1) How many asylum seekers or refugees under the age of 18 do you have in total?
As of 03/12/18, we have 20 asylum seekers or Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (aged under the age of 18) who are open and currently receiving a service.
2) How many age disputes have you had with asylum seekers since 2003? Can you break down this data by each year, so the number of age disputes in 2002, 2003, 2004, until 2018.
We hold this information but as disclosure may identify individuals and be in breach of data protection laws it is exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Section 40 (2) Personal Data.
3) How many age assessments have led to an asylum seeker being classed as an adult when they claimed they were a child since 2003? Can you break down this data by each year, so 2002, 2003, 2004, until 2018.
We hold this information but as disclosure may identify individuals and be in breach of data protection laws it is exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Section 40 (2) Personal Data.
4) How many age assessments have you gotten wrong since 2003? Can you break down this data by each year, in 2002, 2003, 2004, until 2018.
None. The Home Office is responsible for age assessments for children arriving as part of the national dispersal scheme.
5) The Home Office states that two social workers are required to carry out an age assessments. Are there specific factors the social workers look out for when carrying out an assessment?
The Home Office is responsible for age assessments for children arriving as part of the national dispersal scheme. Unaccompanied children arriving spontaneously in Devon are assessed by Devon County Council
Statutory guidance states that age assessments should not be a routine part of a local authority assessment of unaccompanied or trafficked children but only completed if there is significant reason to doubt the claimant is not a child.
Our age assessment form covers the following specific factors :
- Physical appearance and demeanour
- Interaction of person during assessment
- Social history and family composition
- Developmental considerations
- Education
- Understanding the level of ability, experience and confidence that a person has in being able to care for themselves
- Documentation authentication
- Views of significant figures involved with the young person