Age assessment: practice guidance

This document provides practice guidance for social workers and their managers involved in undertaking age assessments in Scotland.


Appendix 9: The Scottish Guardianship Service

The Scottish Guardianship Service is an additional national support service funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in a partnership between the Scottish Refugee Council and Aberlour. The service works with children and young people who arrive in Scotland unaccompanied and separated from their families, providing support to unaccompanied asylum seeking and trafficked children and young people.

Guardians support young people by helping them navigate the immigration and welfare processes, and feel supported and empowered throughout the asylum process, assisting them to access help when they need it and make informed decisions about their future.

Local authorities have statutory responsibilities for the provisions of care and support to Looked After Children and the Guardianship Service can work in partnership with local authorities to provide additional support to unaccompanied young people (age does not require to be assessed prior to referral and engagement). The service may also be able to assist social workers in identifying country specific information such as cultural practices etc which could contribute to age assessments. Further information about the current services can be accessed here:

http://www.aberlour.org.uk/services/scottish-guardianship-service/

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