Welcome
We know that moving to a different place can be scary. But don’t worry, when you move you will receive care and support from Children’s Services (sometimes called Children’s Social Care or Social Services) so that you are safe when you move to Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom along with England, Scotland and Wales. This means we have many of the same laws, languages and money. It means you will be given the same protection and safety here as you would in the rest of the United Kingdom.
This is your guide to help you know what to expect when you arrive in your new home, who is there to support you and some helpful things you should know about Northern Ireland.
Outline Map of Northern Ireland: Main Cities, Towns and Villages
This guide will also help you understand your rights as a child or young person who is claiming asylum. In the guide we explain what your rights and entitlements are and what you can do if you don’t feel you are being properly supported. There are lots of laws and guidance that say what support should be provided to you. We know it can all seem very complicated and this guide won’t answer every question you have, but you will be able to speak to independent people who can help you every step of the way (see below) If you are unsure about any of the words used, we have added a helpful guide below to explain some of the words and phrases you might hear.
The National Transfer Scheme (NTS)
What
Children and young people looking for safety often arrive to the same places in the UK. These areas have become very busy and do not have enough homes, schools, hospitals or social workers to support all of the children and young people arriving there.
The National Transfer Scheme was put in place by the UK Government to help children and young people move to a different area so that they can have a new home and the support and care that they need to start a new life in the UK.
When someone is under 18 years old, without parents to care for them, they become a “Looked After Child” with the Local Authority. In Northern Ireland the authority responsible for looking after you is called a Health and Social Care Trust (Trust).
You will have a social worker who is responsible for your care and support and making sure that your needs are met.
Why
The decision for you to move to Northern Ireland will be based by Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which states “that in all actions taken concerning children/young people the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.”
If you move to a new area through the NTS, it is not your fault or because you have done anything wrong.
The Local Authority where you are now does want to care for you, but because there is a high number of children and young people in a similar situation in their area, they want to make sure you move somewhere that you can get the full care and support that you need.
When
The time it takes for you to move may vary. The NTS aims to help you move to a new home within 10 working days (not including weekends) but sometimes it can take longer. Lots of children and young people arrive in the UK, and it can take time to make sure arrangements are put in place to safely transfer you to your new home. Social workers in Northern Ireland will be working with those currently caring for you to move you quickly and safely.
You will be cared for while you wait and given the things you need including somewhere safe to live, food and medicine. Once we know that you are moving to Northern Ireland under the NTS a social worker from here will be in touch with you and we will work hard to try to get you moved to Northern Ireland within 10 days.
How
If it is decided that it is in your best interest to move to Northern Ireland and you are under 16 you will be travelling over with someone who will look after you to make sure you are ok. If you are over 16 you may be able to travel by yourself but that will only be if it is in your best interest and safe to do so.
Once you arrive into Northern Ireland a social worker will be waiting to meet you who will help look after you. You will be travelling to Northern Ireland by boat or by an airplane.
Your Rights
The law in Northern Ireland is designed to make sure that children and young people are cared for and have the support, protection and care they need. It includes preparing and supporting them into adult life. These laws give you rights and entitlements that must be respected. There are laws here that make sure children and young people are safe. You will have the same rights under these laws
You have the right to be involved in decisions that affect you. This doesn’t mean that you will always get what you want, but all services should ask you what you think and take your views into account.
You will have a care or pathway plan this will be the road map of how you will be cared for when you are in Northern Ireland. It will cover all the things you might need, such as education, healthcare, contact with family, culture, language and it will state how these needs will be met.
Regular reviews – there will be a lot of meetings at the start, which all of the key people in your life will attend to make sure that all your needs are being met. You have the right to have your say in these meetings, however, we know this can be hard to do with people you have only just met. There is an ‘advocacy’ service available to help you be involved in these meetings (see useful numbers ).
Money – as a ‘looked after child’ all the support you need such as a home, food, clothes and travel will all be paid for. You will have some pocket money to buy things for yourself.
Family and Friends – It’s important to tell your social worker about any family and friends you know in the UK and about any of your family who are still living in your home country. If you have family members somewhere in the UK who can take care of you, your social worker will make contact with them. If everything is safe, your social worker will try to get you in touch with your family and friends.
Home – your social worker will make sure you are living somewhere safe and where you will be supported to get the help and support you need. There are different types of homes: •Foster care homes/Supported Lodgings – where you will be living in a family type arrangement; •Residential children’s homes – where you can live until you are 18 with other children and young people and where there are staff working 24 hours a day to help support you; •Supported accommodation – where, if after initial arrival and everyone understands your needs, you can live more independently and be supported by staff who are there all the time or who would come and visit to help support you.
Who is who?
When you come to Northern Ireland you will have a lot of people to help you with different areas of your life – it can be difficult to understand who everyone is but they will all be there to help you. You will have people who will help you with your care, and others who are there to help with your asylum claim.
Social Worker – they will work for one of the five Health and Social Care Trusts who will be legally responsible for your care. This will be the person who will make decisions about your care just as a parent would. They will meet you regularly and will help you understand what is happening.
Independent Guardian – any child who arrives in Northern Ireland and is separated from their parents and at risk will get an Independent Guardian. Their role is to make sure your rights are protected and you understand everything about your asylum claim. They will make sure your wishes and feelings are heard and that decisions are being made in your best interests.
Solicitor – you will be given your own solicitor (also known as a lawyer) and they will represent you for all legal issues in court, such as your asylum claim.
Guardian Ad Litem – a Guardian Ad Litem (also sometimes referred to as a GAL or Guardian) is a social worker who visits children and young people for a Judge who works in Court. Sometimes a Judge will have to make important decisions about your care. To help them do this, the Judge will ask the guardian to find out all about YOU.
The guardian will visit you and talk to you, to find out about where you live, what you like and where you go to school. They will speak to all the important people in your life. After the guardian has met with you they will tell the Judge about your wishes and feelings and your views. The guardian will also tell the Judge about what they think is best. The Judge will then decide what is best for you after listening to what you have said and hearing from other people in your life.
Carer/Key worker – this is the person who you will live with and will help look after you on a day to day basis.
Interpreter – we will make sure that you are able to understand everything, ask questions and be involved in conversations through an interpreter who can speak your language if needed.
UASC Co-ordinator – this person will work with the five Trusts, social workers and the Home Office UASC NTS Team to coordinate and support your transfer into Northern Ireland. The Coordinator will also identify any issues that arise and seek to resolve these quickly to make sure that transfers under the Scheme are well planned, are in the young person’s best interests and are successful.
Advocate – this is an independent person who can help you if you feel that you aren’t being listened to or are unhappy about your care. They do not work for the Health and Social Care Trust and are there to help you understand what is happening and to help you have a say.
Personal Adviser – if you are over 16 years old then you should get a personal adviser. They will work closely with your social worker and offer advice, support and guidance regarding accommodation, health promotion, benefits, employment, training, education, budgeting, setting up home, networking with key agencies, social skills, life skills and leisure recreation. They will also support you to be ready to move into adulthood when you turn 18.
Useful Numbers
You can also ask these people for help:
•Healthcare workers like your local doctor or a nurse working in a hospital – for a full list of health services and contact details, see https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/how-use-your-health-services
•Barnardo’s – a children’s charity that has a helpline which has a free number to call: 0800 148 8586. The helpline offers a confidential service.
•Childline – another children’s charity which has trained counsellors to support anyone who is 18 or under living in the UK. Childline is free, confidential, and available any time, day or night. Children can talk to them by calling 0800 1111
•Voice Of Young People In Care (VOYPIC) is an independent charity for young people in care, and they can offer advice on anything you don’t understand and support if you’re unhappy about any part of your care. Just call 02890244888 or go to www.voypic.org
Northern Ireland
Like your home country, the UK is made up of different areas and districts. One of these areas is Northern Ireland which is a country within the UK.
Cities and Towns
Northern Ireland has a lot of beautiful rural and coastal areas, including farmland, forests, hills and seaside towns and villages. It also has a number of major cities and towns which have a larger number of people, shops, and venues like cinemas, theatres and sports and recreational facilities . You might live in a more rural area or in the middle of a town or city, but you will still be given the same rights to feel safe no matter where you live and supported to access things that are important to you like education and places of worship. When living here you will have the chance to go and see different parts of the country.
Northern Ireland is made up of 5 different Health and Social Care Trusts (Belfast, Northern, Southern, South Eastern and Western). The Trusts are responsible for looking after you and making sure you are ok. Your new home will be in one of these 5 trust areas.
Sports
You will get the opportunity to take part in any number of different sports in Northern Ireland. Worldwide sports such as football, rugby, tennis, cricket and hockey are played here, as well as some sports that you might not have heard of that originated in Ireland such as Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. Keeping fit is popular here too with many gyms, leisure centres, boxing and martial arts clubs across the country.
Money
The currency that we use here is pounds (£), just like in England, Scotland and Wales. Our bank notes might look a little different though as each country prints their own, but bank notes from the rest of the UK can be spent here. Most people will have a bank account to keep their money safe, your social worker will talk to you about money that you will have and how to spend it.
Transport
Like most countries, Northern Ireland has got a big road network and many people drive cars. We also have a railway system, bus routes, taxis and cycle lanes. There are three main airports (Belfast, Antrim and Derry/Londonderry) as well as ferry links to Scotland and England.
Weather
Northern Ireland is part of what is often called the ‘Emerald Isle’ – so called because it is green nearly all year round. This is because whilst we have the four seasons of winter, spring, summer and autumn (fall), we don’t get extreme hot and cold weathers that other countries might see. The summer (July and August) can be pleasant with temperatures averaging 20 degrees celsius (68 fahrenheit), whilst in the winter temperatures can average around 3 celsius (37 fahrenheit). Northern Ireland doesn’t have a ‘dry’ or ‘wet’ season, but average rainfall will be less over the summer months of July and August.
Food
Like most countries, Northern Ireland has got many different people from many different countries who live here. As a result, there are shops, restaurants and supermarkets that sell food from all over the world. Chinese, Indian, Italian and American foods are very popular, as well as local food like Irish Stew and potato bread. Your social worker will help make sure you have access to foods you like, including if you are vegetarian or vegan or don’t eat certain foods for religious reasons.
Health
Healthcare in England, Scotland and Wales is provided by the NHS (National Healthcare Service). In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health is responsible for healthcare services and you do not have to pay to see a doctor or pay for prescriptions. When you arrive here your social worker will register you with a doctor, referred to as a General Practitioner (GP). They will also help you find a dentist and an optician if you need them. Your GP will be the main person to help with any health issues you might have.
If you have a serious accident or sudden serious illness you will need to visit your nearest hospital – In a medical emergency you should call 999 or 112 and ask for an ambulance to take you to hospital.
Culture and Religion
Northern Ireland is steeped in tradition, in fact we have a number of traditions depending on people’s beliefs. We are also very diverse, with people from all over the world choosing to live or work here. You will see and hear many traditions when living here – and don’t be afraid to ask your social worker or carer to explain when you see something you don’t understand.
Northern Ireland is predominantly a Christian country, where the majority of people are either Roman Catholic or Protestant, but there are places of worship for almost all religions, and a large number of people class themselves as non-religious. Your social worker will help make sure you will be able to practice your faith and provide details of your local/ nearest religious centre.
Education
Wherever your new home is, your social worker will help you access education at school or college as quickly as they can. In Northern Ireland you must be in education or training until your 16th birthday. Most young people continue in education or training until they turn 18, and some continue beyond this.
Your social worker will arrange your education. This could be a local school or a college and can start with getting basic qualifications. You can also do other subjects like science, geography and other languages, or learn new skills like cooking, computers and woodwork. Schools are responsible for ensuring that all of their pupils develop the English language. Study programmes can include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses or other English tuition, depending on your needs.
Sometimes it can take time for places to become available but there are other ways to learn whilst you wait.
Useful Info
Here are two websites to help you discover more about Northern Ireland and the services that are on offer to you when you get here;
• https://discovernorthernireland.com
• https://www.nidirect.gov.uk
How to translate websites
1. In your browser, go to Google Translate.
2. At the top, click Websites.
3. We recommend setting the original language to ‘Detect language’.
4. In the ‘Website’, enter a URL.
5. Click Go.
Jargon Buster
Here are some words you might hear about your care.
Advocate – A person who listens to your point of view, gives you information about your rights and helps you speak out about what you want and need. See above for more details.
Assessment – Collecting information about you and your life and talking with you about this. An assessment helps people understand your situation, what your needs are and how to plan for the future.
Care (being in care, being looked after) – Being in care or being a looked after child means the same thing, that Children’s Services should look after you. This is usually a decision made by a judge in court, but sometimes can also be agreed with parents without having to go to court.
Care plan – A plan made when you are in care about your immediate and long term future. This should cover: personal support, accommodation, education and training, employment, family and social relationships, practical and other skills, financial support, health needs. This is your plan and you should play a key role in what your care plan says.
Child in need – A child or young person who is, ‘in need’ of services from Children’s Services to make sure that they get the help and support that they need.
Children’s Services – Sometimes called Children’s Social Care or Social Services. This is the service that each Health Trust must have to make sure they protect children who may be at risk of harm.
Pathway Plan – It is very similar to a care plan (see above) but it is more focused on preparing you to live independently if you are aged 16 or over.
Personal Adviser (also known as PA) – The worker allocated to a care leaver to support them and to make sure that their Pathway Plan is carried out. Usually Children’s Services have professionals dedicated to this role however, in some circumstances your PA can be chosen from amongst the professionals that work with you.
Policy – A written statement that sets out guidance and rules about what services will provide, the way these can be provided and what you can expect to receive.
Review – A look at previous assessments and decisions made about your care to check that things are still relevant and/or needed, and to make changes if necessary. There is usually a meeting with the people involved in your life called a Review meeting.
Transition – Transition means change. This word is often used to describe the process of moving from being a child to being an adult. In particular this can refer to the support you receive. For example, once you are an adult you may get a new social worker and other professionals around you may change. You may also move to live in different accommodation.
All about me!
You might find it helpful to use this page to write down some information about yourself, your social worker and other important contacts.
| ALL ABOUT ME My Name……………………………………………………………. My Date of Birth…………………………………………………… I am from……………………………………………………………. My New Address ………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. Contact Number…………………………………………………. Likes/Dislikes ……………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. Anything else you might need to know about me …………………………………………………………………………. |
ALL ABOUT MY SOCIAL WORKER Social Worker’s Name…………………………………………. Contact Number…………………………………………………. Email Address……………………………………………………. Other info ………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………….OTHER IMPORTANT CONTACTS Name………………………………………………………………… Role…………………………………………………………………… Contact No:………………………………………………………… |
| OTHER IMPORTANT CONTACTS Name……………………………………………………………….. Role…………………………………………………………………. Contact No:………………………………………………………. |
OTHER IMPORTANT CONTACTS Name………………………………………………………………… Role………………………………………………………………….. Contact No:………………………………………………………… |
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NOTES ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________
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