Age Assessing Social Worker

Government Recruitment Service; Peterborough; Hybrid; CAD 52,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental recruitment agency seeks qualified social workers for a full-time role conducting Merton compliant age assessments on age-disputed asylum seekers across the UK. This position provides comprehensive training and involves engaging with local authorities, supporting legal challenges, and adopting a child-centred approach. The job requires national travel once or twice a week, with the flexibility to work from home or the nearest office facility. A minimum of 24 hours per week is required, with options for compressed hours.

Benefits

Comprehensive training

Travel expenses covered

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Registered social worker with Social Work England or equivalent in the UK.
• Ability to conduct Merton compliant age assessments.
• Experience in child protection and safeguarding.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Merton compliant age assessments in a fair manner.
• Represent the Home Office in local authority settings.
• Support legal challenges and prepare court statements.
• Engage with professionals involved in young people's care.
• Provide training to enhance quality in age assessment.

Skills

Child centred approach

Trauma-informed practice

Understanding of age assessment legislation

Communication skills

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter‑terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Visas, Passports, Citizenship & Resettlement Services and Asylum Group (VPCR & AG) is an important operational arm of the Home Office, responsible for delivering a wide range of public services that support the UK’s economy and cultural life. Our work spans the administration of passports, citizenship, civil registration, and visas, as well as managing asylum applications, support and accommodation, along with resettlement and returns.

The National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) was established in March 2023 as part of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and is still a relatively new age assessment function in the Home Office. The NAAB is recruiting up to four social workers who will undertake Merton compliant age assessments on age‑disputed asylum seekers. The role offers the opportunity for qualified and experienced social workers to join a national team conducting age assessments on behalf of local authorities across the UK, and to become experts in the field of age assessment, developing strong working relationships with a variety of stakeholders and partners.

Successful applicants will support local authorities in improving age assessment practices and raising standards. NAAB social workers work in pairs to conduct ‘Merton’ compliant age assessments across the UK, ensuring young people remain at the heart of the process. Assessments must be robust, legally defensible, and completed within agreed timescales.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop an excellent working knowledge and understanding of the Merton age assessment process.
• Represent the Home Office in local authority settings across the UK to deliver a high‑quality service through the completion of robust but fair age assessments. This could include engagement with local authority social workers, teachers, foster carers and other professionals involved in the young person’s care.
• Support the Home Office response to legal challenges, where they arise, including preparing court statements and giving evidence in court.
• Use working knowledge of legislation and case law relevant to age assessment in all parts of the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, where applicable). Develop and contribute to activity as part of the NAAB’s quality assurance framework.
• Adopt a child centred and trauma‑informed approach to working with young people and undertaking assessments. Provide the appropriate statutory response to any child protection or safeguarding concerns that come to light during the age assessment process.
• Adapt personal practice in response to feedback given through the quality assurance process.
• Contribute to the delivery of the NAAB’s engagement strategy. Drive up expertise and quality in the age assessment field, by contributing to and delivering high quality training to local authorities.

A check will be made to verify you are a social worker, registered with Social Work England, or the equivalent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Your application will not be progressed until this verification has been completed successfully.

Working Pattern

This role is available on a full‑time basis with the option of compressed hours working. This role is also suitable for part‑time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 24 hours over a minimum of 3 days per week due to business requirements.

Training

You will receive comprehensive training, including Age Assessment and Level 2 Personal Safety, delivered online and on the job with ongoing support from managers and colleagues. Even after training, you’ll work as part of a team with advice and guidance always available.

Travel

The role involves frequent national travel typically once or twice a week with occasional overnight stays. All travel and related expenses are covered by the Home Office. When not conducting assessments, you can work from home or your nearest NAAB Home Office site.