The National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) now plays a significant role in how Merton-compliant age assessments are conducted across England. As a social worker with over 25 years' experience in children's services, including nine years managing a specialist UASC team, I think the sector needs to ask some honest questions about whether this model best serves young people — and whether the resource could be deployed more effectively elsewhere. The establishment of the National A

Few phrases appear more frequently in age assessment practice — and few are more consistently misunderstood. "Benefit of the doubt." Solicitors invoke it in instructions. Social workers apply it in reports. Courts scrutinise whether it has been properly understood. And yet, in my experience of conducting and reviewing Merton-compliant age assessments, it remains one of the most misapplied principles in the entire field. This post sets out what the principle actually means, wh

Age assessments are one of the most consequential processes in the UK immigration and children's services system — and one of the least understood. This post explains the role of the appropriate adult in an age assessment, why it matters, and where to access free training resources on the topic. What is an age assessment? An age assessment is a formal process carried out by a local authority when there is genuine doubt about whether a young person claiming to be a child is ac

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....