Understanding and addressing the needs of refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people

Abstract Issue/problem Europe is home to an increasing number of refugee and asylum-seeking children at risk of health and wellbeing needs due to their life experiences. They are frequently marginalised, impoverished, and face barriers accessing the healthcare and support they need. Bevan, an English social enterprise providing health and wellbeing services to Inclusion Health populations, carried out a needs assessment of migrant children registered at one of its General Practices to determine challenges and opportunities to ensuring their right to health. The knowledge and learning generated is relevant across sectors; organisations and geographical boundaries. Description of the problem The assessment included a literature review, audit of child new patient health checks, service mapping, multi-agency stakeholder interviews and a consultation event with unaccompanied minors. Findings informed Bevan’s Migrant Children and Young People (CYP) Strategy, local service development and system-wide recommendations. Results Key areas of concern identified included mental health; safeguarding; development; nutrition; and inter agency working. Challenges to meeting needs were complex and included national policies, poor provider understanding of rights and entitlements, language and cultural barriers, health service waiting lists, housing and silo-working. Lessons Responding to findings Bevan invested in an in-house CYP mental health service and CYP social prescriber, opened a drop-in clinic and wellbeing service for unaccompanied minors, and initiated orientation and health information sessions for new arrivals with peer advocate support. Bevan now hosts a city-wide cross-sector Migrant CYP stakeholder group and collaborates with regional and national partners to develop resources to promote the health of migrant CYP. Key messages • The needs assessment enabled development of a responsive integrated service for migrant CYP that meets their health needs and addresses their social determinants of health. • The Migrant CYP stakeholder group has improved inter-agency working, helped identify service gaps, increased advocacy opportunities, and facilitated co-creation of solutions to meet population needs.