At the Tavistock Clinic there are a range of services for refugees and asylum seekers for those engaged in working with them.
The referrals we receive concerning children and families are wide ranging and include child-centred concerns such as emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties; family issues relating to loss or family reunions; worries about parental depression and anxieties around dislocation, uncertainty and the upheavals of life as an asylum seeker.
Referrals come from a number of different sources; community workers, GPs, schools and social services. Following an assessment, a range of treatment options may be considered e.g. family work, parent work, individual or group therapy for children and/or parents. When clients do not feel able to communicate comfortably in English interpreters are used. Consultation with schools and the professional network are important aspects of our work.
Community based initiatives undertaken by the Clinic over the years have included a time limited in-school counselling service for refugee young people in a comprehensive school, a group for refugee children aged between 4-6 years in a primary school and individual work with refugees children in a range of local primary schools.
The Somali Community Outreach Project, 'Peace of Mind', offers a service to the Somali community living in the London Borough of Camden. The Project addresses issues of mental well being and has been set up in partnership with the Somali Community Centre. (see link)
For information contact: Maureen Fox tel: 020 7435 7111
Consultancy and Training
Consultancy and Training on clinical work and service development is available to statutory and voluntary sector workers.
A Refugee Workshop, which offers support to those working with refugees and asylum seekers, meets weekly and a few places are available for non-Tavistock staff.
For information contact: Maureen Fox tel: 020 7435 7111
Working with Refugee Families
A 10 week course at the Clinic in the autumn term aims to develop practical skills in working with refugees and explore theoretical issues relating to the refugee condition and the dynamics involved in helping them.
For information contact: Renos Papadopoulos tel: 020 7435 7111
A recently appointed Refugee Projects Co-ordinator will be developing our links with refugee communities, exploring further partnership projects and preparing a range of training programmes and consultancy packages for people working with refugees around the country.
For information contact: Hilary Dawson tel: 020 7435 7111
Part of the work of the Unit for the Study of Trauma and Its Aftermath is concerned specifically with those adult refugees and asylum seekers who have been traumatized by the events that lead them to seek refuge in this country. From one to four consultations are available with a member of the staff of the Trauma Unit. In addition, a specialist group, which meets weekly, is available for individuals whose fluency in English is limited.
For information contact: Caroline Garland tel: 020 7435 7111
