What is best practice when supporting migrants with no recourse to public funds?

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What can people expect to learn by attending your session at Community Care Live Birmingham 2016?

I will be providing an overview of social services’ responsibilities towards destitute migrants who are unable to access welfare benefits and council housing due to their immigration status. The session will also cover the challenges local authorities face in providing this essential safety net support and the political context that gives rise to these pressures. Practitioners will be provided with good practice models and suggestions for what they can do in their own authorities to operate a cost-effective service for families and adults with no recourse to public funds.

Why do you think this topic is so important?

Current immigration policy to switch off services for migrants with no immigration status is expected to drive more referrals into social services and increase migrant destitution within communities. The impact of such policies can be at odds with local authority priorities to safeguard the welfare of children and vulnerable adults within their area. Social workers need to be aware of how to respond effectively to this growing demand for services from a complex client group.

What is your favourite thing about working in social care?

Providing guidance to the sector and sharing the good practice I have learned from various social work teams across the UK helps to achieve better outcomes for people accessing services.

Catherine will be speaking on day one at Community Care Live Birmingham 2016, click here to view the full programme.