““““

““““ Much social

work in the UK

today has an

international

dimension

ISS UK is an independent charity and part of an international network. We act to promote

and protect the rights and welfare of children, adults and families whose personal

circumstances require inter-country liaison.

Thanks to a grant from the

Department of Children, Schools

and Families, ISS UK is making

preparations to expand and improve

its advice, information and training

services.

The three-year grant from the

government will assist ISS UK in

establishing itself as a national inter-

country social work resource centre,

providing services to social work

practitioners across the country.

Many practitioners face a skills and

knowledge gap when faced with

social work issues with an

international dimension. Drawing on

its own expertise and experience in

international social work, the ISS UK

resource centre aims to fill this gap

and enable social workers to ensure

that children stay safe when they

cross international borders.

Services will include an enhanced

national advice and information

helpline, regional training seminars

and regular dissemination of

information, documentation and

practice guidelines.

“We are delighted to receive funding

from the Government,” says Sue

Gilbert, Director of ISS UK.

“Not only does it demonstrate

confidence in our organisation but

also represents a clear recognition

by the Government that much social

work in the UK today has an

international dimension, requiring

additional skills, knowledge and

practices.”

For more information on the advice

line and forthcoming training events,

please see page 2 of this month’s

newsletter or visit the ISS UK

website at www.issuk.org.uk.

Spring 2008

Newsletter

In this issue:

Child Protection

Training

Staff Spotlight

Tracing

Guildhall Dinner

Events

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ISS UK advice services expand British branch to become national resource centre

The ISS UK team, excited about the new plans for the organisation

Photo courtesy of Thistle W

estm

inster

What’s the best thing about your role at ISS UK?

During my studies, the catch phrase was “Think globally, act locally”. At ISS UK, I think it is possible to have the best of both worlds.

Every day I have the opportunity to address major international social issues, both here in the UK as well as with our colleagues abroad. ISS UK has taught me that as the social context of the human services become increasingly more internationalized, it is crucial that we broaden our world view. In doing so, the personal and professional rewards for me here at ISS UK are immense.

What were you doing before you joined ISS UK?

I qualified as a social worker in Canada and started my professional career there. For about 7 years, I worked for a child welfare agency and was very fortunate to have benefited from a myriad of roles (child protection work, intensive family support work and fostering and adoption assessments). This gave me a solid foundation and confidence to embark on an international social work career.

Hana Najsrova, Intercountry Social Worker When I arrived in the UK and prior to joining ISS UK, I worked for two local authorities in London conducting British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) kinship and fostering assessments. I also worked in a London hospital as a social worker in the Children and Families Division.

Tell us a little about your most interesting case at ISS UK?

I suppose I haven’t been with ISS UK long enough because I cannot name one case that stands out more than others. In all honesty, I find that every case is interesting in its own way. Every case brings with it new knowledge and unique dimensions of people’s personal circumstances. The cases that stand out for me are those where I can learn about another country’s laws, practices and customs in relations to social issues and child and welfare matters.

International Child Protection Training

2

Staff Spotlight:

ISS UK will be running a free one-day training seminar for social workers on 27

th June in Central

London. This training day aims to raise awareness of the need to consider international elements and perspectives when safeguarding children across borders.

Professionals in the UK are facing increasing challenges to protect children at risk in a globalised world. Children in need of protection are entering and leaving the UK to evade any intervention by local authorities exposing them to further risk of abuse.

The training intends to offer practical guidance while highlighting that child protection services differ greatly from country to country, an important consideration when seeking assistance from abroad.

The programme includes a keynote speech by Lord Laming highlighting the dangers to children in light of more frequent travel and exploring

the need for greater safeguards to be put in place to protect children across international borders. Other speakers include Nathalie Huegler from the International Social Work Journal and David Williams, a barrister specialising in international child abduction.

The day will give practitioners the opportunity to learn about child protections systems in the USA and Spain and should be attended by anyone involved with safeguarding children. It will feature advice and information on prevention, action and support in the overseas country when children subject to a child protection plan go missing and/or travel abroad.

The programme and booking form will soon be available on our website at www.issuk.org.uk. For further information please contact Ms Liz Sharp on Tel: 020 7735 8941. The number of spaces will be limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

With the kind support of the City Bridge Trust

““““ ““““ All have a

tale to tell and

seek your advice

Finding family across borders

have lost contact for other reasons.

A search can take from a couple of months to a couple of years depending on the circumstances involved in the search. Last year, ISS UK received 133 tracing enquiries, and received tracing requests from our colleagues in countries as diverse as Australia, USA, Italy, Zambia and France to name a few.

You just never know when or how you might discover something you really weren’t expecting. Just today I had to break the news to a young woman that her birth mother was deceased. Although often the person feels information about their natural family will not affect them, it usually does. All you can do is make sure they know you are there for them. The grief that can be felt for a person who they have never seen in adulthood is a difficult thing to understand, and is often not just for

the death itself but for the loss of an opportunity.

It certainly isn’t always such terrible news. One client who had always

had a good relationship with her father, even after

her parents divorce, found her letters to his address in

Europe were being returned. She feared he was in trouble, or may have died. Luckily we were able to locate her father in Germany when

he returned from his travels. He was not only delighted to be found, but also to discover that he was a grandfather as well! This December, they enjoyed an extra special Christmas together at last.

Sometimes the outcome is not what is hoped for and the sought person does not wish to have contact, and we respect that decision. Our job is to give the opportunity to people to renew contact if that is what both parties would like. Failing that end result we will try to learn a little about the social and medical background, and for some this is sufficient and is better than not having attempted to make contact at all.

I love my work - every day is different and you can never plan what direction your day might take. From the quiet and shy callers, to those who are angry and upset, all have a tale to tell and seek your advice. Even if you can only listen to them, sometimes that is just enough.

3

Lesley Austen explains ISS UK’s tracing service

Ever since ISS UK was first established in 1955, tracing for missing family members has been part of the work undertaken. This service has developed from sending discreet enquiry letters to last known addresses, to check ing the telephone directories, to a fully comprehens i ve sea r ch and intermediary service.

ISS UK believes all individuals have the right to know their origins, and we endeavour to facilitate direct or indirect contact between family members, if appropriate, and with the consent of both parties. We can assist individuals who have no contact with, or background information about, family members overseas. We also undertake searches for our ISS colleagues around the world, and in turn request their help to trace missing families in their country on our UK client’s behalf.

A lot of our clients who have requested help are those whose lives have been affected by adoption. In 2006 we were granted Adoption Support Agency status (ASA) in order for us to carry out this important work. This status allows us to provide a full service for both those affected by adoption as well as those individuals and families who

Upcoming events

International Spring Fair

Wednesday 14th May, 11am-6pm, Kensington Town Hall

The ISS UK Golf Day

Monday 2nd June, Stoke Park Club, Buckinghamshire

The Great British Duck Race

Sunday 31st August, 12.30pm, Molesey Lock, Hampton Court

Please contact Nicky or Kate on 020 7735 8941 for more information

4

A right Royal success Nicky Power reports back from the Guildhall In the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent, over 250 guests enjoyed a wonderful evening at The Guildhall for our second annual International Child Protection Dinner.

Guests enjoyed a champagne and canapé reception, whilst being serenaded by talented musicians of the Guildhall School of Music.

A spectacular performance by the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain kept guests entertained during the dinner in The Great Hall through a display of international dances. This was followed by an inspiring speech by Rageh Omaar on the plight of children throughout the world.

Fundraising played a key role in the evening, and the night raised a staggering £101,500 for ISS UK. Guests embraced all the activities on the evening, including the raffle, silent auction and diamond ring draw – the winner exclusively drawn by Kate Adie OBE!

The live auction was conducted by a persistent Eric Knowles, who managed to encourage guests to part with £33,000 within half an hour! We are very grateful to all the prize donors, who allowed us to raise such a substantial sum of money. Special thanks also go to the Committee who helped organise this event.

ISS UK hopes to continue the International Child Protection Dinner as an annual event in 2009. Further details will be released soon.

If you are a company interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Nicky Power on 020 7735 8941 or nicola.power@issuk.org.uk to discuss the different opportunities available.

ISS UK

Cranmer House,

39 Brixton Road,

London, SW9 6DD

tel: 020 7735 8941

email:

kate.nevens@issuk.org.uk

www.issuk.org.uk

Reg. charity no. 1085541

““““

““““ Dinner in the Great Hall was

followed by an

inspiring speech

by Rageh Omaar

on the plight of

children across

the world