In this episode I'm joined by my friend and colleague Jo Schofield, Director of Immigration Social Work Services and one of the leading experts on age assessment in the UK. Jo has spent her career working with unaccompanied asylum seeking children, acting as an expert witness in court, and developing the SAFE framework - the Social Work Age Estimation Framework - which is changing the way social workers approach this area of practice.

We talk about what age assessment actually is and why it's so politicised, what the SAFE framework does and why it matters, confirmation bias in assessment practice, what courts are actually looking for when they scrutinise an age assessment, and why Jo thinks social workers are overcomplicating something that is at its core just an assessment like any other. We also get into the racism and adultification that underpins so much of how age assessment has historically been approached, and why SAFE offers a framework that is genuinely aligned with social work values.

Jo is also writing the first ever book on age assessment. It's a big deal and she is exactly the right person to do it.

If you're interested in training for your local authority, organisation or team, I work with a range of organisations across the UK delivering skills-focused safeguarding and social work training. Get in touch at [email protected] or find the link to book a conversation in the show notes.

This podcast is hosted by Vicki Shevlin, an independent social worker and safeguarding consultant with over ten years of experience. The content is intended to support your professional development and reflective practice. It is not a substitute for good quality supervision, statutory guidance, legislation, or your organisation's policies and procedures. Always refer to your local authority guidance and relevant statutory frameworks when making practice decisions. Nothing in this podcast constitutes formal legal or professional advice.

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