Cross-cutting themes

Refugees and asylum seekers arrive in the region as a result of international events, continuing persecution and human rights abuses in different parts of the world. Refugee integration has also been impacted by constantly changing immigration and asylum policy and legislation. This has meant that services have taken mostly reactive approaches to the integration of refugees and asylum seekers. As a result, a lot of expertise has been developed in the region to support refugees and asylum seekers, but, unfortunately, this can be lost when a specific scheme ends, or a new policy is introduced. 

Advanced planning for refugee integration can be challenging. However, as more areas in our region are affected by the arrival of refugees and asylum seekers, it's important for all areas to plan for refugee integration. This calls for more proactive approaches to integration, informing all aspects of services, from strategic and business planning and leadership development, to commissioning, staff training, recruitment (of staff, volunteers, etc.), and frontline provision. 

Services need to acknowledge that refugees and asylum seekers face multiple disadvantages. This means that refugees often need additional support, and this inevitably requires additional resources. Whether it is more time for an appointment with the doctor, or extra employability support, positive action needs to be developed, whether in-house or commissioned externally to enable refugees and asylum seekers to access services they require and achieve their potential. This does not necessarily mean setting up separate services for refugees, but, at the very least, addressing access barriers through activities such as engagement, language support, and staff training as required. 

Tips for developing welcoming and inclusive services for refugees

• Ensure that there is buy-in from leadership

• Know your communities and service users

• Embed refugee integration into the whole organisation

• Develop an ethos based on compassion and understanding

• Ensure that all staff are adequately trained

• Ensure that refugees are not discriminated against in recruitment

• Allocate adequate resources to tackle disadvantages

• Develop holistic services through collaboration

• Participate in local and regional partnerships

• Engage with the refugee community and voluntary sector

• Identify refugee community assets and promote participation

Effective and regular staff training on the needs of refugees and asylum seekers is particularly crucial. Training should be culturally sensitive and trauma-informed whenever possible. Staff training on refugee and asylum issues should be repeated regularly, in order to deal with staff turnover and changes in policy and in the profiles of refugees settling in the region. 

Effective planning for refugee integration also requires collaboration with other services. There is a growing consensus that refugee integration services need to be holistic if they are to enable refugees to rebuild their lives successfully in the region. Developing holistic services involves strong partnerships and collaborations through processes such as regular information sharing, multi-agency referral pathways, developing multi-disciplinary teams, and, where possible, joint commissioning of services. The latter can increase positive impacts and save costs, and activities that can benefit from joint commissioning include training, interpreting and translation services, and community engagement. Developing and participating in local multi-agency groups and partnerships should also be promoted. 

Successful refugee integration requires services that are welcoming and accessible to refugees, including tackling the discrimination and disadvantages that refugees and asylum seekers experience. One way that services and organisations can achieve this is through various accreditation or recognition schemes. Finally, better engagement with the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) can help services recognise relevant assets in refugee and local communities. 

Service planning and provision priorities

• Leadership within services, especially in the public sector, are committed to refugee integration and to developing welcoming and inclusive services

• Services promote positive action for refugees and asylum seekers, and allocate the required resources for eliminating disadvantages they face in accessing provision

• Refugee integration is embedded across providers' whole organisations, including commissioning, recruitment, and learning and development

• Service providers ensure that all relevant staff are adequately trained on the needs of refugees and asylum seekers, and that training is regularly updated

• Providers in Yorkshire and Humber develop holistic services, and collaborate effectively with each other through strong partnerships, robust referral mechanisms and joint commissioning