Asylum Seekers and Refugee Stakeholders
Advisory Planning Group

The Cardiff Health, Social Care and Well Being Strategy 2008-2011 "Working Towards a Healthy City" identifies the health and well being of asylum seekers and refugees in Cardiff as one of its priorities.

 

Mission Statement

The Asylum Seekers & Refugees Stakeholders and Advisory Planning Group promotes the health and well being of asylum seekers dispersed to, and refugees who chose to remain in, Cardiff. The group provides a regular forum for key agencies to discuss issues in relation to the provision of support and services to Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the Cardiff area and to provide information to inform the planning process.

 

Key Achievements 2005-2008:

  • Cardiff Council was awarded a new 5 year contract 2006-2011, through the competitive tendering process. The new contractual arrangements have been successfully implemented and the Council continues to work with a range of stakeholders to promote good communication and high quality service delivery. The Council was also successful in achieving the integration of the Temporary Accommodation Service within the work of the Asylum Team and this has lead to increased flexibility and the possibility of some people remaining in their accommodation when they get 'leave to remain'.
  • The continuation of the provision of primary care services for asylum seekers and refugees and the facilitation of improved access to mainstream health care services.
  • The development of a range of voluntary sector projects designed to provide support and advice to asylum seekers, for example the SOVA 'YANA' project, the WRC 'EQUAL' project, and 'Healthy Minds at Work'. Also Displaced People in Action (DPIA) have developed a 'Readiness for Work' scheme.
  • The WRC secured funding to provide the 'One Stop Service' 2006-2008. This involved providing services to enable asylum seekers to deal with queries relating to their support, to access a variety of services and to provide a focal point for voluntary sector organisations working with asylum seekers and refugees, including the Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs).
  • The WRC were awarded the Initial Accommodation Wrap-around service for Wales and South West England (NAM).
  • A range of agencies contributed to the Welsh Assembly Government's Refugee Inclusion Strategy.
  • Awareness raising sessions were delivered to all GP Practice Managers in Cardiff, explaining the New Asylum Model process and the impact of this on health.
  • There has been positive inter-agency working to promote social cohesion through good communication and joint working initiatives, for example South Wales Police have a dedicated liaison officer for asylum seekers and refugees.
  • Cardiff Local Health Board has commissioned Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust to provide a nurse-led screening service for all newly arrived asylum seekers undertaking health assessments at Cardiff Royal Infirmary.
  • Taff Housing Association set up transitional housing schemes for refugees in order to enable them to access housing in a short period of time after receiving 'leave to remain' and to receive further advice and guidance to move on to mainstream housing provision.

 

Priorities and Key Strategic Aims 2008-2011:

  1. To promote health improvement by implementing the Homeless and Vulnerable Groups Health Action Plan (HaVGHAP).
  2. To reduce social inequalities by strengthening the information base with regard to equality issues for Asylum Seekers and Refugees.
  3. To develop additional housing resources for single refugees who are not in priority need, in particular move-on accommodation initiatives that provide accommodation for people when they first receive 'leave to remain'.
  4. To support the establishment of a post for health development work to include sexual health, mental health, physical and sensory impairment and access to community care and secondary care services.
  5. To contribute to the development of the Cardiff Language and Communication Strategy.
  6. To support the ongoing development of Refugee Community Organisations.
  7. To support the provision of training, information and awareness raising about asylum seekers and refugees across a range of organisations and services.
  8. To support initiatives that promote social cohesion.
  9. To develop additional services to meet the identified mental health needs of asylum seekers and refugees (adults and children) by providing counselling and support.
  10. To support the expansion of ESOL provision to enable asylum seekers and refugees to learn English which will facilitate inclusion.

 

Partners on the Asylum Seekers and Refugee Stakeholders and Advisory Planning Group

 

Key Documents

 

Other Web Links

 

Contact

Operational Manager 
Cardiff Council 
Asylum Seekers Team
48 Splott Road
Cardiff

enquiries@cardifflhb.wales.nhs.uk
healthalliance@cardiff.gov.uk