Dear en,
This is in response to the article in the December issue of en about safeguarding migrant children.
The article refers to disastrous consequences where adults posing as children have been placed with younger children and I am aware that there was an occasion of sexual assault. However, as a social worker in child protection I have been involved in age assessments with two local authorities .
I cannot speak about the foster carer the article refers to, but in my experience great care has been taken when placing an unaccompanied asylum seeker, which includes ensuring that they are not placed in a home with younger or female children. In one case I was involved with, the placement was ended after two days when the carers felt they could not cope with the two young men placed with them.
The age assessment is complicated and certainly not fool-proof: for example, a 14year-old Afghan young man can have facial hair. But if done properly and within the relevant guidelines, it is thorough and closely monitored. An age assessment is only to be completed if there is doubt regarding a young person’s age.
Thank you,
