Direct provision ‘harming children and adults’ seeking asylum
The survey of almost 150 social workers also showed that mental health difficulties were the main reason for referrals made to them in relation to asylum seekers over the past two years.
The social workers surveyed also indicated problems with the asylum seeker system which hindered their ability to deliver services to those in direct provision.
According to the study: “The research demonstrated numerous barriers that asylum seekers faced in accessing services, with 77% of survey respondents stating that financial barriers were sometimes, often, or always faced by asylum seekers in accessing or availing of their service. Respondents also said that it was impossible to follow up referrals if they had moved address, as there was no facility for mail forwarding.”
The study, which has been endorsed by the Irish Association of Social Workers, was carried out by Maeve Foreman, assistant professor in social work at Trinity College Dublin, and Muireann Ní Raghallaigh, lecturer in social work in University College Dublin.
It is based on input from 149 social workers and 15 in-depth interviews with social workers, and has already been submitted to the office of minister of state at the Department of Justice and Equality and Arts, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.
The social workers surveyed made a number of recommendations about how the system could change for the better, such as by employing a principal social worker to work in the child and family services Unit of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA).
The social workers also said there should be more resources allocated to target proactive and preventative work, and more onsite supports within direct provision centres.
Ms Ní Raghallaigh said the role of staff within these centres was pivotal, as while some staff were seen as “very humane and helpful”, others were seen as “quite oppressive”.
She said, in general, people in direct provision had little choice in how they lived their lives and therefore it was essential that staff in DP centres should have training in cultural diversity and other areas.
The report also recommends that residents in DP centres should have more freedom to cook their own meals, and that ideally, the direct provision system should end or at least only be used for short period, such as for six months.
Those interviewed said that the DP system impacted on children and adults, limited the scope of normal family life, and created added difficulties for anyone coping with a physical or mental illness.
The survey of social workers regarding reasons for referral from DP centres in the past two years also highlighted these concerns: 60% of referrals involved a mental health issue, while almost 48% involved child welfare and 40% involved child protection.
Other reasons for referral included financial problems, housing, social welfare advice and isolation.
While racism was only a feature in 12% of social work referrals, one contributor said: “Racism is a regular feature in children’s lives.”
Outlining how poverty is also an issue, the social worker added: “The children do not have any kind of a ‘normal’ upbringing. They are watched by security guards as they queue and get their meals three times a day.”
The research will be presented today as part of a seminar in University College Dublin to mark World Social Work Day.
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