Independent Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children Support Service (IUSS)

Refugee Council advisers work directly with unaccompanied children seeking asylum, providing impartial and independent information, advice and guidance to help them to navigate the asylum and looked after children’s systems. Our advisers also work with professionals, providing advice and guidance on how to best support unaccompanied children. We work with young people in many ways: Providing remote advice and information for young people, carers, professionals and other stakeholders by OISC-registered advisers. Helping young people to understand the asylum system, how to claim asylum and how to access legal representation. Accompanying young people to asylum interviews and immigration tribunal and appeal hearings. We also help with issues such as concerns about placements, getting into school, trying to help locate their family, health issues or simply being someone with whom they can talk when there is no one else they can turn to We meet with children face-to-face as needed. For children arriving at Dover, we provide initial support at the port while children await placement elsewhere.