Number of migrants identifying as minors pushing social workers in Devon to ‘breaking point’ – By Dan Whitehead (Sky News) / Nov 10, 2022
The Home Office says there are around 37,000 asylum seekers living in hotels in the UK at a cost of £5.6m a day.
A council in Devon says its social workers are being pushed to “breaking point” and unable to carry out normal safeguarding duties, because of a high number of migrants being placed in hotels identifying as minors.
Torbay Council says a “high percentage” of migrants at a hotel in Paignton are claiming to be under 18, resulting in two social workers having to spend a minimum of 37 hours on every case – a process which could result in around £1m in total costs.
The council’s chief executive Anne-Marie Bond told Sky News the situation is putting immense pressure on staff.
She said: “As a consequence, we don’t have these social workers available to undertake their normal safeguarding responsibilities within the bay, and that is leading to immense concerns about our ability to deliver statutory services to the children of Torbay.
