A foster carer’s task is to support the child in their care to recover their resilience and self-esteem, and help them settle into their new community. They may need to help the child to learn the new language, the customs and to feel that someone is there to protect them and advocate for them. Foster carers may also be required to support young people through the process of applying for permission to stay in the UK (through making an application to the Home Office). In some cases, foster carers may even need to prepare them to return to their own country. Many unaccompanied children seeking asylum will also have specific emotional, practical, language and cultural needs that their foster carers will need to consider, and fostering services should provide training and support to foster carers to help them meet these needs.
To best support an unaccompanied young person, foster carers can:
- Take things at the pace of the child, helping them to gradually feel comfortable and confident in their new surroundings.
- Help them to find positive social roles to build their self-esteem (for example, by joining a team or club).
- Maintain curiosity and openness, understanding that there is likely to be fear and mistrust and that stories may change.
- Support their education.
- Maintain their language and cultural identity through exploring local projects or links in the community.
- Understand they may have experienced trauma and this may present itself in different ways. Be alert to signs of distress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Promote positive health and wellbeing.
- Prepare them for any changes or transitions, including leaving care.
The Refugee Council provides an advice and advocacy service for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people. They offer support throughout the asylum process and can act as appropriate adults in an age assessment.
For more information about the service and how to make a referral, visit the Refugee Council website.
If you are a foster carer who is interested in fostering unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people, please contact your fostering service.
