Mannerisms

Recent experience - impact on behaviour and their presentation

Experience of worker - knowledge of culture/country

Journey to U.K (trauma)

Progression/non- progression over six weeks

Information from young person/paperwork

All people/agencies involved

Problem other than age - not willing to comply

Trauma not being able to engage

Worker training/experience

Taking all information into consideration

Pressure from other sources. (if adult - don't need to provide service)

Resource pressures

Part of wider comprehensive assessment

Cut off point??

Reception centre

Age assessment team

Other staff involved

Lack of residential staff training

Information - observations, verbal/non verbal, trauma, cultural/countries, level of confidence (ongoing process)

Information source - multi - cultural, multi - disciplinary

Agency not wanting to be part of process

Lack of training/residential staff

Full assessment needed. (PTSD/cultural factors)

New arrivals - knowledge of young person prior to assessment

Trauma

Confidence

New arrival

`Catch them out', story not matching. (E.g. substantive interview, SEF, lawyer, assist in taking statement, build up knowledge of how young person responds/presents compare this with existing info provided)

Looking for someone who is `at it'

Need other views

Role as carer in their family

Variation in quality of legal reps

Peer group

Level of maturity (How assessed?)

Young people from high class backgrounds, education etc - influence on assessment

Experience of certain groups e.g. Afghanistan

Difference in the routes taken to the UK. If fly direct from the Congo their experience very different from someone who has travelled overland from Afghanistan. Survival skills will be different.

Sexual maturity

Presentation over time, settle into unit/routine

Source of information/comparative issue

Websites/interpreters

Prior knowledge of country of origin

Knowledge of educational attainment and assessment in country of origin

Would they have to pay for education?

Confidence

When did they start school? Where did they learn English?

Gender balances

Information on education

Suspicion on behalf of young person- being doubted

Not wanting to engage

Arrival - affects how they respond

Make young person aware that lack of information/cooperation can affect assessment

Relate to trauma

Someone's abilities tells you about their skills not about age

Something in their behaviour that stands out as unusual

Interpretation - variation in staff view

Stroppiness not necessarily age dependent

Get health information

Not engaging in process, including LAAC nurses. Should include response saying not willing to comment.

Male/female development

Injuries - how long had them/how treated

Standardised from for health practitioners

Authenticated of documentation done by lawyer but it needs to be done by the Home Office

Is it consistent?

Is it credible?

Gut reaction

Interaction of peer group and response to worker

Comparisons with other young person from that country of origin

Comparisons with other presentations

Lead worker gives conclusion

If conflict in decision - speak to PTL.

Discuss conflict - resolution before report completion

What is view of young person

`Consistently stated that they were X years of age throughout assessment”

DOB within age range assessed (not currently what Home Office accepts)

Benefit of doubt