Supporting child refugees and their families

Supporting child refugees and their families

Millions of children have been displaced in and from Ukraine due to the war. Their right to care and protection at this time is critical. Everyone can help in the humanitarian response to the needs of children and families. There is much that can be learned from what children and adults have shared of their experiences of war, conflict and emergencies caused by natural disasters, and from international guidance which addresses needs as well as rights of children and adults in emergencies including conflict.

This resource is designed to help people in Scotland working with and supporting children and families in professional, voluntary or personal capacity, and across Europe. This focuses on child protection and safeguarding, supporting mental and physical wellbeing including trauma, and the needs of children who require care.

Here you will find, all in one place, information, resources, organisations, guidance and the international frameworks to understand the rights of children and what needs to be considered when supporting children in care and children who have been displaced from the war and have been separated from their families and may have arrived in the UK on their own.

Two icons are used to identify the type of information which may be of most use to you.

Icon - a finger pointing to information Information for those who work or care for children and families

Icon - a hand offering information Information for everyone 

Information from the Scottish Government for people from Ukraine and anyone supporting people from Ukraine, including up-to-date information on visa schemes can be found here.

Supporting wellbeing

Icon - a finger pointing to information Resources from the UK Trauma Council to help to nurture and protect children and young people following trauma.

Icon - a hand offering information ​Guidance from the Scottish Government for the hosts of Ukrainian arrivals to Scotland with advice and resources on supporting the psychological wellbeing of the family/person they are welcoming into their home.

Icon - a hand offering information Guidance from the Scottish Government for Ukrainian arrivals to Scotland with advice and resources about psychological wellbeing and where to seek mental health support if it is needed. Available in English, Ukrainian and Russian.

Icon - a hand offering informationIcon - a finger pointing to information Guidance. A welcome pack from the Scottish Government, presenting a welcoming Scotland where refugees and asylum seekers are able to rebuild their lives from the day they arrive.

Icon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​A toolkit from the Scottish Refugee Council for public authorities and/or civil society organisations who are creating or developing direct services to newly-recognised refugees.

Icon - a hand offering information ​Resources from Barnardo's for anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, including therapy, advice about accessing services and practical support.

Icon - a finger pointing to information Advice from Barnado's, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, NSPCC and Save the Children, for families hosting refugees from Ukraine.

Icon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​Guidance from NHS Education for Scotland on delivering quality, evidence-based trauma informed or trauma specific services to people affected by traumatic events.

Icon - a finger pointing to information Training from NHS Education for Scotland to support all sectors of the workforce to embed and sustain trauma informed practice.

Icon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​​​​​​​​Resources from Young Minds to support the mental health needs asylum seeking and refugee children.

Icon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​​​​​​​​Advice and guidance from the IFRC Psychosocial Centre to protect and support the mental health and wellbeing of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants.

Icon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​​​​​​​​Guidance from CELCIS on understanding trauma and addressing the needs of children and young people affected by it through trauma-informed care practices. 

Icon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​​Advice and resources from Education Scotland on discussing war and conflict with children and young people.

Icon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​​Resources from the British Red Cross for teachers on helping children and young people to challenge assumptions about migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and to develop mutual respect, empathy and understanding.

Icon - a hand offering informationIcon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​​Guidance from the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights for parents, children and teachers on current web resources and portals to enable Ukrainian children to continue their education if they have been displaced.

Icon - a hand offering informationIcon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​​Resources from Education Scotland for professionals and families to help develop an understanding of adverse and traumatic experiences in childhood and understand their impact.

Icon - a hand offering information Multi-lingual resources – including in English and Ukrainian -  from the Child Mind Institute, for parents and families about talking to children and young people about potentially traumatic events.

Icon - a finger pointing to information Advice, guidance and resources from the Anna Freud Centre for parents and carers supporting a child or young person who may be struggling with poor mental health.

Icon - a hand offering information Advice and guidance from the UNODC and the University of Manchester, for parents who have lived through war and trauma on how they can help themselves feel better, and how they can help their children in difficult times.

Icon - a hand offering information Guidance from UNICEF for parents on talking to children about conflict and war.

Icon - a hand offering informationAdvice from the office of the Children and Young People's Commissioner for children and young people on what can be done to help make sense of what is happening in Ukraine.

Child protection and safeguarding

Icon - a finger pointing to information Guidance from the Scottish Government for all practitioners involved in safeguarding of children and adults who are arriving in Scotland from Ukraine to identify and respond to risk and need.

Icon - a finger pointing to information Guidance from the Scottish Government for local authorities on the  Super Sponsorship Scheme and Scotland’s responsibilities under the UK Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Icon - a finger pointing to information Guidance from the Scottish Government for services and professionals who will be working with Ukrainian arrivals to Scotland, to support their psychological wellbeing and mental health.

Icon - a hand offering information ​Guidance from the Scottish Government for those wishing to host Ukrainian refugees.

Icon - a hand offering informationIcon - a finger pointing to information Advice, guidance and resources from the Scottish Government for displaced people from Ukraine who would like to travel to Scotland.

Icon - a finger pointing to information Resources from CELCIS on child protection and related areas, for those working to ensure that the lives of babies, children and young people are protected from abuse, harm and neglect.

Icon - a finger pointing to information Advice from Barnado's, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, NSPCC and Save the Children, for families hosting refugees from Ukraine.

Icon - a finger pointing to information Guidance from UNICEF on how to help keep children displaced by the war in Ukraine safe from trafficking and other forms of exploitation and abuse.

Icon - a finger pointing to information Resources from UNICEF for teachers to help primary and secondary pupils make sense of the current refugee and migrant crisis in Europe, within a children’s rights framework.

Icon - a hand offering informationIcon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​​Guidance from Missing Children Europe on how to report a missing Ukrainian child and resources to support missing children and their families fleeing Ukraine.

Icon - a hand offering informationIcon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Advice and guidance from CELCIS on who to contact if you are worried about a child. 

If you think you need advocacy support or independent legal advice, the following organisations can help:

Icon - a hand offering informationIcon - a finger pointing to information Advice and information from Just Right Scotland for Ukrainians and their families on legal routes for seeking safety in Scotland. 

Icon - a hand offering informationIcon - a finger pointing to information Advice from Clan Childlaw for anyone with a legal question about children’s rights in Scotland. 

Icon - a hand offering informationIcon - a finger pointing to information Advice from the Scottish Child Law Centre on all aspects of Scots law relating to children and young people. 

The needs of children who require care

Icon - a hand offering informationIcon - a finger pointing to information This free course from CELCIS and the University of Strathclyde entitled Caring for Children Moving Alone: Protecting Unaccompanied and Saparated Children, provides an understanding of the risks and vulnerabilities faced by children moving alone and is designed to inform the improvement of policy, practice and delivery of support services that uphold children’s rights and meet their best interests. The course provides examples of promising practice and is available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. 

Icon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​This free course from The International Federation of Social Workers entitled Educating for Peace - Social Work in the Context of War and Conflict, is for social work practitioners exploring different dimensions of social work in the context of conflict and war, bringing together international researchers, practitioners, and people with lived experience.

Icon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​Guidance from the Better Care Network entitled Critical Considerations for Movement of Children During a Humanitarian Crisis, is for service providers who are working with children, families, and separated children in response to the current humanitarian situation in Ukraine and surrounding countries.

Icon - a finger pointing to information ​​​​​​​​​​​​​Guidance from The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Network and NIDOS on practices and working methods on the reception and protection of unaccompanied children in Europe.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Guidance on the international framework

Icon - a finger pointing to information Hague Conference on Private International Law

Information on the cross-border protection and intercountry adoption of children deprived of their family environment due to the armed conflict in Ukraine. 

Icon - a finger pointing to information United Nations General Assembly, Resolution A/RES74/121 on the Rights of the Child

This Resolution outlines States’ commitments to provide care and protection, and access to services and support for children without parental care, including children who are refugees, migrants, unaccompanied or separated from their families. Of particular relevance are paragraphs 9, 12, 13, 14, 37, 38, 39. 

Icon - a finger pointing to information Joint General Comment (2017) on the general principles regarding the human rights of children in the context of international migration 

This General Comment provides guidance which outlines the appropriate measures that should be taken by States to ensure compliance with the obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child to fully protect the rights of children in the context of international migration  

Icon - a finger pointing to information United Nations General Assembly, Resolution A/RES/71/1 (New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants)

This Resolution considers how the international community should best respond to large movements of refugees and migrants, as well as the needs and circumstances of children. Of particular relevance are paragraphs 29, 32, 33, 59, 70, 81 and 82; and Annex I, paragraphs 5 (a) (b) (e); para 6 (b) (c). 

Icon - a finger pointing to information United Nations Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children

These international standards provide guidance to States on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with specific reference to children in care, or children who are at risk of losing parental care.  

Icon - a finger pointing to information Moving Forward: Implementing the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children

This handbook supports the implementation of the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children through connection with national policy and direct practice. Chapter 11 addresses care provision abroad and in emergency situations. 

Icon - a finger pointing to information UNCRC General Comment No. 6 (2005) on the treatment of refugee and migrant children outside their country of origin 

This General Comment outlines the challenges faced by States in ensuring the rights of unaccompanied and separated children are upheld, and provides guidance on the protection, care and treatment of unaccompanied and separated children.