Irregular Migration Intake Unit Social Worker
Please note this role is not open to individuals who work in the social care sector, unless they are already qualified social workers.
Location: Dover
Salary: £44,720 - £47,850
Plus allowance of 24.05% which equates to an additional £10,755pa based on salary minimum.
Business area: HO - Border Force - Irregular Migration Intake Unit
The Irregular Migration Intake Unit (IMIU) is responsible for the timely processing of irregular migrants, consisting of the registration and screening of those arriving in the UK illegally, locking the identity of asylum claimants from small boat arrivals, lorry drops and other clandestine arrivals.
IMIU consists of the Kent Intake Unit (KIU), Midlands Intake Unit (MIU) within Yarl’s Wood IRC, Belfast Intake Unit (BIU), Intake Response Team (IRT), Manston Onsite Operations, Manston Remote Operations and the Corporate Enablement Functions.
These roles will work alongside our Kent Intake Unit (KIU) who primarily deal with new arrivals detected either near the port, in the surrounding area in Kent, and small boat arrivals. The unit operates 24/7, 365 days of the year. Those arriving at the Kent Intake Unit will already be detained, so the Kent Intake Unit includes a holding room facility. The Kent Intake Unit has a particular focus around processing unaccompanied children, so the work of the unit involves the identification of those children and working closely with Kent Children’s Services to ensure they are processed and placed into appropriate care as quickly as possible.
Job description: We are looking for candidates who are qualified social workers, with extensive post-qualification experience in a local authority setting. Alongside proven expertise and experience in complex assessments, you will thrive in a fast-paced environment with the accountability for a high-profile area of work.
Responsibilities:
1. Age Determination & Safeguarding at Point of Entry:
o Conducting initial age decisions in collaboration with Border Force and Home Office officials.
o Providing professional judgment on immediate age concerns while ensuring fairness, consistency, and adherence to child protection principles.
o Identifying and escalating cases requiring Merton-compliant full age assessments and where necessary; conducting Merton-compliant assessments on behalf of the Home Office where requested.
o Ensuring trauma-informed, child-centred approaches in all assessments and interactions.
2. Safeguarding & Child Protection:
o Identifying children at risk of exploitation, trafficking, or harm and making immediate safeguarding interventions.
o Working with Border Force and local authority safeguarding leads to ensure children’s safety and appropriate placement.
o Offering advice on risk assessments and action plans for children presenting safeguarding concerns.
3. Enhancing Border Force & Immigration Expertise:
o Delivering guidance to immigration officers on child protection, trauma-informed practice, and modern slavery indicators through social work practice awareness sessions.
o Supporting decision-making by providing professional social work insight on the presentation and vulnerabilities of UASC.
o Contributing to developing improved Home Office protocols for UASC identification and safeguarding.
4. Assessing Family & Kinship Relationships:
o Conducting rapid assessments of claimed family connections to prevent child trafficking and ensure safe reunification.
o Liaising with local authorities to verify family relationships where required.
o Preventing inappropriate placements by identifying potential safeguarding concerns in family claims.
5. Reporting & Multi-Agency Coordination:
o Producing clear, concise reports on the assessment of age, safeguarding risks, and well-being concerns.
o Ensuring accurate and timely record-keeping in line with Home Office and Social Work England standards.
Essential criteria: You must be able to demonstrate:
* Being a qualified Social Worker (Degree in Social Work, Social Work England registered).
* Experience in age assessment and child protection within an immigration/asylum context.
* Strong knowledge of safeguarding laws, human rights, and asylum processes.
* Experience working with UASC, trafficked children, and survivors of trauma.
* The ability to work in high-pressure environments with rapid decision-making.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills for reporting and evidence recording.
Licences: Hold full valid UK manual or automatic driving licence BEFORE applying. Due to the nature of the work and the geographical area, travel by official vehicle will be inevitable, you must be able to present it to demonstrate your eligibility. Failure to do so will result in your application being rejected.
Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker (Degree in Social Work, Social Work England registered).
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