To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to introduce a training programme for immigration caseworkers on medical evidence of torture.
Answered on
9 January 2017
We consider all asylum claims in a sensitive manner on an individual, objective and impartial basis ensuring that all cases are managed effectively throughout the asylum process to avoid unnecessary delay.
All members of staff who make decisions in asylum receive training on inter-national and domestic law and safeguarding issues supplemented by a mentoring programme with an experienced caseworker that can last up to 6 months. Within the training there are specific sections that detail torture and Medico Legal Reports and how they should be used and analysed in asylum claims.
Asylum Operations recently received funding from the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund to review and redevelop its training prospectus. As part of that work, Asylum Operations is liaising with a range of external stakeholders - including migrant charities and non-governmental organisations - to ensure a robust and effective safeguarding training product.