‘Functional but flawed’: social workers’ experiences of using the ADCS guidance to complete age assessments in England

This paper explores the use of the ADCS Age Assessment Guidance (AAG) (2015) in one local setting, reflecting on its child-centredness in practice, using reflexive thematic analysis of interviews with five Social Workers from a local authority Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children’s (UASC) team. Five themes were developed: Functional but Flawed, Difficulty with Doubt, ‘It’s a Panel Interview!’, Analysing Authenticity, and ‘Luxury of Time’. The analysis suggests a need for a practical approach to Age Assessments, including providing the young person with a choice to readdress power imbalances, recognising that chronological age is not a universal truth, and remaining open-minded, non-judgemental, and utilising a multidisciplinary approach. Finally, the paper advocates for updated guidance, with less emphasis on procedures, country-specific information, and dedicated time for social workers to complete age assessments, including preparation time and both peer and management reflection sessions to improve practice and support professional development.