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Fifteen Plus Team

Page history last edited by Phil Pierce 10 years, 6 months ago

 

Partner institution: Nottingham City Council

 

 

Contributors (2013):

Rebekka Ashmore

 

Instructions:

Contributors: for details on what is required in each section, please look at the Guidance Notes

Contents: 

Placement Information

Accomodation

Transport

Social life

Things to do, things not to do

Useful Contacts

Before you go

Costs

Placement Information

This is a fantastic placement based in a Social Services setting. You will be working with the Refugee and Asylum Seeker team within the fifteen plus team. This placement would suit anyone interested in working in a social care role. Not only will you be working with refugees and asylum seekers, the team also have other cases that you will be able to work on alongside them. The office where the fifteen plus team are based is shared with the 'children in care' social workers and the targeted support team who work with families in crisis. Everyone is extremely friendly so if you are interested in social work or any kind of family support there are lots of people around who would be more than happy to speak to you about their role and answer any questions you may have.

 

Media coverage of asylum seekers and refugees is often very negative and can lead to stereotypes. If you have any preconceived ideas this placement will definitely challenge them and show you the other side of the coin. These young people have shown courage in the face of suffering and experienced things we can only imagine and are extremely polite, genuine, grateful, lovely kids. Your eyes will be opened as to the troubles these young people face to be able to stay in this country.

 

The Refugee and Asylum team is only made up of two people, Judith and Ben. They are both lovely, accommodating people who will make you feel welcome and very much part of the team.

 

If you are wanting to work with young children this placement would not be for you because as the name suggests all the young people the fifteen plus team work with are over fifteen and all the asylum seekers and refugees I worked with were 18.

 

 

 

 

Accomodation

I would imagine that if you are looking for a placement in Nottingham you will be staying at home. However, if you do need accommodation, the fifteen plus team is based right in the city centre so there are many hotels nearby to choose from. Two of the nearest are on Maid Marian Way,the Park Plaza and the Holiday Inn Express.  

 

 

 

Transport

The fifteen plus team is based in the 'Children and Families' office on Isabella Street. This is in the City Centre so whether you get the bus or tram you will not be too far away. I would recommend getting off at either Maid Marian Way or Collin Street, depending on your bus route. If you drive, the broadmarsh car park is very close by.

 

To get to the fifteen plus team office, the easiest way is to cut through the car park of what is now South Nottingham College (previously Castle College), turn left and then left again. There are two doors, you need the one on the left. There is an intercom and you just press the fifteen plus buzzer and someone will answer. Once you have confirmed who you are you will be let in to the building and someone will come down and collect you.

 

 

Social life

Being at University in Nottingham I am presuming you already know all about the Nottingham social life :) 

 

 

Things to do, things not to do

I would definitely say take a notebook and pen every day as there will be lots to write down for your assignment and you might forget what you have seen by the time you get home! The fifteen plus team will also help you to arrange inteviews with asylum seekers or refugees from your chosen country so you will definitely need a pen and notebook then! I would advise you to draw up consent forms for your interviews as some of the asylum seekers can be apprehensive about being interviewed as they have experienced a lot of interviews since entering the country. This should say something along the lines of anything they tell you is for the purpose of your assignment only and is strictly confidential. My experience was that they did not want to sign the forms, perhaps they were unsure of what they were signing for, however it seemed to put them at ease about answering questions. The only other thing I would say to do is go in with an open mind! 

 

 

Useful Contacts

The manager of the fifteen plus team is Lynn Pearce and she would be the best person to speak to to arrange your placement.

 

Her email is: lynn.pearce@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Her telephone number is: 0115 8762464 

 

 

Before you go

Before you go I would definitely advise you to arrange a meeting with Lynn, Judith and Ben. I did this and found it very helpful. Not only did it enable me to know where I was going before my first day of placement but it gave me a chance to meet the team and find out what they do which made me feel a lot more comfortable on my first day.

 

At the meeting I would advise you to ask where the majority of the refugees and asylum seekers on their current case load are from and this will give you an idea of the countries you have to choose from. Obviously for your assignment you need to carry out primary research so I would suggest you ask Judith and Ben which young people they would be able to arrange interviews with and this will narrow down your choice of country because you will definitely need to choose one that you can gather primary evidence about.

 

I am aware that your course has been validated and is different from ours so this next bit may be irrelevant but just in case........if you are doing the different childhoods module, two of the sixteen options for your assignment are refugees and asylum seekers so you will learn a lot from this placement that you can also apply to that assignment. The staff and the young people I interviewed were extremely helpful and answer any questions you may have.

 

There is tea and coffee available in the office and there is a fridge and microwave if you want to take your own lunch. Tesco is also nearby if you want to nip out to buy lunch.

 

Overall, this was a great placement. The staff and young people I worked with were fantastic. So the main thing I would say before you go is to look forward to it as it will hopefully be a brilliant experience.

Costs

 

 

 

 

 

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