In: Journal of community practice: organizing, planning, development, and change sponsored by the Association for Community Organization and Social Administration (ACOSA), Band 20, Heft 4, S. 414-431
In: Social work in health care: the journal of health care social work ; a quarterly journal adopted by the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care, Band 59, Heft 7, S. 470-484
In: Social work in health care: the journal of health care social work ; a quarterly journal adopted by the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care, Band 23, Heft 4, S. 21-34
In recent years, the numbers of refugees and migrants moving across borders has been unprecedented, with more than 68.5 million people around the world leaving their countries as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations (UNHCR, 2018a). Their journeys are perilous, crossing dangerous waters, often leading to death of family members. Upon arrival in Europe they continue to struggle, often living in detention-like conditions, unable to access basic protection and being vulnerable to traffickers. Most European governments offer emergency relief, without a common framework for legal protection or a clear vision of what statutory social services should provide. Like many other European countries, in the UK, designated social services are also limited and formal efforts to support refugees arriving in the UK remain uncoordinated, mostly provided by volunteers and non-governmental organisations. Drawing on the theoretical framework of social movements, this article offers a crtitique to current social work practices for refugees in the UK. Using the case of resettlement policies, it argues that sustainable social services to protect this vulnerable group could develop through the political opportunity structures created by non-governmental organisations. It concludes that community mobilisation can influence social work practice to better support the refugees.
Abstract This article presents the lived experiences of attending special education schools in England from the perspectives of three individuals over different times and for different reasons. The focus on the lived experiences is to detail the real-life impact that attending special schools can have on individuals. The accounts highlight that whilst all the individuals had positive experiences from attending special schools, a recurring negative theme from all three individuals is that of a pervading sense of low expectations. The accounts detail the long-term impact of this recurring negative theme for the individuals, and key considerations for social work in the context of the increased use of special schools through the practice of Education Health and Care plans.