Every new framework attracts a few myths, and our first (and only one) we heard recently is the idea that SAEF “makes it hard for local authorities to conclude someone is an adult.” It’s an interesting claim, especially because it’s not true, and because it misunderstands what good age assessment practice is supposed to achieve.
SAEF was designed to support practitioners to reach clear, defensible, ethically grounded decisions by:
Far from making decisions “harder,” SAEF makes them stronger. We’ve completed assessments concluding that individuals are more likely to be adults using SAEF, and those decisions have held (we just don’t like to talk about them because it feels disrespectful). The decisions held, not because the framework is harsh, but because it supports practitioners to reach conclusions that are evidence based with care, clarity and respect.
If someone’s chief concern is that SAEF “won’t be able to conclude anyone is an adult,” it may be worth pausing to do what social workers love best , and reflect on what that reveals. Age assessments are not meant to be exercises in proving adulthood . They are meant to be fair, balanced inquiries into age not adulthood. If a practitioner approaches an assessment as though they must demonstrate adulthood, that is not a problem with SAEF, it is a problem with confirmation bias (something we highlighted in our research), and bias is exactly what leads to decisions collapsing in court.
SAEF doesn’t prevent adult conclusions, it prevents poorly evidenced decisions and that is exactly what an evidence based, ethical framework should do.
We know that new approaches can generate questions, and we welcome them, we will talk for hours about age assessment if you’ll let us! If anyone has questions about SAEF, the best place to get answers is from the source.
Our door is open, our training is comprehensive and our commitment to practitioner‑led, defensible, ethical age assessment is unwavering,
And if the biggest criticism someone can muster is that SAEF prevents biased decision‑making… well, we’ll take that as a compliment 😉.
