Having conducted age assessments across local authority, criminal court, and judicial review contexts - and having reviewed hundreds of assessments written by other practitioners - I've seen first-hand what separates assessments that hold up from those that fall apart under scrutiny. The patterns are remarkably consistent. When assessments are successfully challenged, it's rarely because the court reaches a different view on age. It's almost always because of process failures

Age assessments are among the most challenging and consequential tasks undertaken by social workers. When conducted on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, these assessments determine whether a young person receives vital child protection services or is treated as an adult. The stakes couldn't be higher, and the margin for error is slim. Since the landmark Merton judgment in 2003, the courts have consistently emphasised the need for rigorous, fair, and well-documented age a

Age assessments for unaccompanied minors in the UK are critical but complex, determining access to vital support for vulnerable young...

When local authorities and legal firms conduct age assessments in the UK, one of the most important benchmarks remains the Merton-compliant framework. With changing legislation and increasing scrutiny—especially following the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and the introduction of the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB)—it's crucial to ensure assessments are conducted lawfully, ethically, and with due care in 2025. But what does it mean to be Merton-compliant in today’s co

Accurately determining the age of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum is crucial for local authorities to meet their statutory duties....

Age assessments are a vital process in determining whether an individual seeking asylum in the UK is a child or an adult. The outcome...

Age assessments play a critical role in determining whether an asylum seeker is a child or an adult, which in turn affects the level of...

The establishment of the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) by the Home Office has sparked significant opposition from various...

In a significant development that may impact the U.K. government’s immigration policies, radiographers are considering a refusal to...

In the evolving landscape of social work, the needs of young refugees arriving from war-torn areas such as Sudan present unique...

In the intricate landscape of providing support for unaccompanied minors seeking refuge in the UK, social workers and professionals face...

In my role as a social work manager within a local authority, I oversee a team dedicated to supporting unaccompanied minors. This work...

The Transformative Power of Age Assessment Training in Social Work Professional development is the cornerstone of a thriving social work...

Unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the UK often face a multitude of traumatic experiences that profoundly affect their well-being....

Introduction The language used in the press plays a crucial role in shaping public perception of unaccompanied minors. The words and...

The Importance of Foster Carer Training in Supporting Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) Fostering Introduction: Foster care...

Introduction: As social workers, we have a crucial role to play in supporting the well-being of young people who have experienced trauma....

Introduction Age assessment is a crucial process that plays a significant role in various fields, particularly when dealing with...