This session’s content will focus primarily on experiences that the Sudanese communities may face in displacement within and outside their country of origin. This session will also focus on the Sudanese community’s experiences with services both while in displacement and in their country of origin. This session will be participatory and rely heavily on participant engagement through case studies and discussion, therefore we highly encourage participants to come prepared to have their cameras on during the session.

The Young Migrants Matter project within PAFRAS are offering a training session to improve your practice of working with young people who are seeking asylum. The training is delivered by experienced caseworkers and has been co-produced with young people who access PAFRAS.

Please note that this is an in person session. PAFRAS caseworkers take time away from their direct work with young people to deliver this training course. If you are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible as a courtesy to the case workers and their clients.

Audience

This training is for all professionals working with young people seeking asylum, including social workers, PAs, foster carers, supported lodgings providers, team managers, frontline professionals and volunteers. You must be based in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The objectives for the training:

• The tools to challenge damaging and divisive myths about migration.
• An awareness of international refugee law and asylum journeys.
• An understanding of the asylum process in the UK and how to support young people through each stage
• An awareness of rights and entitlement of young people seeking asylum.
• An understanding of how the hostile environment harms communities and is detrimental to migrants.
• An action plan for helping young people you may be supporting who are seeking asylum/have an insecure immigration status.

This session will be delivered by Immigration Social Work Service Ltd and will take place on:

• Wednesday 9th October 9:30am to 16:30pm

We recommend you accompany this training with the Human Rights Assessment and Working with Young People who are Appeals Rights Exhausted training being delivered the following day (it is a half-day course).

This course is aimed at social workers, team managers, and local authority legal teams. It is only available for those working in Yorkshire and Humber.

A link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to participants via email after booking has closed.

By the end of the course, you will:

• Understand the individual components of the triple planning process
• Develop your knowledge around the triple planning process and how to apply this when working with UASC (relevant and former relevant)
• Understand the new rules that have risen from the Nationality and Borders Act 2022
• Consider creative ways to meet the needs of young people within a complex, often hostile, immigration policy
• Feel confident in your work with young people, putting safety plans in place to reduce the risk of exploitation and destitution
• Utilise best practice from around the UK and Europe, implementing this into individual care and pathway plans

This session will be delivered by Immigration Social Work Service Ltd and will take place on:

• Thursday 10th October 9:30am to 13:30pm (half a day)

We recommend you accompany this training with the Triple Planning training being delivered the previous day.

This course is aimed at social workers, team managers, and local authority legal teams. It is only available for those working in Yorkshire and Humber.

A link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to participants via email after booking has closed.

By the end of the course, you will:

• Understand the timeline of an Asylum Claim for UASC and how this can lead to the Human Rights Assessment
• Determine when Local Authorities will need to undertake a Human Rights Assessment
• Demonstrate your understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Local Authority towards former relevant UASC who are Appeals Rights Exhausted (ARE) using up to date case law and legislation
• Develop best practice when working with those who are / or are at risk of becoming ARE
• Feel confident in your work with young people, putting safety plans in place to reduce the risk of exploitation and destitution
• Develop your understanding of the voluntary return scheme

This session will be delivered by Immigration Social Work Service Ltd and will take place on:

• Tuesday 7th January 9:30am - 16:30pm

It is only available for those working in Yorkshire and Humber.

A link to the Teams meeting will be sent to participants via email after booking has closed.

Course Content

The course is run in the following sections:

• What is an age assessment and why are they needed
• The impact on children and young people
• Case Law, Legislation and Policy (including the principles of a “Merton compliant” assessment)
• How to conduct a “brief enquiry” and make decisions at the initial point of contact
• Developing a 6 step process to complete a legally compliant assessment: Decision making around age assessment, planning the age assessment, preparation before the assessment, skills to undertake the assessment, writing up the assessment, feeding back outcome.

By the end of the course, learners will:

• Understand the differences between a “brief enquiry” and a “full Merton compliant” assessment and when to apply these in their work
• Make informed, legally compliant decisions around accommodating spontaneous arrivals at the initial point of contact
• Recognise the impact of these decisions on young people and adults and therefore take an empathetic approach to these pieces of work
• Develop their understanding of what makes an age assessment “Merton” compliant
• Increase their confidence in undertaking a full age assessment using a 6 step process
• Use new and existing social work tools to support the process of undertaking the age assessment in a child centred way
• Know where to find, and how to use, the most up to date guidance and reports to enhance the age assessment
• Understand the statutory roles and responsibilities of all agencies and professionals with an interest in the age assessment
• Write up the age assessment using an analytical approach to evidence conclusions