Public Sector Group - asylum housing

What is the Yorkshire and Humber Public Sector Group?

The Yorkshire and Humber Public Sector Group is a partnership of nine local authorities which provides housing and support to asylum seekers dispersed to the region from across the UK. The nine local authorities are: Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Hull, Kirklees, Leeds, Rotherham, Sheffield and Wakefield. The Public Sector Group’s work is paid for by Central Government, under a contract with the Home Office, called the ‘Target Accommodation Contract’.

What does it do?

The Public Sector Group:

Manages the accommodation contract on behalf of the nine local authorities and in conjunction with the UK Border Agency [UKBA - part of the Home Office].
Monitors performance and oversees the operations across two initial accommodation sites in the region.
Finds housing for asylum seekers using both private sector and local authority accommodation in the region, making sure that they get the right support, and that anyone with particular needs has those needs met.
Works closely with various government departments at local and regional level.
Liaises with UKBA Yorkshire and the Humber to make sure that we're working together to deliver in the region.

What are its key priorities for this year?

This year, the Public Sector Group will focus on:

Delivering the highest standards of housing and support to asylum seekers.
Providing high quality management information to the local authorities involved in the current contract.
Securing a longer term Home Office contract for asylum support services from 2012, under COMPASS [the UKBA programme that will award contracts to providers across different areas of the UK].
Talking with local authorities and other partners in the region about the shape of future delivery arrangements.

How does it work?

The Public Sector Group’s Contract Management Team [CMT] is responsible for delivery of the accommodation contract. The Contract Management Team is part of Migration Yorkshire and:

Manages the performance of the contract, ensuring that the Public Sector Group meets the Home Office’s standards and support requirements.
Coordinates requests from UKBA for placing asylum seekers into local authority housing in the region, liaising daily with the local authority asylum teams and with a wide range of services to ensure that individuals and families get appropriate housing and practical support.

CMT is accountable to the Accommodation Contract Board, which meets quarterly to oversee the delivery of the accommodation contract and to provide support and direction to CMT. Senior managers from all nine local authorities are on the Board.

More information