This course focuses on why migrants become destitute and how to help those with no recourse to public funds (NRPF).

Organisations and frontline housing staff can find it difficult to engage with individuals with NRPF status because of the limited options of support available and a lack of understanding of the ways forward. The course will help organisations and frontline housing staff to identify who may have No Recourse to Public Funds and what their options might be, in order to develop a support plan.

It will also outline the steps organisations can take to present different options, alleviate destitution or access funds for individuals and include information of specific organisations working with those with NRPF.

You will:

• Increase knowledge of the causes of migrant destitution.

• Understand the meaning of NRPF, what is a public fund, what is not.

• Know who may be impacted by NRPF.

• Gain knowledge of ways that NRPF status can be changed.

• Become aware of resources to support those with NRPF.

The course covers EEA and non-EEA migrants and asylum seekers.

The course will give an overview of the immigration system. It will include a summary of the grounds for the immigration applications which are most likely to be of relevance to your clients, the process and common issues.

You will:

• Have a basic understanding of the structure of the UK immigration system.

• Improve knowledge of the kind of applications your clients/tenants are likely to make.

• Better understand the common problems and barriers to making those applications.

• Understand how you might provide support to overcome those barriers.

The course will explain how immigration advice is regulated, what comes within the scope of immigration advice and what is good practice for immigration advisers.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the regimes under which a person may be registered to provide immigration advice.

• Improve knowledge of what is and what is not regulated immigration advice.

• Recognise the hallmarks of good immigration practice

• Know how to complain about poor immigration practice

The causes of destitution are varied, and the solutions may be different depending on the cause.

The course will look at the definition of an undocumented migrant, the common problems experienced by those who are undocumented, ethical and legal issues of working with undocumented migrants and pathways out of undocumented status.

You will:

• Understand the use of the term ‘undocumented migrant’ and who it might include.

• Have an increased understanding of how migrants become undocumented.

• Gain knowledge of the ethical and legal implications of working with undocumented migrants.

• Understand how undocumented migrants might become documented.

• Gain information on resources to help undocumented migrants

This course explores some of the reasons and what action can be taken to prevent migrant homelessness.

The course covers both the problems for migrants trying to access mainstream homelessness services and specialist provision related to immigration status.

You will:

• Increase understanding of the causes of migrant homelessness, how they might differ from and when they are similar to causes of homelessness for non-migrants.

• Gain knowledge of accessing accommodation through the asylum support system.

• Gain knowledge of accessing accommodation through social services.

• Improve knowledge of measures which may be taken to reduce the risk of future homelessness for migrants.

• Gain knowledge of resources

The ‘Hostile Environment’ is the name which was given by the government to a series of measures designed to make life in the UK difficult for undocumented migrants. However, the effect has been to make life difficult for many migrants who are in the UK legally. The Immigration Act 2016 introduced more hostile environment measures which create a series of ‘internal borders’ for migrants.

This course will examine the legal framework of the hostile environment, the intended and the actual impact and how to assist those affected by it.

You will:

• Gain knowledge of the legal framework of hostile environment measures.

• Understand the scope of hostile environment measures and which areas of life may be impacted.

• Increase understanding of the actual impact of the hostile environment on migrants.

• Understand how to navigate the hostile environment and when challenges might be possible; • Gain tools to assess your own services and whether they might be enforcing hostile environment mentality.

This course will examine the most common pitfalls impacting migrants navigating the immigration system.

You will:

• Increase understanding of immigration processes.

• Gain knowledge of the issues which may prevent migrants from gaining or maintaining immigration status.

• Consider steps your services might take to assist migrants experiencing problems with the immigration system.

The course will explain how immigration status can affect access to key services such as health services, welfare benefits, higher and further education.

You will:

• Understand which health services are chargeable and who will be liable for charges.

• Know why some migrants are unable to access welfare benefits.

• Understand ‘passported’ benefits and which migrants may be eligible for them.

• Gain knowledge of entitlements to higher and further education and student support

Brexit looks set to have a huge impact on UK immigration, effecting as it does at least 3 million people relying on EU law for their right to live in the UK.

This course will explain what Brexit means for EU and EEA nationals and others relying on EU rights in the UK and explain the new EU Settlement Scheme.

You will:

• Understand the change that Brexit will affect for those in the UK relying on EU free movement rights.

• Gain knowledge of which migrants may be impacted by Brexit.

• Understand the aims and operation of the EU Settlement Scheme.

• Gain knowledge of potential issues in applying to the EU Settlement Scheme.

• Gain knowledge of how gaining status through the EU Settlement Scheme might impact the rights of EU citizens to welfare benefits and social housing.