Frequently Asked Questions

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• Best interest assessments including parental deportation cases, and family reunification assessments involving family abroad.  
• Age Assessments including complex age dispute cases. 
•  Adult dependent relatives, carers and welfare cases.  

Our independent social workers have a wealth of experience in statutory social work settings with separated children and families and they are experienced at providing evidence to court.  

Independent Social Work Assessments are costed inline with legal aid agency (LAA ), rates which are range from £35 per hour-£60 per hour depending on the case.  Legally aided Independent Social Work Assessments typically range in cost from £1000-£1500 depending upon the location and the number of family members involved .

Privately funded independent social work assessments are charged at £50 per hour and typically cost £1300-£1500 in total. 

The ISW reports are often completed within seven days however we ensure that reports are complete within a maximum of twenty working days. 

Independent social work best interest assessments sessions  typically take three to four hours to complete, dependent upon how many people are within the family 

• Full legally compliant age assessment conducted by two qualified experienced social workers who are experts in assessments with separated  (asylum seeking) children .
• A social worker who can conduct an assessment alongside a local authority social worker, demonstrating a trauma informed approach. This service can include an age assessment report. 
• A report conducted on a previous age assessment report completed by the NAAB or a Local Authority.

Independent Age assessments typically cost around £2500 - £3000 which covers the cost of two social workers and a high quality legally compliant  report.  Other age assessment services such as co-working and reporting on previous age assessments can be provided on request by emailing info@swimms.co.uk.

Independent age  assessments sessions  typically take place over two consecutive days . Young people are given plenty of breaks . Reports are provided within twenty working days of instruction and can be completed more urgently dependent upon availability.   

Social Work Immigration Matters conduct independent social work assessments  nationwide (excluding Wales and N.Ireland), and social workers will travel if face to face sessions are required.  Sessions can take place via secure video call depending on the case needs. 

We regularly work with families and solicitors across the UK and conduct independent social work assessments and age assessments in cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Bristol , Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. If you are outside of this area you can contact me as i cover most areas of the UK (except Ireland and Wales). 

We apply trauma informed principles to our independent social work assessments which are based on safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment and choice. We use a range of direct work tools which are tailored to the age of the child, avoiding direct question and answer based interviews where possible . We understand the risks of re-traumatising young people and  the benefits of creative approaches to gather information and the views and wishes of children being assessed. 

To  make a referral for an ISW to conduct an independent social work assessment email  info@swimms.co.uk. A brief summary of the case will be required following which a quote will be provided. 

Social Work Immigration Matters highly recommends using the Electronic Immigration Network (EIN) Directory where you can search for a country expert based on the country required. Visit  ILPA and EIN Directory of Experts on Countries of Origin | Electronic Immigration Network