Assessment is a key process that allows social workers to make sense of the child’s situation and the nature and extent of their needs, so they can make a professional judgement on the best intervention to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare.
Social workers working with UASC or the Home Office may suspect that an asylum seeking child is actually over 18 and that an age assessment needs to be carried out.
Social workers may wish to carry out or may be requested by the Home Office to carry out an age assessment because there is reason to believe the young person is aged 18 or over. Please see the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Minors section for more information.