Research investigates impact of UK immigration policy on migrant children’s health and wellbeing

Glasgow Caledonian University Social Work Lecturer Dr Natalia Farmer is playing a key role in a new study looking at the impact of a UK immigration policy on the health and wellbeing of migrant children and families in England.

The study, entitled ‘Longitudinal impacts of no recourse to public funds on health and wellbeing for children and families in England’, is funded by National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Research Programme.

The research is being led by the University of Birmingham but Dr Farmer, who is also International Lead and Equality and Diversity Champion, in School of Health and Life Sciences’ Department of Social Work, is co-applicant in the research.

Dr Farmer said: “It is wonderful to be leading as co-applicant on this study. We have a fantastic interdisciplinary team with expertise researching health and social inequalities. It is a great opportunity to enhance the research-teaching approach I aim for as a social work lecturer here at Glasgow Caledonian.

“My research interests focus on social work practice with migrant families, and since completing my PhD on the impact of NRPF policy, I have remained committed to exploring the tensions created by successive immigration legislation and how this intersects with social work practice.”

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) is a visa condition within UK immigration policy that prevents most people who are migrants to the UK from accessing social security benefits, which can leave families in extreme poverty.

The numbers of children and families who have NRPF is growing at the same time as resources available to local authorities have reduced. The only help from the local authority that families with NRPF can get is 'child in need' support from local councils under children’s legislation.

This support for children in need can include housing and cash support. There are a growing number of research studies about the effect of NRPF on children’s health. However, there is a lack of research on the long-term health effects of living with NRPF, or about what happens to people who are refused support from children and families statutory social work teams.

Dr Farmer explained what they hope to achieve in the study: “NRPF is when people are not able to get basic money from the UK government like benefits or support to live. The research aims to understand what happens to the health and wellbeing of children and families with NRPF and how their situation changes over time.

“We want to know the impact of being denied recourse to public funds, and of relying on ‘child in need’ support from local council children’s services. We want to know what effect applying for this support has on the health of children and families with NRPF, and what happens if this support is refused.

“Research in this area could benefit those with NRPF status in the UK, which disproportionality affect marginalised groups, particularly low-paid women of colour and families with children, impacting social mobility and perpetuating discrimination.

“Organisations working in this area will also benefit by improvements in service delivery and support systems needed to address the complex challenges faced by families with NRPF status.”