Connexions personal advisers need to do outreach work in local
communities to ensure they reach young asylum seekers and refugees,
new guidance advises.
The guidance, aimed at helping Connexions partnerships and partner
agencies to deliver more effective advice to young asylum seekers
and refugees, states that outreach work is essential to reach young
asylum seekers and refugees without a school place or an allocated
social worker.
The mapping of all young asylum seekers and refugees' whereabouts
is essential in reaching this group.
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The guidance, which was produced by the government together with
several organisations including Save the Children, says that it may
be difficult for partnerships to obtain counselling or
psychological support from the child and adolescent mental health
services as they are "under pressure". It suggests asking charity
the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture for help
instead.
Another recommendation states that personal advisers may be able to
advocate for asylum seeker children to help them gain a wider
choice of school, with some local education authorities only
providing places for them in the least popular schools.
