Support for Professionals
Providing information and advice for women with insecure immigration status
- Always try to give women accurate information about their options. If you are unsure what options are available to clients with insecure immigration status seek appropriate advice from specialist agencies.
- If you work for a social services department remember that social services are the only statutory agency who have the power and ability to provide practical support to women (and children) escaping domestic violence who have no recourse to public funds.
If you turn these women down when they ask for help they may have no other option than to return to a life of ongoing violence and abuse. They may also be at risk of reprisals from the perpetrator for attempting to leave.
- If you work for social services remember that it is far cheaper to accommodate a women and her children in a refuge (and pay the rent and living costs for the family) than it is to place one child in care.
One of the main principles within the Children Act is to keep children within their families wherever possible. Removing children from non-abusive parents (by offering "voluntary care" as a means of fulfilling obligations towards children in need) violates this principle and creates further trauma for mothers and children who have already experienced domestic violence.
- Do not assume that returning to a country of origin is going to be a safe and/or viable option for women escaping domestic violence. Many women live in fear of family and/or community reprisals if they return to their country of origin after leaving an abusive marriage.
- Always document any disclosures of domestic violence. This documentation could be useful to support of an application for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
- If you are trying to find refuge space for a woman "without recourse to public funds" be patient as you may need to make several phone calls to several different agencies before you are able to find out whether or not there is a refuge willing to accept her.
The Home Office provides a limited amount of money to enable some women with insecure immigration status to stay for limited periods in refuges. There are also a small number of refuges which are willing to accept women without recourse to public funds without these payments.
- Try to obtain specialist training on immigration issues relevant to the work you do.
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