Unaccompanied children and young people seeking sanctuary as political refugees are increasingly visible within many industrialized nations, where several studies confirm their vulnerability and needs. These studies also highlight what appears to be the poor quality of social work services and practices that these minors encounter. This paper examines some of the details contained in such reports of deficiency and seeks to place them within a more optimistic appraisal of social work practice. Based on a small research study, it suggests that resettlement for unaccompanied minors is complex and contains different types of loss as well as gain. It also asserts that practice by some social workers shows they have a grasp of this complexity as they offer practical assistance, therapeutic care and companionship to the young people to help them resettle in new environments.

The comfort of strangers: social work practice with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people in the UK

The experiences and needs of refugee and asylum seeking children in the UK : a literature review

This research was undertaken because of growing evidence that the reason for the increase in the number of age disputes is that separated asylum seeking children are not being given the benefit of the doubt about their age as Home Office policy states they should be

When is a child not a child?: Asylum, age disputes and the process of age assessment

Preparation and transition planning for unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee young people: A review of evidence in England

This paper offers reflections on some of the ethical and methodological issues involved in doing research with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Drawing upon a Scottish Refugee Council funded research project with unaccompanied minors and service providers, I highlight some of the complications involved in conducting ethical research with unaccompanied children. Focusing upon issues of ethical approval and research design, access and obtaining informed consent, privacy and confidentiality and finally dissemination, I demonstrate the ways in which conducting ethical research is often context dependant and varies according to the particular situation, needs and experiences of the children involved.

Ethical issues in research with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

In England, social services departments have a duty to provide care and protection to unaccompanied asylum seeking children from the point they arrive in the country. In recent years, research studies have identified a number of practice and policy issues of concern regarding the social services response to unaccompanied children. This paper focuses on three broad issues that emerge from the literature. The paper explores research concerns associated with (i) the referral and assessment process, (ii) the use of the child welfare legislative framework, and (iii) a number of issues arising from the provision of placements and other support offered to unaccompanied children. The findings of the research reviewed demonstrate that there are indeed clear grounds for concern. However, this paper argues that the evidence base is relatively weak and that as a result we know very little about the nature and context of the social work response to this group of children and young people.

The social services response to unaccompanied children in England

This paper reports the findings of a 3-month survey of young people calling the Message Home helpline. Message Home is a national freephone helpline available to people who have run away or left home which allows them to send a message to their family or carer, to seek confidential help and advice and, if necessary, to be helped to a place of safety. The paper explores the characteristics, circumstances and motivations of the young people contacting the helpline. It also considers who the young people contacted through the helpline and the kinds of messages that were relayed to parents, social services and others. This study differs from most preceding studies of runaways in recording the views of young people while they are missing. The immediacy palpable in their accounts highlights the distress and isolation experienced by many of these young people who have run away or been forced to leave home.

'Can I come home?' The experiences of young runaways contacting the Message Home helpline

Chapter 3. The Social Services Response to Unaccompanied Children in England

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The social services response to unaccompanied children in England

'Can I come home?' The experiences of young runaways contacting the Message Home helpline

Chapter 3. The Social Services Response to Unaccompanied Children in England