News Intercultural Awareness Training Helps 0–19 Practitioners to Better Support Migrant Families 14 April 2026 Share Share on Linkedin Share on X Share via email News Health inequaltiesMental health & neurodiversity Health and care professionals Health visitors, school nurses and midwives across the South East are reporting greater confidence and improved practice when working with children, young people and families seeking asylum or with refugee status, following a new intercultural awareness training programme delivered by Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex and Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre. The training, funded by NHS England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities South East, was attended by 96 practitioners from across the region. What the training covered The programme included six half-day workshops and six online reflective sessions, giving participants time to learn, practise and reflect. Topics included: Understanding cultural identity, values and assumptions Intersectionality and how different experiences shape people’s needs Communicating clearly and respectfully across cultures Practical strategies for supporting families, children and young people seeking asylum or with refugee status Looking after staff wellbeing, including recognising vicarious trauma What practitioners told us A new evaluation shows that the training made a real difference for those who attended. Attendees reported very positive experiences, with an average satisfaction score of 93.6 out of 100. Stronger confidence and cultural awareness The training provided a strong introduction to intercultural awareness, with 86.4% of participants saying it met the needs of the communities they work with. Attendees reported feeling more confident discussing cultural differences, adapting their approach, and recognising how their own assumptions shape interactions. “It has already broken down some of my pre-conceived ideas/notions and my inner barriers to communication. I feel more comfortable discussing differences with my clients rather than shying away or expecting them to conform to UK values.” “[the course has] Started conversations around FGM [Female Genital Mutilation] and who it may impact and how this might vary from who we typically thought my be affected” Improved communication with children, young people and families Many practitioners said they had changed how they explain their role, share information and check understanding with families seeking asylum or with refugee status. These shifts helped build trust and reduce barriers to care. “I feel more empowered to build trust with clients to help remove barriers and improve their care and experience.” Better wellbeing and deeper reflective practice Experiential activities – including card games and small group discussions – were viewed as especially powerful for building empathy and insight. Participants also reported improved selfcare, a better understanding of vicarious trauma, and increased confidence in setting boundaries to protect their wellbeing. “The activities were amazing. They were very eye opening, especially the card game. There were a lot of thought challenging aspects to the training which I know will stick with me throughout my career….” “The training has helped me put better boundaries in place and look after my wellbeing.” Positive impact across teams and organisations The benefits extended beyond individual practice. Some participants introduced regular reflective sessions within their teams, adapted materials for colleagues, or shared learning to strengthen cultural awareness more widely across their organisations. “Learning about power and privilege based on identity – was very powerful and impactful, I used this in training sessions at work for midwives and doctors” Challenges and opportunities The evaluation also highlighted wider system pressures that affect how easily staff can embed intercultural awareness in their day-to-day work, including: Limited time and capacity in busy services Difficulties accessing interpreters with the right skills Variation in how teams and leaders understand and prioritise cultural competence The wider social and political climate, which can affect how safe families feel accessing services “Balancing cultural sensitivities with workload and ways of working in the role can be challenging – example of having to take food or drink in homes or cultural institution, accepting gifts” “It’s not helped by the political environment around us including the marches, people living in hotels. Allies are there but they need to speak out.” Despite this, many participants expressed a strong desire for ongoing learning, regular team reflection and wider rollout of the training to other staff groups. Top enablers of embedding intercultural awareness included having a supportive team, leadership buy-in and building in reflective practice, supervision and peer support. Why this training matters More children and families are arriving in the UK having experienced trauma, disrupted education, and significant uncertainty. Many face barriers when trying to access health care, school support or local authority services. Staff working in 0–19 services often meet these families early in their journey, and feedback from local teams highlighted a real need for support in: Understanding different cultural norms and communication styles Feeling confident discussing sensitive issues Applying a trauma-informed approach Looking after their own wellbeing when supporting families in difficult circumstances This training was designed to help address these needs in a practical, supportive way. “On behalf of everyone at Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre, we are incredibly proud of our collaboration with Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex in developing this course and guide for School Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors working with migrant families and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. This work represents a significant step forward in strengthening intercultural awareness and equipping professionals to deliver meaningful, compassionate and effective support to the communities they serve” – Yasin Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre. Download the full evaluation Hear from two practitioners who took part in the training in our case studies: Helen O’Connor – Specialist community public health nurse Catherine Boardman – Nurse & Health Visitor; Clinical Team Coordinator, Central Locality, Homeless Healthcare What’s coming next We’ll soon be publishing: A free online guide to help staff embed intercultural awareness in day-to-day practice A free CPD accredited online bitesize version of the course, open to all practitioners working with 0–19 families Follow Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex on LinkedIn to hear when these are available.