Resources for Professionals who support Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Advancing the Rights and Well-Being of Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Background and Health Concerns
Health resources in other languages
Explore this sectionResources for Professionals who support Asylum Seekers and RefugeesIntroduction Background and Health Concerns Resources Research and Publications Seminars and training Events and conferences Health resources in other languages Policy context Get in touch Meet the team
Why focus on asylum seekers and refugees' health?
A significant number of vulnerable asylum seekers currently live in the UK including the North West (NW) of England. According to the Refugee Council, UK (2017) the number of asylum seekers in the UK in receipt of section 95 asylum support at the end of Quarter 1 of 2017 stands at 39,365 with the North West hosting the largest number - 9,524 - in dispersal accommodation. The asylum seekers and refugees' experiences have diverse impacts on their health as individuals and as families. While health issues affecting individual asylum seekers and refugees clearly may vary depending on problems related to pre-migration, the nature and duration of their journeys, and post-migration, there are common health concerns across all age groups. These concerns are usually complex problems and are extensively documented within the resource section of this hub.
It is widely known that the majority of health care professionals have limited knowledge of the health concerns faced by asylum seekers and refugees. In addition, there is a lack of coordination of available resources and services that provide information and support related to the health needs of refugees and asylum seekers.
This online resource hub has therefore been developed to provide a readily accessible and understandable information source to provide up-to-date, easily accessible information on the asylum-seeking process and role of professionals.
The development of the online resource hub has been underpinned by empirical research based on a participatory research approach. The respondents were professionals with extensive experience in working with asylum seekers and refugees; some of them were former refugees themselves. They explored and identified the key challenges and solutions related to the complex needs of asylum seekers and refugees and suggested the resources required to support and advance their rights and well-being. The concepts identified were categorised into themes, which were used as the basis for organising the contents of the hub.
It is very important for professionals to familiarise themselves with the key terms and definitions relating to asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. Some common definitions and terms are used below
A Refugee
"A person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it."
The 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
In the UK, a person is officially a refugee when they have their claim for asylum accepted by the government under the Geneva Convention. They are granted 5 years' leave to remain and are eligible for family reunion (one spouse and any child of that marriage under the age of 18).
An Asylum Seeker
A person who has left their country of origin and formally applied for asylum in another country but whose application has not yet been concluded. In the UK, this person has submitted an application for protection under the Geneva Convention and is waiting for the claim to be decided by the Home Office.
An Economic migrant
Someone who has moved to another country to work. Refugees are not economic migrants.
Unaccompanied minors (asylum-seeking children)
A young person judged to be under 18 years of age, without an adult to care for them, is entitled to the same rights as other looked-after children and young people; this includes support for accommodation, finance, education, statutory health assessments and reviews.
Exceptional Leave to Enter or Remain (ELE or ELR)
The Home Office accepts there are strong reasons why the person should not return to the country of origin. ELR grants the right to stay in the UK for 4 years. (S)he is expected to return if the home country situation improves and (s)he is therefore ineligible for family reunion.
The person's application for refugee status is rejected but (s)he has a right of appeal, within strict time limits.
Spouse and children under the age of 18 of a person who is given refugee status. They are given Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) - permanent residence in the UK.
See the resources available for asylum seekers and refugees.