by Ibrahim* knows that he is one of the unlucky ones. Fleeing conflict and unrest in his home country of Sudan, he had to seek refuge in the UK. Alone, speaking no English and knowing no one, the teenager was placed in the care of child and family social workers in Cornwall, who nurtured and guided him on his journey to create a new life for himself.
Today Ibrahim is studying for a university degree, speaks perfect English, and feels at ease with his fellow students. He credits his success to the support he received from the specialist team at Cornwall Council and their unwavering trust in him. “Look at me – I’m at university. I couldn’t even speak English when I arrived and now I’m doing everything I want,” he says. “In Cornwall, I was listened to and noticed that I could do the things I wanted to do. I know I can always ask for help and it will be there.”
Ibrahim is one of 77 young people who, in the past 18 months, have been referred under the Home Office’s dispersal system to 16-year-old and separated asylum-seekers.
The challenges faced by social workers in supporting young people like Ibrahim were particularly significant in Cornwall, which has a small but growing ethnically diverse population, as it was over it will be difficult to establish support networks for the young people who have been placed in care on a very rural peninsula. their care. “It was really starting from the beginning. We only had one interpreter and they only spoke Arabic and we had no idea where halal meat was stocked, for example,” recalls Joss Wills, service manager of the specialist team. Her colleague, team manager Sara Leudar, says: “We did a lot of research and talked to the young people, and with each young person who came in, we learned a little bit more.”
The team were instrumental in setting up the first college English for speakers of other languages (Esol) courses for young people in England, found their favorite foods and organized social activities to help the young people make new friendships while building her new life.
Related: ‘They changed my life’: social workers providing transformative support for families
Cornwall’s work with young asylum seekers is testament to the “creative and innovative” approach taken by its social workers, recognized by Ofsted inspectors who praised its children’s services as “outstanding”.
And the work with these young people from abroad is another reason why the children’s services decided to take a closer look at what they had to do to create an anti-racist service in their practice and social worker culture. A recruitment campaign involving children and family social workers from southern and eastern Africa also helped to focus awareness that the local population was beginning to change, with more black, Asian and other global majority families moving into the area.
Children’s services are now working with consultancy Mahogany Inclusion Partners to create a more inclusive and diverse workplace. The program includes developing an anti-racism plan and mission statement, and training to provide staff with the resources and tools they need to further develop anti-racism in their practice and gain a fuller understanding of what it feels like. to be in someone else’s life. shoes. A “living language guide” is also being developed, which pulls together words and phrases that will help promote diversity and support compassionate conversations about race.
“Cornwall is one of the most beautiful places to live and raise a family, but inclusion and diversity have not always been Cornwall’s greatest strength, and we want to change that,” says Ben Davies, director of children and family services for Cornwall. “We are determined to have a service where everyone feels included – for our staff and the families and people we work for.” A big part of the program was to address “white vulnerability”, where white people feel uncomfortable when dealing with racism. “It’s hard for a care profession that’s all about doing the right thing for families to challenge how our services and systems can sometimes pit people against people,” says Davies.
Mahogany chief executive officer and chief director of inclusion Aggie Mutuma says Cornwall has “shown a real desire to understand and ensure that their services for children and families are as fair and just as possible”. Social workers who are aware of creating diversity can be transformative. “Social workers are on the front line and work with the whole of society. They can help increase understanding across society of how people feel – and if they trust that space, they’ll be able to hold that space for everyone.”
Cornwall’s lead child and family social worker, Tracey Davey, agrees: “As social workers we need to build really strong relationships. It’s essential to find ways to connect with people and walk in other people’s shoes – to understand where people are coming from and how they feel.”
*The name has been changed
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