WCC - Market Test Psychological Support for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)

Warwickshire County Council wants to engage with a variety of organisations, in a confidential setting, so that we can ensure we have considered all possible options and are seeking to explore innovative ways of providing psychological support to unaccompanied asylum seeking children and young people.

A market testing event to be held in Northgate House, Saltisford Road (A425) Warwick, Warwickshire CV34 4JL 10am to 12 noon on Thursday 17th October 2019.

Warwickshire has traditionally cared for a high number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) having two major motorways pass through its geographical boundaries.

Although the local authority addresses their needs as young people looked after and as carer leavers, there is recognition that the social and emotional needs of these individuals are not being fully developed.

Their lived experiences have left many UASYP emotionally traumatised, yet to come to terms or even accept the impact of past events.

Traditional services such as CAMHS do not always have the cultural appreciation of asylum seekers' lived experiences and struggle to offer support and strategies to address their needs in a way that is appropriate for them.

Therefore, we are seeking the provision of a suitably qualified and experienced provider who can implement a range of specialist psychological, psychodynamic and systemic interventions for UASC experiencing complex trauma, foster carers and social care staff supporting UASC.

The provider will work closely with the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Team.

The provider will also be required to include continued clinical supervision and access to ongoing Continued Professional Development (CPD) their employee(s) Through dialogue with providers and the market testing event we aim to establish an innovative and responsive psychological support service that improves and enhances further the services and support that we provide to UASC.

Interventions will need to be creative in providing alternative methods of addressing individual trauma in addition to traditional counselling/CAMHS approaches, which will be culturally sensitive and varied in delivery making it more accessible to these young people who are experiencing complex trauma and potential language barriers.

This is one-off funding of £45,000 for 12 months.