Hi, my name is Chris, and I am a Social Worker and a member of the Border Force team in Dover.
Prior to joining the Home Office, I worked in various roles and teams in Local Authority Social Care. I gained a lot of knowledge working with children in care, children subject to Child Protection plans and court proceedings, and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children. I was initially employed by the Home Office as an Independent Social Worker, before successfully gaining a permanent Civil Service post as a Social Worker in February 2025.
I already had good insight and understanding of the role expectations, and I’m passionate about the work we do with unaccompanied minors. The Civil Service ethical practice of honesty, integrity, impartiality, and objectivity closely aligns with professional Social Work values, which are rooted in the principles of welfare and care – which attracted me to this role.
Every day is different, as you are either monitoring and supporting the welfare needs of unaccompanied minors, advising on assessments of relationships within families or supporting and bringing critical expertise to officers carrying out initial age decisions of those arriving in the country irregularly and claiming to be minors.
I love my job and was particularly drawn to working with unaccompanied minors and irregular arrivals, as they can be some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Ensuring the safety of all the children we have a duty to protect is one of the most challenging but rewarding aspects of the role.
In my personal life, I’m an avid DIY’er, and I’m always working on a project. it has been vital for me to have a good work/life balance, and working on a rostered shift basis allows plenty of days off to paint another wall, walk my dogs, work in my garden, or spend time with my family.
The role of a Social Worker for the Home Office offers a positive work/life balance, job security, a good pension scheme, supportive management, and helpful resources for supporting staff that need it. I would certainly encourage anyone who is committed to making a difference and getting things right to consider applying for a job with the Home Office.
