Working with Refugee Children and Young People

The displacement of children and young people caused by war, persecution, conflict, loss, poverty, and instability remains a major humanitarian and social challenge globally. This chapter explores the important issue of working with asylum-seeking and refugee children and young people in the UK, focusing on those in local authority care. This group faces unique challenges such as separation, trauma, identity struggles, systemic obstacles, and uncertain futures. Social workers are crucial in safeguarding and promoting their wellbeing. Their numbers in care are rising in the UK, posing significant challenges for local authorities in balancing their duties with meeting the population’s complex needs. These challenges are compounded by the intersection of a restrictive asylum system, limited resources and cultural barriers. Grounded in literature review, the chapter highlights the importance of a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, collaborative, relational, rights-based, and strength-based approach that recognizes the diversities within this population. It offers an overview of refugee displacement and the UK context. It then reviews legislation, policies and theories to deepen understanding of their experiences. Social work values, ethics, and practice challenges are examined. Practice advice is provided, and implications for social work are highlighted. The chapter contributes to working with refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people, emphasizing the complexities, challenges and the transformative potential of social work with this group.