The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) has commenced an inspection of the Home Office's use of age assessments.
This inspection will focus on the efficiency, effectiveness and consistency of age assessments conducted by the Home Office, with a particular focus on the Illegal Migration Intake Unit, the Asylum Intake Unit and the National Age Assessment Board, and including:
- guidance, training, and development
- workforce planning
- record keeping and data collection
- quality assurance, risk management, and safeguarding
- stakeholder engagement
This call for evidence will remain open until close of play 25 September 2024.
As Independent Chief Inspector, I am inviting anyone with knowledge or first-hand experience of an age assessment conducted by the Home Office to submit evidence to inform this inspection. I would like to hear about both what is working well and what could be improved.
I would therefore welcome any case studies from those who have worked with individuals who have undergone a Home Office age assessment.
Please note that the ICIBI's statutory remit does not extend to investigating or making decisions about individual cases. This remains a Home Office responsibility. However, the Independent Chief Inspector can take an interest in individual cases to the extent that they illustrate or point to systemic problems.
Please also note that the information you submit may be quoted in the final inspection report. However, it is the ICIBI's practice not to name sources and to anonymise as much as possible any examples or case studies.
