THE number of unaccompanied refugee children being looked after by Dorset Council has increased to 18 – ten extra being settled in the county over recent weeks.

Corporate director for care and protection, Sarah-Jane Smedmore, told the council’s corporate parenting board that the children had been taken into the council’s care as a result of Government directives to try and find spaces.

“We’ve welcomed that and have really thought hard about how we can find the best places and spaces for those young people to live and to thrive, to get education, to get support and to get the health services that they need as well, so we are working with our partners to achieve that.”

Committee chair Cllr Kate Wheller told the board that at the moment it was too early to say what the situation might be with Ukraine refugees but she said that there were “policies and processes in place,” should that arise.

Ms Smedmore said that some council officers were preparing for any arrivals: “We are waiting for Government direction but there are people within the council working very hard to make sure we are ready for whatever we are asked to do.

“We know that we have success previously with resettlement and we would want to build on what we know works well and really think hard about how we would support any people, any families, resettling here with us,” she said.