ONGOING work to ensure refugee families resettled into the Wee County are supported during the coronavirus pandemic has received national recognition.
Education Scotland has this month highlighted the work of Clackmannanshire Council's Education Refugee Team as a shining example of good practice.
The team, made up of staff from three departments, completely had to rethink the delivery of support services for 24 Syrian refugee families in the wake of the pandemic.
Even before the first lockdown began last March, staff realised it will be imperative that the support for these families continues; given their vulnerabilities due to social isolation, communication barriers and experiences of trauma and loss.
Regular communication with all families meant that staff have been able to offer advice and support in relation to the day to day challenges the families are facing as a result of Covid-19.
The team carried out house and video calls to support with accessing IT, carrying out food deliveries for those shielding or self isolating and providing school work and resources for children and young people.
Councillor Graham Lindsay, the local authority's spokesman for education, said: “The work of the Education Refugee Team is a great example of the considerable efforts that council staff have been making to ensure we are delivering support to vulnerable people throughout this pandemic.
“The team has worked to make sure that services are joined up to continue support for these families during lockdown, given their vulnerabilities due to social isolation, communication barriers and experiences of trauma and loss.
“The support that the refugee families receive means that they can continue to become part of their local Clackmannanshire communities.
“It is very gratifying to see the team’s efforts so appreciated by the families, and also highlighted throughout the country by Education Scotland as an example of good practice.”
As at the start of January, the team had a 100 per cent contact record with all families and successfully engaged 69 per cent of adults in the council's online learning platforms.
This was particularly important when it came to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
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