Allocating in Northern Ireland

46 - Allocating in Northern Ireland

1 PURPOSE

This is an instruction telling caseworkers how to proceed with an application for support from asylum seekers living in Northern Ireland.

BACKGROUND

NASS does not disperse asylum seekers to Northern Ireland, but it is responsible for supporting destitute applicants who apply for asylum there. NASS will be working closely with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), who is the accommodation provider.

RECEPTION ASSISTANT

When an applicant applies to the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities, (NICEM), the sub-contracted organisation in Northern Ireland, the reception assistant will make checks to confirm that the applicant does not have access to accommodation and that they do not have the means to support themselves. When these checks have been completed the reception assistant will assist the applicant in completing the NASS application form and send it to Voyager House by fax and notify NIHE of the application at the same time. The reception assistant will also arrange for emergency accommodation to be provided for the applicant.

NORTHERN IRELAND HOUSING EXECUTIVE

When NIHE is notified by NICEM that an application has been made for support they will identify a suitable property from within the reserved pool of properties and take the necessary steps to make the property available for occupation. If there is no suitable accommodation available within the pool NIHE will take steps to access a different property. NIHE will advise the NASS Northern Ireland Team of the proposed address, along with a brief justification of why it feels that the property is suitable for the applicant, within two working days of their being advised by NICEM.

REGISTRATION, VALIDATION & ASSESSMENT

NASS will assess the case using the normal procedure within the Northern Ireland Team, 5th Floor Quest.

ALLOCATION

If the application is approved for NASS support Paul’s team will contact NIHE on 02890 317733, to check the address of the prepared property and check the stated justification. If this is all approved then the accommodation will be confirmed. If the accommodation was from the pool the property will already be on the database, if it has been necessary to bring in other property the address will have been added to the database whilst the file was going through the procedure. All other Allocation procedures, except for travel and accommodation, will be the same as for any other applicant.

TERMINATION

When an applicant’s support is to be discontinued due to a successful asylum decision, the termination process will be done in the normal process. The only difference being that the accommodation address will not be returned to the NASS Accommodation pool and the asylum seeker may not be moved from the address. NIHE will make the decision as to whether or not the asylum seeker will be moved out of the accommodation when the Benefits Agency begin supporting the asylum seeker. Therefore the asylum seeker’s termination letter will not include the statement to the effect that they are to leave the accommodation by a set date, nor will the accommodation provider be sent a similar letter. However the NIHE must be advised that the status has changed and will no longer be funded by NASS.

NORTHERN IRELAND - NOTIFICATION & ACCOMMODATION PROPOSAL

1. NOTIFICATION [to be completed by NICEM and sent to NIHE]

1.1 Date Asylum Support Application sent to NASS ………………

Details of Applicants Household

Family Name

First Name[s]

DoB

Gender

Relationship

Principal Applicant

1.3 Nationality ……………………

1.4 First Language …………………… Interpreter Needed Y/N

Known Health Problems or other Special Needs

[which need to be taken into account when allocating accommodation]

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

[Signed] ………………………………… Name ………………………………………….

On behalf of Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities [NICEM]

[Date] ……………………………………

2. ACCOMMODATION PROPOSAL [to be completed by NIHE and sent to NASS]

2.1 Accommodation Recommended for offering to applicant

Room No

House No/Name

Street Name

Town

County

Postcode

2.2 Size No fo Bedrooms ……….. No of Bedspaces …………

2.3 Any Special Feature [in particular detail any which address the issues in 1.5 above]

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2.4 This accommodation is considered suitable for this Applicant

> Area is suitable, safe and allows access to a Post Office for Voucher collection

> Size property has sufficient room/bedspaces for the Applicant/Household

Property meets any health and other Special Needs requirements

[Signed] …………………………… Name ………………………………………..

on behalf of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive

[Date] ………………………………

NORTHERN IRELAND

NOTIFICATION OF ASYLUM SEEKER REFUSING TO LEAVE CONTRACTED ACCOMMODATION ON TERMINATION OF A SERVICE COMMISSION

To be completed by NIHE and sent to NASS

Address of Contracted Accommodation

Room No

House No/Name

Street Name

Town

County

Postcode

Size No of Bedrooms ……….. No of Bedspaces …………

2. Details of Aaylum Seeker Household

Family Name

First Name[s]

DoB

Gender

Relationship

Principal Applicant

Reason Asylum Seeker refuses to leave Contracted Accommodation

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

This property is now being transferred to the Grant Agreement

a. Date Service Commission terminated …………………..

b. Date Grant Agreement commenced …………………..

c. No of Bedrooms in Accommodation …………………..

d. Weekly Grant Rate …………………..

[Signed] …………………………… Name ………………………………………..

on behalf of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive

[Date] ………………………………