For Clergy considering hosting refugees
Clergy who are offering accommodation to refugees need to apply through the Government website Homes for Ukraine and follow the same process as other individuals. Guidance which is issued by the Government will always take precedence, however there are some specific factors which should be considered in addition to any policy already or being put in place by the diocese:
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Government guidance is that Councils must undertake basic DBS checks on all adults in the sponsor household. In households where there are incoming arrivals who are children and/or vulnerable adults, an enhanced DBS check with barred lists check will be required for all adults in the sponsor household. However, consider others who may regularly visit your house. Information on the checks required can be found on the Governments Guidance for Councils page.
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If your home already includes children and/or vulnerable adults, consider the impact of bringing additional children or vulnerable adults into this – for both sides
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If clergy are confirmed as hosting any refugees, it is advisable to inform the DSA of this fact and provide them with contact details of the referring agency
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Those people seeking refuge in the UK are likely to be traumatised by the situation they have left and may exhibit challenging behaviour as a result. Consider your own capacity and resilience to deal with this
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The primary responsibility for therapeutic/welfare support to these refugees remains with the statutory services, however any safeguarding concerns or incidents should be reported in the normal manner