Communication with Unaccompanied Asylum-seekers
About Our Work
Parveen’s interest in the topic developed because she is a member of an ethnic minority group, a Muslim and a foster carer who has experience caring for unaccompanied-asylum seeking childre (UASC). Parveen has also been used as an informal resource for other foster carers, and indeed other staff in the fostering service, offering assistance to Foster Carers who are working with children and young people who are asylum seekers, or others who do not have English as a first language.
Alice’s interest developed when counselling in a school environment with an UASC, having to improvise with the use of non-verbal communication Alice discovered how powerful play can be as a tool with those who do not have English as a first language.
This background led the team to the realisation that understanding and communicating in a culturally sensitive way is a key factor in the greater development of the relationship between UASC and their Foster Carer or others involved in their care.
The team conducted research with Foster Carers placed with UASC. From our findings it does not appear that adequate information is available to Foster Carers and other staff about the issues that this group of children and Foster Carers face, also we have found that there is a commensurate lack of understanding of the resources and techniques available to assist professionals to resolve some of these issues.
We created a valuable resource tool for those caring for or working with UASC.