Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Introduction

• In the UK a refugee is legally defined as a person who has been granted refugee status by the Home Office.
  (Source:Racial Equality in Health and Social Care. Good Practice Guide. Equality Commission for Northern Ireland).
  
  
• An Asylum Seeker is someone who has come to the UK and applied for refugee status and who is waiting for a Home Office decision. This can take many months and even years; some asylum seekers who are refused refugee status are granted exceptional leave to remain (ELR), which must be reapplied for at set intervals.
  
  
• Numbers of Refugee and Asylum Seekers in Northern Ireland remain fairly small although the diversity of background has increased since late 2000. Over 30 different countries are now represented and include Sri Lanka, Russia, Macedonia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Romania.
  
  
• Individuals and families have some of the greatest health needs, but are often least likely to have those needs met because of their status.
  
  
• The tendency for refugees to be registered as temporary rather than permanent patients means that they may be more likely to miss out on preventative health care measures.
  
  
• Primary care providers also need to aware of mental health problems, although these may often present as physical rather than psychological symptoms.
  
  
• Asylum seekers and refugees are more likely to suffer from trauma as a result of torture or other abuse and this needs to be taken into account when assessing their health and social care needs.

NICEM - A One Stop Service for Asylum Seekers and Refugees

• This organisation is the only one in Northern Ireland to provide the National Asylum Support Service (Home Office Services) for Aslyum Seekers.
  
  
• It provides advice and support to destitute asylum seekers while they apply for assistance to the Home Office.
  
  
• Where a client seems likely to be eligible, they are assisted in the application process. Emergency full board accommodation can be arranged where an Asylum Seeker has no other resources to draw on.
  
  
• Other support includes assisting clients to access medical services, referral to legal representation, information about educational opportunities, and referral to external agencies for clothing, equipment, etc.

Not all Asylum Seekers are eligible for support. The main criteria are that applicants :

• Have, or intend to apply for, Political Asylum
  
  
• Be over 18 or part of a family group
  
  
• Not have received a positive decision on their Asylum application
  
  
• Be destitute and not eligible for any other supports, e.g. Social Services or the Benefits Agency
  

How To Get Assistance :

• Direct self referral
  
  
• Via family or friends
  
  
• Member Groups
  
  
• Independent Advice Centres.
  
  
• Citizens Advice Bureaux
  
  
• Community and Voluntary Based Organisations
  
  
• Health and Social Services Department
  
  
• Private Practice Solicitors
  
  
• Homeless Advice Agencies

Type of Work Covered by the Service

• Initial Assessment
  
  
• Discussion of support options
  
  
• Briefing clients on the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) process and the timescales involved
  
  
• Assessment of urgent needs, eg. Clothing, medical
  
  
• Arrangement of emergency full board accommodation
  
  
• Liasing with the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) regarding progress of application
  
  
• Referral to legal representation for asylum applications
  
  
• Advice, assistance and support while a client is waiting for a NASS decision 
  
  
• One stop service for non-NASS clients, referring to social services and other appropriate agencies
  
  
• Referral and registration to GP's and Dentists
  
  
• Arranging English language classes
  
  
• Arranging access to community groups
  
  
• Refugee resettlement and integration