Paper on Merton compliant Age Assessment
Physical Appearance
Get the judgement of more than one worker. Preferably from someone who has some experience of young people from that particular country.
How have they reacted to whoever referred them? SRC, Police, Standby, other?
Keep in mind that the young person may have travelled for some time and may be hungry and exhausted. How do they present once they have slept and eaten?
Interaction of Person during assessment
How have they told their story? Have they appeared distressed or very calm? How have they responded if questioned on aspects of their story that do not appear to make sense?
Social History and Family Composition
Depending on the age it may be appropriate to use a diagram or figure of family members to illustrate the history.
Ask what age the person was at times of change (e.g. when the family fled to another country)
Developmental Consideration
How does the young person respond to authority/instruction? How do they respond to questioning especially if it challenges what the young person has said.
Take comments from children’s unit, Campus staff etc (Issue of staff who may not want to give their views)*
If they have initially been treated as an adult and have been dispersed as such, how have they responded to the expectations placed on them?
Education
Take their school history. What subjects did they cover? Use sources of information on schooling in the country of origin e.g. IOM websites. Compare info known with the details given by the young person.
If schooling has been interrupted by conflict, check as many details as possible. Independent/Self Care Skills
The cultural factors can have a major impact on the roles and tasks that the young person may have had in their country of origin.
If they are placed in a children’s unit what is their level of self care? Do they cook for themselves? How do they interact with their peers?
Health and Medical Assessment
Make use of any medical views (LAAC nurse, Health visitor, GP, specialist).
[Issue of medical staff being willing to take part in this process]
If they have received medical treatment clarify what this was for and treatment received. How have they responded to medical intervention and complied with treatment?
Information from documentation and other sources
If documents are available check their validity (e.g. with UKBA)
If the young person is known through other UASC’s (siblings, cousins etc) how does their account match with the known person?)
Analysis of Information Gained
What conclusion have you come to? As an individual worker what is your own impression of the young person? What is that based on?
If other staff have been involved e.g. Social Care Assistants, Assist – what has their experience been and does this match other people’s?
Assessment of Age
State the conclusion clearly of the age you believe the young person to be.
Right of Appeal
There will require to be a right of appeal for the young person if they disagree with the age assessment.
Who is best placed to assist them with this? Legal representatives? Children’s Rights officers? Who needs to hear this (JD?) Head of Children’s Services?