Working with Travellers and Asylum Seekers
The experience of asylum seekers can be quite traumatic. The
support provided by workers can make a huge difference to the recovery and
adaptation process, turning the situation around in a positive way or
conversely reinforcing the negative aspects.
In order to provide the best possible support, workers need to be able to
empathise with the experience as well as be sensitive, skilled and
knowledgeable.
This one day course aims to enhance workers ability in all these elements.
Course objectives:
By the end of the course learners should understand:
The legal definitions
An overview of National statistics on Asylum Seekers
The duty of the Local Authority
The responsibility of the worker
What it might be like to flee your country
The impact on the individual and family of seeking asylum: psychological,
social, economic, spiritual, cultural,
physical, professional, language &
communication
What it might be like entering a host culture that is not welcoming;
suspicious; cynical; discriminatory
The need to heal the past:
-Is this possible?
-Who can best do this?
What the worker can potentially achieve:
-Confidence building and raising of
esteem
-Countering discrimination
-Assertiveness skills
-Advocacy
-Provision of information
-Liaison with other professionals,
groups and agencies
-Safety etc.
What others can achieve:
-Educational
-Vocational
-Financial
-Spiritual
-Housing
-Medical
-Community
-Self help
A professional approach:
-Maintaining appropriate boundaries
-Ensuring the best quality of service
-Professional guidelines
-Organisational related policies
How to facilitate the empowerment of service users
Useful agencies and Community groups
Working methods:
Warm-ups & icebreakers
Tutor presentations
Chalk and talk
OHP/PowerPoint
Handouts
Group work
Large group work
Visualisation
CP194/5.9
