Through care and beyond: how young people who have claimed asylum experience integration within different local contexts in England

This thesis explores the integration experiences of young people seeking sanctuary in different local contexts. There is currently no policy framework which addresses the integration needs of young people seeking asylum in England. There has also been insufficient attention on the complexity of integration experiences as young people navigate both their time in care and transition from care, including what is important to them during these times. When treated contextually, integration can provide a holistic understanding of the ‘spatial, relational, political, cultural and temporal contexts’ which influence the lives of people seeking sanctuary (Phillimore, 2021, p.1952). At best, integration is thought to promote stability, enhance belonging and improve connections, which are important considerations as young people leave care (Brook & Ottemöller, 2020; Sirriyeh & Ní Raghallaigh, 2018).
This research explores the integration experiences of young people seeking asylum, during their time in local authority care and as they transition from care. It pays particular attention to the influence of local and wider contextual factors within these experiences. A unique element of the research is the exploration of the barriers and opportunities which can be afforded in different places. Understanding the role of place is significant, given the changes in how young people are transferred across different parts of England, in recent years (Home Office, 2021b).
This research has drawn on a qualitative methodology and applied a social constructionist epistemology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen young people seeking asylum, and eight professionals who support them. These interviews took place in two contrasting environments: Springshire1, comprising of small and medium towns and Summerton2, a superdiverse, city environment. The findings were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022). The research was supported by a participatory research group, who advised and collaborated on the research design and dissemination activities.
The findings focus on the ways in which young people actively shape their integration experiences, which are situated in thoughts towards past, present and future. They draw on self-reliance strategies to navigate integration challenges and seek out opportunities to learn from others. The findings also show how wider and local contextual factors can act as both facilitators and barriers to integration. This is identified in relation to social connections, place, processes and professional support. For example, place is significant, not only in terms of resource availability and local community responses but also has the power to determine how these opportunities align, or not, with individuals’ future aspirations.
This study makes a key contribution to how integration is considered, highlighting that current models and practices need to pay greater consideration to the unique needs of young people as they leave care. For these young people, integration should be considered as a temporally situated process, which is embedded in thoughts towards past, present and future. It occurs at the intersection of the individual and the wider context, with young people actively shaping their experiences. I propose an evidence-informed ‘GOLD STAR’ model for social work practice, which focuses on expanding wider contextual opportunities. It also emphasises the need to understand the context of the young person’s lived experiences and involve them in planning for their future.