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'New approaches to services for migrants and refugees'

Promoting change through innovation will be high on the agenda when mental health professionals, leading researchers and social care practitioners join planners and policy makers at the University of Kent 13 - 15 June 2008 for an international workshop on immigration.

The workshop, which has been organised by the University's European Centre for the Study of Migration and Social Care (MASC), will also consider new approaches and the most effective ways to promote best practice in services for migrant and refugee groups.

Confirmed speakers include Dr Angela Burnett, Sanctuary Practice (Hackney) and the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture; David Palmer, MIND (National Association for Mental Health); Falastine Yassin, Brent Refugee Forum; Professor Suman Fernando, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Mental Health, University of Kent; Dr Chris Endersby, Honorary Lecturer in Social Care, University of Kent; and Dr Charles Watters, Director of MASC.

Delegates will include current students from the Netherlands and the UK studying for the European MA in Migration, Mental Health and Social Care, as well as service providers and academics working with migrant and refugee groups.

Dr Watters, who is also a Scientific Advisor to the Portuguese Presidency of the EU on Migration and Health, and author of 'Refugee Children: Towards the Next Horizon', said: 'These workshops enable students to examine policies and services towards migrants and refugees from the perspective of more than one European country. Our 2008 International Workshop involves some of the leading figures in the field in the UK and provides the opportunity for a creative dialogue with students and professionals from the Netherlands.'

MASC, located within the University's School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, was launched in 2004 as a Centre for an expanding range of research and teaching activity in the fields of migration, social care and mental health. This includes the MA in Migration, Mental Health and Social Care, the MA in Migration (University of Kent at Brussels) and a PhD programme in Migration Studies.

The Centre undertakes research on the impact of social care, health and mental health policies and practices on migrants and refugees; identifies examples of good practice in the health and social care of migrants and refugees and assesses the potential for the disseminating of good practice; develops a range of teaching programmes at undergraduate and post-graduate levels to enhance the knowledge and skills of professionals working with migrants and refugees; and provides forums for the exchange of expertise in this field and the application of this in service development.

The Centre's research activity has a strong international profile with current work involving partnerships with universities in Canada, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Sweden, and service-providing organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, asylum reception organisations across Europe, the Refugee Council, and the Kent Strategic Network on Migration.

Contact: mediaoffice@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 10:00am 10 June 2008