Working with People from Different Cultural and National Backgrounds
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What practitioners and migrant families told us
How we identified this theme - the findings of the 'Everyday Bordering in the UK' project
Migrant family members that we spoke with told us that there were aspects of life in the UK that were unfamiliar to them, and this was often the case when accessing particular services. This is because the type of support available to families, professional roles, and the way something is 'done' can differ between countries, be they in Europe or beyond. Family life can also be seen as a private matter in some cultures, and this can impact on the way families react to practitioners offering support.
Practitioners reported similar issues, and highlighted occasions when migrant family members had not understood the purpose of their professional role, or service. They explained that this sometimes hindered the development of trusting relationships or led to families being suspicious of the support offered, and this made working with some families with migrant backgrounds challenging.
We found that this was most obvious when people were relatively new to the UK, but that this could also happen when a family member came into contact with a service for the first time, even if they had been in the UK for some time. These differences can also be prominent at times that are emotionally demanding, for example, if there is a medical emergency or financial difficulties in a family.
The issues described link to the problems experienced by families and practitioners when they do not share a language or cultural background (see ‘communication barriers’ and 'overcoming cultural bias'). However, here we focus on how a family’s understanding of professional roles and services can be ‘lost in translation’ because of the differences between how things are ‘done’ in their UK and their country of origin.
This short film was created from footage made by members of migrant families during 'Every Bordering in the UK' art workshops.
The video shows some of the stories that people who have migrated to the UK shared with us with the aim of showing the type of issues that people can encounter because they do not have knowledge, or understanding, of services and systems in the UK.
You will see that people also talk about the ways in which practitioners can help address these difficulties.
Things practitioners can do
Not understanding the way a service works, or a person’s role, can stop a person or family with a migratory background from accessing and/or trusting a service that can offer them support and/or signpost them to further services that can help. Here, you will find a list of tools and strategies that can help practitioners to navigate the complexities of working with people with different cultural and national backgrounds.
The approaches noted below can help minimise misunderstandings when people with migrant backgrounds are unfamiliar with the way things are ‘done’ in the UK, and/or the role of specific services or practitioners. These strategies work well in combination with those outlined in the ‘communication barriers’ and ‘overcoming cultural bias’ themes of the webpage.
Firstly, try and avoid assuming that you and the person that you are supporting have a shared understanding of job roles and services. Remember:
That they may not know why you are meeting with them, what they can expect from you, and your relationship to other organisations.
That even if a person recognises your job title, they may have a different experience of your profession in their country of origin which can lead to misunderstandings or feelings of mistrust.
That although you may have explained your role to a service user, yo u should also check if they are aware of other relevant services, what they do, and how they can access them.
In order to help develop trust, when you first make contact with a person, be open and:
Explain who you are, your role, and why you are meeting with them.
Be clear about what they can expect from you and/or your colleagues in the future.
Ask if there is a similar role and/or service in their country of origin and, if so, ask them to tell you how that service works. This will allow you to talk through any differences and or similarities and to check if you have a shared understanding of your relationship.
Ask if they have any questions or worries about you working with them and make it clear that they can ask you and your colleagues questions at any time.
Remember that these issues are not only relevant to newly arrived migrants, and that they should be revisited throughout your professional relationship with an individual or family by:
Remembering to check understanding and to provide time and space for service users to ask you questions about a particular service or practitioner.
Being reflective; if a person or family is not engaging with your service, you sense that they are suspicious of you, or they seem to misunderstand your role, revisit the suggestions listed above (in point 2).
How to use the case studies
The information and case studies can be used by an individual, or to facilitate a group exercise for a team of practitioners.
They have been developed to give you, or your team, an opportunity to:
Reflect on the challenges identified by practitioners and migrant families relating to working with people from different cultural and national backgrounds.
Consider if and why the challenges identified are relevant to your profession and the community in which you work.
Explore why understanding and communicating these differences is important.
Consider the strategies, tools, and information available to identify and address these different understandings.
Apply the knowledge and skills that you already have, and anything new you have learnt, to the case studies provided.
How to use the resources:
To get the most out of using the information and case studies on this page, we suggest that you (or members of your team) follow the four steps set out below. Remember that reflections and experiences can be shared with other practitioners by accessing the online community for this theme:
Stage 1: What practitioners and migrant families told us
Read ‘what practitioners and families have told us’ and watch the short film, ‘Working with People from Different National and Cultural Backgrounds’.
Consider if and how the issues identified relate to your work with migrant communities and if there are any additional, but similar challenges that you experience in your particular profession or community.
Reflect on the ways in which the issues identified impact on your work, and the everyday lives of the people that you support.
You can write your thoughts down, discuss them in you your team, or start a conversation on the online community.
Stage 2: What practitioners can do
Read the ‘things practitioners can do section’ on your own, making any notes that will help you to remember anything that might be helpful in the future.
Stage 3: The case studies
Carefully read through the chosen case study and make notes on your immediate response to the case and any initial thoughts that you have.
Then respond to the questions posed at the bottom of the case study page.
Write down your responses, discuss the responses in your team, or start a conversation in the online community.
Stage 4: Applying your reflections
During the following four weeks, spend five minutes each week reflecting on if and how your learning from completing the above stages has been helpful in your work with migrant communities. You can do this during any daily activity.
After four week, revisit your learning in more detail. Set a time in your diary to revisit your learning. This only needs to be 15 minutes or, if you are working as a group, an agenda item in a team meeting. Again, you can also discuss this with the online community.
Case studies
Additional resources and links
Whilst specific professions and/or groups of people with migratory backgrounds are considered, this is not an exhaustive list, but a selection of useful resources that are available online. We hope that this will prompt you to search for further resources related to your profession and the communities with which you work. Please share any further resources that you find useful with the online community for this theme,
Toolkits and general resources to help support people with diverse migratory backgrounds
A selection of resources produced by Migration Yorkshire that focus on specific issues and/or the needs of particular groups: Resources for professionals.
A video produced by Superdiversity Institute (IRiS) that explains the key ways to help people with diverse migratory backgrounds to settle in the UK and the related Home Office Indicators of Integration framework 2019 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Details of the support offered by the Red Cross to refugees, asylums seekers and vulnerable migrants: Support for Refugees.
Resources to support social workers and other social care practitioners
Guidance produced by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) for good practice when working with refugees and asylum seekers: Good practice in social care for refugees and asylum seekers.
Guidance produced by Community Care for social workers supporting east-European Roma families: How social workers can engage positively with east-European Roma families (communitycare.co.uk) and a video in Romanes to explain how Roma families can keep children safe and understand English Law, 'Keeping Our Children Safe'.
This resource is produced by Children and Families Across Borders and the International Network for Social Services and includes factsheets and an advice line for professionals involved in care proceedings that require cross border cooperation: Children and Families Across Borders.
Healthcare Professions
General
A selection of useful resources related to migrant health, produced by the Royal College of Nursing: Migrant health
Guidance produced by the UK government relating to conducting health assessments for people that have migrated to the UK: Assessing new patients from overseas: migrant health guide
Guidance produced by the UK government relating to a migrants' entitlement to health care: NHS Entitlements - migrant health guide
Two blogs produced by The Health Foundation that dispel myths related to the so called negative impact of migration on the NHS: Immigration and the NHS: the evidence AND International migrants use NHS services less frequently than non-migrants - The Health Foundation
Midwifery
A printable pocket resource created by the Royal College of Midwives, outlining principles of good care and best practice when working with migrant women: Caring for vulnerable migrant women
An academic paper presenting an overview of the experienced of undocumented migrant women when they access NHS maternity services: “It's a life you're playing with”: A qualitative study on experiences of NHS maternity services among undocumented migrant women in England
Health Visitors
Information about the different names and roles of health visitors in different countries around the world: Health visiting across the world
A brief evidence based review on health visitors' experiences of working with European migrant families, produced by Community Practitioner: Health visitors’ perceptions of barriers to health and wellbeing in European migrant families
Educators working with migrant children and refugees
An online resource produced by the British Council’s Language for Resilience programme. The resourse is intended for all teachers and educators that have contact with migrant and refugee children: Migrants and Refugees in Education: A toolkit for teachers