Challenges faced by social workers addressing safeguarding issues during the Homes for Ukraine scheme in the UK

The rapid commencement of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine saw many countries, particularly European countries, hastily develop sponsorship schemes tailored for the influx of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict.

Within the United Kingdom, the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allowed non-related hosts to house Ukrainian refugees in their own home or other accommodation, became a notable example of these sponsorship schemes (Home Office, 2022).

However, the British Association of Social Workers were one of the first national groups to raise the alarm on potential and on-going safeguarding issues within the scheme’s infrastructure (BASW, 2022). Some of these issues pertain to a lack of a centrally coordinated matching mechanism for host and individual/family to be matched through, which has resulted in informal matching primarily developed over social media, as well as a lack of expert driven placement assessments.

These notable safeguarding issues raise significant concern not only for the Home for Ukraine scheme and the safety of the refugee/s and hosts, but also for the well-being of social workers on the ground attempting to identify and address these issues first-hand.

There has been very little research devoted to documenting these types of safeguarding issues and their impact on social workers. Thus, this presentation will discuss the preliminary results of an exploratory, online survey that has documented the perspectives of social workers and third sector case workers’ experiences in identifying and addressing these safeguarding issues and the impact of this role on their well-being.

Learning outcomes and objectives if available:

1. Present preliminary finding from the survey
2. Seek additional perspectives from professional regarding associated safeguarding issues
3.  Understand the welfare impact on professional engaged in the implementation and delivery of the scheme.

Who is the course intended for?

Online forum aimed at social care workers from statutory, voluntary and private care sectors involved in the implementation and application of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Speakers:

Ashley Perry – Postdoctoral Research Fellow, International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI)

Ashley is a qualitative researcher with a special interest in sexual violence in law and culture. At IPPPRI, her current research interests include sexual exploitation of vulnerable groups, the criminal justice process for sexual violence victims/survivors, child sexual abuse, non-offending partners of those who have sexually offended, and sexual violence researcher well-being.

Anna Markovska – Deputy Director, International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI)

Anna’s research interests within criminology include organised crime, corruption, justice in transition, comparative criminal justice, and democracy in Ukraine.