Safeguarding children

The following indicators describe evidence that may show this expectation being met. They do not exclude other ways of achieving it.

• A comprehensive child protection policy and guidance are in place, which have been agreed by the local safeguarding children board or equivalent.
• All staff are aware of their personal and professional duty of care to any children in the centre, and receive appropriate training.
• Staff promptly raise any concerns about the safety and welfare of children in accordance with agreed referral procedures.
• All staff who have contact with children are properly vetted and trained.
• Staff are aware of their duty to raise legitimate concerns about the conduct of colleagues in relation to the treatment and management of children. Staff are encouraged by managers to raise any such concerns, and feel confident and safe to do so.
• There is regular monitoring of the number of children detained, their age and the duration of their detention.
• The burden of proof in age dispute cases is on the Home Office. Detainees have a Merton-compliant assessment unless their demeanour and appearance is clearly that of an adult significantly over the age of 18.²¹ All detainees who say they are children are treated as such until it is determined otherwise.
• If, despite a chief immigration officer’s (CIO’s) assessment to the contrary, facility staff believe that a detainee may be a child, they understand they have a duty to act on their assessment, and immediately inform facility managers, social services and the Home Office.
• There is effective governance of CIO age assessments which are monitored and subject to quality assurance. Where social services assess a detainee to be a child there is a multi-agency review of any prior CIO assessment; lessons are learned and reflected in future practice.

²¹This will be reviewed in light of changes in legislation.