Enabling reconnection: Educational psychologists supporting unaccompanied, separated, asylum-seeker/refugee children

Abstract

The aim of this paper will be to explore the sociopolitical contexts, psychological perspectives and existing research that can inform the work of professionals concerned with the needs of asylum-seeking/refugee children within Britain. There is a particular focus on children who have arrived unaccompanied, separated from their parents, family, home, culture and community. This paper will discuss the diverse dimensions of the definition and the experiences of loss, separation and bereavement that many unaccompanied refugee children face. An examination of a psychological perspective that can inform this area of work follows, with a review of the current research conducted on the needs and strengths of separated asylum-seeking/refugee children. The paper concludes by drawing attention to the multi-layered, multi-agency systemic nature of this work, emphasising the fact that educational psychologists are highly skilled and systemically well placed to enable separated children to make reconnections at many levels in the community.