Dear Mr Cassidy

Information Request: FR1319

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 25/05/2009. Your request has been dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act and is detailed below in italics.

1) Age assessments are always conducted by at least two Social

Workers?

1.1 If they are not always conducted by at least two Social

Workers, can you provide information that explains this apparent

anomaly and provide details of the job Titles of those who

currently conduct age assessments.

2) That since 01 April 2005 you have always used at least two

Social Workers?

2.1) If you have not always used two Social Workers, since 01 April

2005, please provide details of the job Titles of those who

currently conduct age assessments.

3) During said Court case a Helen Johnson, Refugee Council's

Children's Panel, questioned the assertion by a Ms Janet Patrick,

senior manager of the Croydon Council's Unaccompanied Minors' Team,

that Council's are routinely advising applicants that they can have

an adult present to give support during their age assessment.

Therefore can you provide copies of any information you hold, such

as policies, memos, notes and guidance, (showing dates

issued/written/drafted) as given to Social Workers, the applicants

or anyone else, that Confirms or Denies that applicants are

routinely advised that they can have an adult present to give

support.

4) Please provide copies of any age assessment guidance or training

material you hold.

Our Response

I have been supplied the following information in response to your Freedom of Information request.

FR1319

     1) Age assessments are always conducted by at least two Social

     Workers?

In as many cases possible, age assessments are conducted by 2 qualified Social Workers. Where this is not possible a qualified social worker and  a worker with experience of  working with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children will conduct this piece of work.

     1.1 If they are not always conducted by at least two Social

     Workers, can you provide information that explains this apparent

     anomaly and provide details of the job Titles of those who

     currently conduct age assessments.

The main reason would be pressure on Social Work time particularly if a number of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children require assessment at the same time or at  a time when Social Workers are engaged on other business eg attending statutory child care reviews, visiting young people. There is also a desire to provide Social Workers with training opportunities to ensure Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children receive best possible service from Social Workers once qualified.  

In most cases Student Social Worker, on rare occasions Personal Adviser

     2) That since 01 April 2005 you have always used at least two

     Social Workers?

Since 1 April 2005 age assessments are conducted by 2 qualified Social Workers. Where this is not possible a qualified social worker and  a worker experienced in working with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children who has received training in the area of Age Assessment will conduct this piece of work.

     2.1) If you have not always used two Social Workers, since 01 April

     2005, please provide details of the job Titles of those who

     currently conduct age assessments.

See ans to 1.1

     3) During said Court case a Helen Johnson, Refugee Council's

     Children's Panel, questioned the assertion by a Ms Janet Patrick,

     senior manager of the Croydon Council's Unaccompanied Minors' Team,

     that Council's are routinely advising applicants that they can have

     an adult present to give support during their age assessment.

     Therefore can you provide copies of any information you hold, such

     as policies, memos, notes and guidance, (showing dates

     issued/written/drafted) as given to Social Workers, the applicants

     or anyone else, that Confirms or Denies that applicants are

     routinely advised that they can have an adult present to give

     support.

It is not the practice of Northamptonshire's Asylum Support Team to advise the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children can/should an adult present.

     4) Please provide copies of any age assessment guidance or training

     material you hold.

Please find three documents attached separately.

The disclosure to you of the enclosed information does not give you a right to reproduce or publish such information without the express permission of the County Council or any other owners of the copyright therein.

If you are unhappy with the response, you can ask the Council to review it. To do this please write to the address below:

Paul Edwards

Head of Business Intelligence and Performance

Northamptonshire County Council

PO Box 93

County Hall

Northampton NN1 1AN

If our internal review does not resolve the issue to your complete satisfaction, you have the right to apply to the information Commissioner for a decision at the following address:

Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

Or, if you have any complaints in respect of your information request please complete the on-line comments form that can be found at www.northamptonshire.gov.uk, along with a full set of guidance.

Yours sincerely

Senior Freedom of Information/Data Protection Officer

Legal & Democratic Services

Northamptonshire County Council

Please ask for: Gill Hollowell

Tel: 01603 237407

Our ref: FR1319

Your ref:

Date: 11^th June 2009

Northamptonshire County Council

County Hall

PO Box 136

Northampton, NN1 1AT

w. www.northamptonshire.gov.uk

t. 01604 237407

f. 01604 237004

e. [email address]