Age Assessment Co-ordinator

London Borough of Hillingdon; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

36-hour week

Generous holiday entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Perkbox benefits

Mental health support

Travel support

Job summary

London Borough of Hillingdon is recruiting an Age Assessment Co-Ordinator to coordinate age assessment referrals for unaccompanied asylum-seeking and age-disputed young people. You will ensure timely, trauma-informed assessments that meet statutory requirements and support practitioners and managers to deliver high-quality practice.

You will work with Social Workers, Legal Services, Home Office, Health and Education to plan, coordinate and decide outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in safeguarding or Children’s Services.
• Experience coordinating complex assessment processes across agencies.
• Strong understanding of age assessment practice, statutory guidance and relevant case law.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and complex workflows.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate all age assessment referrals from initial referral through to completion.
• Monitor and track age-disputed cases, identifying risks, delays and required actions.
• Ensure assessments are completed in line with statutory guidance, case law and local procedures.
• Coordinate interpreters, appropriate adults, venues and assessment arrangements.
• Support practitioners and managers with guidance on age assessment processes and legal requirements.
• Organise and facilitate planning meetings and multi-agency discussions.
• Assist with the preparation of reports, chronologies, evidence bundles and documentation.
• Coordinate information sharing with partner agencies and the Home Office.
• Support quality assurance activity and inspection readiness.
• Contribute to service development, policy improvement and workforce learning.
• Promote trauma-informed, strengths-based and child-centred approaches throughout the assessment process.
• Help improve outcomes for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and age-disputed young people.

Skills

Safeguarding

Multi-agency coordination

Organised

Communication

Trauma-informed practice

Tools

Case management systems

Job description

Join Hillingdon's Outstanding Cared for Children’s Service.

About the role

Join Hillingdon's Outstanding Cared for Children’s Service.

Make a Difference for Some of the Most Vulnerable Young People

If you are passionate about safeguarding children, ensuring fair and lawful decision-making, and want to play a key role in supporting unaccompanied children seeking asylum and age-disputed, Hillingdon is the place for you.

Following our recent Outstanding Ofsted judgement, we continue to invest in our services and workforce, creating an environment where staff are supported to deliver high-quality practice and achieve the best outcomes for children and young people.

That's why we offer:

• Ambitious, dynamic and welcoming teams where you will be supported in your practice and your professional growth


• Salary up to £43,449


• Stable and experienced permanent leadership team


• Visible, accessible and supportive managers and senior leaders


• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements


• Easily accessible location, just minutes from Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines and the M40 with free parking.


• Excellent learning, development and career progression opportunities


• Regular supervision and reflective practice


• Modern working environments


• Comprehensive wellbeing support


• TOIL provided


• Up to 34 days annual leave rising to 37 days with long service, plus bank holidays


• Local Government Pension Scheme


• Opportunity to contribute to innovative and transformative services for children and young people


• A relationship-based and trauma-informed practice model

Hillingdon is committed to ensuring that every child and young person receives fair, lawful and child-centred support.

As our Age Assessment Co-Ordinator, you will play a pivotal role in coordinating and overseeing the age assessment process for unaccompanied asylum-seeking and age-disputed young people. You will ensure assessments are completed in a timely, trauma-informed and legally robust way, supporting practitioners and managers to deliver high-quality practice that stands up to scrutiny.

You will work closely with Social Workers, Team Managers, Legal Services, the Home Office, Health, Education, Police and other partners to ensure effective planning, coordination and decision-making.

Our approach is simple:

Protect Children. Ensure Fairness. Deliver Quality.

Through effective coordination, quality assurance and partnership working, you will help ensure young people receive appropriate support, placements and services at the right time.

The Role

• Coordinate all age assessment referrals from initial referral through to completion.


• Monitor and track age-disputed cases, identifying risks, delays and required actions.


• Ensure assessments are completed in line with statutory guidance, case law and local procedures.


• Coordinate interpreters, appropriate adults, venues and assessment arrangements.


• Support practitioners and managers with guidance on age assessment processes and legal requirements.


• Organise and facilitate planning meetings and multi-agency discussions.


• Assist with the preparation of reports, chronologies, evidence bundles and documentation.


• Coordinate information sharing with partner agencies and the Home Office.


• Support quality assurance activity and inspection readiness.


• Contribute to service development, policy improvement and workforce learning.


• Promote trauma-informed, strengths-based and child-centred approaches throughout the assessment process.


• Help improve outcomes for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and age-disputed young people.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for an organised, knowledgeable and passionate professional who is committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.

You will have:

• Experience working within Children's Services, safeguarding or a related field.


• Experience coordinating complex assessment processes and multi-agency activity.


• Strong understanding of age assessment practice, statutory guidance and relevant case law.


• Excellent organisational and planning skills.


• The ability to manage competing priorities and complex workflows.


• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.


• Experience preparing and maintaining accurate records and documentation.


• A commitment to trauma-informed, strengths-based and child-centred practice.


• An understanding of legal processes and the importance of defensible decision-making.

Why Hillingdon?

At Hillingdon, we are proud of what we’ve achieved:

• Outstanding Ofsted judgement


• Stable and experienced permanent leadership team


• Strong culture of support and collaboration


• Commitment to workforce wellbeing


• Investment in learning and professional development


• Opportunities to influence service development and improvement


• Innovative and forward-thinking Children’s Services


• Focus on delivering the best possible outcomes for children and young people

Our staff tell us that what makes Hillingdon different is the combination of supportive leadership, collaborative working relationships and the opportunity to make a genuine difference every day.

Make Your Next Career Move Count

If you’re looking for an Outstanding local authority where your contribution is valued, your development is supported and your work has a meaningful impact on children’s lives, we’d love to hear from you.

Join Hillingdon’s Children’s Services as an Age Assessment Co-Ordinator and help ensure vulnerable young people receive the right support at the right time.

About You

About us

We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the fantastic benefits we provide:

• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.


• 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.


• Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).


• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.


• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).


• Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.


• Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.


• Perkbox Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Perkbox Benefits.


• Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.


• Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.


• Trade Union Membership – The Council recognises UNISON, Unite, AEP and GMB and supports employees’ freedom of choice in relation to trade union membership.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.

The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.

Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation’s success.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a 'per application' basis.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre-employment screening:

• Enhanced DBS Check


• 5 years of Referencing

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.