the family in the UK, or whether return to the country of origin may resolve the family's inability to self-support in the UK when the parent is in an excluded group.
The courts have been clear that the purpose of Section 17 is to provide a safety net of support for families who either cannot leave the UK or are lawfully present in the UK but are prevented by their immigration status from claiming benefits usually provided to families with low incomes.
The local authority must gather information which is adequate for the purpose of performing its statutory duty under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 and must also have regard to both the child's best interests in the context of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Any information and evidence already gathered by the local authority as part of its initial enquiries must be considered within the child in need assessment, weighing all other factors relating to the welfare of the child:
- How the family's financial and housing circumstances are affecting the child's health and development, what assistance the child needs and how the child would be affected if they do not receive such help;
- How urgently the family needs assistance;
- Details of any medical conditions affecting the child or their family members;
- Details of the child's current and previous schools; and
- If the child's other parent is not in the family household, their details, including nationality and immigration status, what contact the parent and child have with them and whether they are providing any support.
Depending on the family's particular circumstances, information and documents related to their finances and housing will need to be requested. There will be circumstances where individuals may not always be able to fully or readily provide evidence of their circumstances. The absence of such documentation does not mean that an assessment of whether and to what extent the child is in need and what services can be provided to meet that need should not be undertaken and completed.
The child in need assessment must consider all relevant information, including all findings and the reasoning behind the decision made. The Child in Need Plan must be set out in writing and provided to both parents and any referring organisation, with the parents being allowed to respond. The local authority should also inform the family and all relevant agencies of the outcome of the assessment and, if the child is in need, the support plan, in accordance with Working Together to Safeguard Children.
5.2.3 Limitations on the Ability to Self-support
When considering the parents' ability to self-support, it is important to be aware of the restrictions imposed by the Immigration Act 2014 and Immigration Act 2016 that apply to people who do not have any current immigration permission:
- Since 12 December 2014, banks and building societies have been prohibited from allowing a person with no current immigration permission to open a new current account;
- A person with no immigration permission may have their bank accounts closed or frozen, as, since 1 January 2018, banks and building societies have been required to check details of current account holders against a database of Home Office information every quarter;
- Since 1 February 2016, private landlords in England have not been able to legally rent or sub-let a property to a person who does not have any current immigration permission and who has not been granted permission to rent on an exceptional basis by the Home Office. This also applies to renting a room to paying lodgers;
- Since 1 December 2016, landlords have been required to take action to end a tenancy or evict a tenant when they find out or have reasonable cause to believe that the occupier does not have any immigration permission; when the Home Office informs a landlord that this applies to their tenant, the landlord may undertake possession proceedings without having to obtain a court order; and
- On 12 July 2016, undertaking work or self-employment became a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment, for people who do not have any current immigration permission, or have a condition attached to their leave to remain restricting employment.
Local authorities must be fully aware of these measures to ensure that they do not inadvertently encourage or condone criminal activity when determining what alternative support options are available to a family.
When a local authority finds that a child is not in need because the parent[s]/family can secure accommodation or has other housing arrangements or income/support available to them, the local authority must identify where and what kind of support the network can provide i.e. consider whether the family can realistically access this alternative support and/or whether the accommodation arrangement is suitable for the child. [1]
5.2.4 Providing Support
The local authority has the power to provide a wide range of services to meet assessed needs under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989. The local authority is not under a duty to meet all formally assessed needs. Section 17 is a target duty, and the local authority may take into account its resources in determining which needs are to be met. However, such a decision must be reached rationally, and the local authority must act reasonably.
The Court of Appeal in R (C, T, M & U) v LB Southwark [2016] EWCA Civ 707, set out the following principles:
- An assessment must be carried out to determine the needs of a particular child, in line with statutory guidance (e.g. Working Together to Safeguard Children) and with proper consideration of the best interests of the child;
- Support for families with NRPF should not be fixed to set rates or other forms of statutory support without any scope for flexibility to ensure the needs of an individual child are met;
- Local authorities must undertake a rational and consistent approach to decision-making, which may involve cross-checking with internal guidance or other statutory support schemes, so long as this does not constrain the local authority's obligation to have regard to the impact of any decision on a child's welfare.
5.2.5 Ongoing Duty to Reassess Need
Section 17 is an ongoing duty, and when a family's circumstances change, the local authority must reassess whether the child's needs have also changed.
[1] R. (on the application of OK and Others) v. London Borough of Barking and Dagenham [2017] EWHC 2449 (Admin) - "Local authorities need to properly consider the support available and specifically identify where support will come from. It is insufficient for a local authority to say a child can be supported by their network without specifying particularly where and what kind of support the network can provide."
5.3.1 Excluded Groups
When a family with NRPF requests support, the local authority must establish whether the parent is in an excluded group, and therefore the family can only be provided with the support or assistance that is necessary to prevent a breach of their human rights– a 'human rights assessment'.
Section 54 and Schedule 3 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (as amended) set out categories of person who are not eligible for support from local authorities, being families where a parent is:
- In breach of immigration laws, for example, is a visa overstayer, illegal entrant, or appeal rights exhausted (ARE) in-country asylum seeker;
- An ARE asylum seeker who has failed to comply with removal directions;
- A person with refugee status that has been granted by another EEA country.
They can only receive 'support or assistance' under section 17 Children Act 1989 if such support is necessary to prevent a breach of their human rights.
The exclusion will not apply when an EEA national has settled status, pre-settled status, or leave to enter as a visitor. In such cases, eligibility for support will be determined through a needs assessment. A human rights assessment will only be required when an EEA national is 'in breach of immigration laws'.
Schedule 3 does not mean that assistance can automatically be refused to a family when the parent is in an excluded group, because support must be provided where this is necessary to avoid a breach of the family's human rights.
The purpose of Schedule 3 is to restrict access to support for a family where the parent is in an excluded group because they either have no permission to remain in the UK, or can no longer self-support, and when returning to country of origin (where they may be able to access employment and receive services), would avoid a breach of human rights which may occur if they remain destitute in the UK. This means that, along with establishing whether there is a child in need, local authorities must identify whether there are any legal or practice barriers preventing the family's return to the parent's country of origin, as return cannot be considered unless these are cleared. This is done by undertaking a human rights assessment.
5.3.2 Families that are Not Excluded
The Schedule 3 exclusions do not apply to all families with NRPF. A family will not be excluded from receiving assistance under section 17 where the parent has one of the following immigration status types:
- Leave to enter or remain in the UK with the NRPF condition;
- Pre-settled status (five years' limited leave to remain)
- Settled status (indefinite leave to remain)
- EEA family permit or EU Settlement Scheme family permit
- Asylum seeker;
- Refused asylum seeker who claimed asylum at port of entry (providing the other categories specific to refused asylum seekers do not apply).
Such families are not excluded from section 17 support and would need to be provided with assistance if they are found to be eligible for this following a child in need assessment.
When a parent can work but is unable to claim benefits to top up a low income, such as housing benefit and tax credits, and cannot access more affordable social housing, they will face difficulties funding childcare and sustaining employment that enables them to afford accommodation and provide for their family's living needs. When the child is 'in need' as a result of this, local authorities will be required to provide accommodation and/or financial support in the absence of such benefits. The courts have found that this is a positive duty and also that national policies restricting access to mainstream welfare support are lawful because section 17 of the Children Act 1989 provides a safety net to protect destitute children.
5.3.3 Conducting the Human Rights Assessment
The human rights assessment should consider whether the family can freely return to the parent's country of origin. If so, would return result in a breach of the family's human rights?
Determining Whether the Family Can Freely Return
The first stage of the assessment is to identify whether return is reasonably practicable, which means establishing if there are any legal or practical barriers preventing the family from leaving the UK. If there is a barrier preventing return, then further consideration at this time will not be needed, and the human rights assessment in such cases may therefore be brief, simply documenting and evidencing the barrier, and noting at what point it may need reviewing.
Legal Barriers to Return - e.g. an outstanding application or appeal to the Home Office on human rights grounds.
Practical Barriers to Return - e.g. where a family member is unable to:
- Obtain identity or travel documentation;
- Travel due to ill health or a medical condition; or
- Travel due to being at late stages of pregnancy or caring for a new-born baby.
When such barriers apply they may only be temporary, and it might be appropriate to provide support to the family on a short term basis and assist them to overcome this barrier, for example, by helping to obtain travel documentation.
Determining a Breach of Human Rights
When it is clear that return is reasonably practicable because there are no legal or practical barriers preventing a family from leaving the UK, the next step is to determine whether the family can return to the parent's country of origin to prevent a human rights breach from occurring, or whether return would give rise to a human rights breach and therefore support must be provided.
If a parent has dual nationality, or has the nationality of one country and a right of residency in another country, then return to both countries must be considered.
Return to Country of Origin
When concluding that the provision of accommodation and financial support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 is not required because the family can return to the parent's country of origin to avoid a breach of human rights which may be incurred if they remain destitute in the UK, then this must be clearly documented in the human rights assessment. Potential barriers to return must be addressed and a detailed assessment of return must be documented.
The human rights assessment must also outline what options the family may be offered in order to prevent a breach of human rights:
- Whether accommodation and financial support will be provided pending return;
- What method of return has been recommended and whether any additional support will be provided, for example, through a Home Office assisted return.
A decision to refuse or withdraw support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 may be made following a child in need and/or human rights assessment.
When the provision of accommodation and financial support is being refused following a human rights assessment, which has determined that the family can return to the parent's country of origin, then assistance with return must be offered to the family. This could be provided by the Home Office or local authority.
When section 17 support is being terminated because there has been a change of circumstances that means that a family can now claim welfare benefits and homelessness assistance, they will need to be given a notice period and support with making these claims. Local authorities are under a legal duty to refer a family to the housing authority of their choice for homelessness assistance. In England the housing authority is required to establish whether homelessness can be prevented when a person is eligible and threatened with homelessness within 56 days.
Under s. 54A Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (inserted by s.3 Immigration Act 2014), the Secretary of State must consult the Independent Family Returns Panel in each family returns case, on how best to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children of the family, and in each case where the Secretary of State proposes to detain a family in pre-departure accommodation, on the suitability of so doing, having particular regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children of the family.
A family returns case is a case where a child who is living in the United Kingdom is to be removed from or required to leave the United Kingdom, together with their parent/carer.
Pre-departure accommodation is a secure facility designed to be used as a last resort where families fail to co-operate with other options to leave the UK, such as the offer of assisted voluntary return.
The Panel may request information in order that any return plan for a particular family has taken into account any information held by other agencies that relates to safeguarding, welfare or child protection. In particular a social worker or manager from Children's Services may be invited to contribute to the Panel.
Last Updated: May 28, 2026
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