Follow-up of unaccompanied and separated children, case note and workload

Overdue (days since last visit / frequency): PE-103 (14 / 7), PE-107 (12 / 7), PE-115 (8 / 7), PE-105 (20 / 14), PE-114 (18 / 14), PE-110 (15 / 14), PE-106 (34 / 30). That is 7 cases out of 15.

Order: (1) PE-103, 16, alone with an employer: risk of hazardous work or exploitation, two weeks without a visit; (2) PE-107: worrying signs noted today (document 3), a follow-up visit with a one-to-one interview is required within 48 hours; (3) PE-115, 3 years old in an interim care centre: a very young child must move to family-based care as quickly as possible; (4) PE-105 and PE-114, medium-risk adolescent girls with the longest delay; (5) PE-110; (6) PE-106, low risk. Also review the risk level of PE-111 (8 years old with a 19-year-old sister) at the next visit.

Facts: visit on 14/10 to the home of the cousin (32 years old). The cousin remained present, answered for her and refused a one-to-one interview requested by the adolescent. She says she works every day at the market, her income is kept by the cousin; out of school since September. She wishes to find her mother, who is said to live in Les Cayes, and has the number of an aunt. Apparent fatigue, no visible injury.

Analysis: indications of child labour and economic exploitation, control exercised by the adult, dropping out of school, inability to express herself freely. The facts do not allow a conclusion, but the risk must be assessed quickly. Risk level maintained at high.

Actions: one-to-one interview with her within 48 hours in a neutral place (child-friendly space or market, with her agreement); opening of family tracing with the aunt's number, after her agreement; review with the supervisor of an alternative care arrangement if the danger is confirmed; information on returning to school or vocational training. Weekly visits. Next review: 21/10.

Current: 5 high-risk cases (PE-101, 103, 107, 112, 115) × 2 = 10; 10 other cases × 1 = 10; total 20 points, i.e. 10 per caseworker. Yet 7 cases are overdue: the current problem is first the organisation of visits (planning, transport, travel security), not only staffing.

Next month: 40 new cases, 12 of them high risk (12 × 2 = 24) and 28 others (28): + 52 points. Total 72 points, 72 / 20 = 3.6, i.e. 4 caseworkers: 2 to be recruited.

Supervision: 4 caseworkers for 1 supervisor: compliant (maximum 5). Plan the induction and training of the new recruits, and the closure of cases that have met their goals to free up capacity.

The child is not handed over today. I receive the man respectfully, thank him and explain that any reunification follows a verification procedure for the child's safety.

Steps: (1) record his information (identity, document, contact, stated relationship, circumstances of the separation); (2) verify the relationship through several sources: match with the information in the file, photos, community witnesses, other family members; at 4 years old, the child cannot confirm it alone; (3) assess the uncle's capacity and willingness to care for the child (home visit); (4) decision within the best interests procedure, with the supervisor and, depending on the national framework, the competent child protection authority; (5) if reunification is approved, preparation of the child and the foster family, then post-reunification follow-up.

I do not give the address of the foster family. If the man becomes insistent or threatening, I inform the supervisor and security.