HC Deb 22 June 2004 vol 422 cc1373-4W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on initial training for immigration officers and caseworkers. [177933]

Mr. Browne

Initial training for newly recruited Immigration Officers (IDs) consists of six weeks classroom based training for those serving at Ports of Entry or eight weeks for those serving on enforcement duties, which is focused on the role of the IO and covers the Immigration Act and its implementation. Training also includes asylum, human rights, race relations and equal opportunity issues. This is then followed by a period of up to four weeks operational work supervised by a more experienced IO acting as a mentor.

Initial training for asylum caseworkers consists of an 11 day training course which covers all aspects of asylum casework and how to deal with human rights allegations raised by asylum seekers. Immediately following this training, caseworkers move directly to a Mentoring Unit where they remain for at least another 11 days to develop their casework skills through the consideration of "dummy" and subsequently "live" cases.

After formal training and mentoring, less experienced IOs and caseworkers will continue to receive support (for example from more experienced colleagues and senior officers).

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what refresher training is in place for experienced immigration caseworkers. [177934]

Mr. Browne

All asylum caseworkers receive refresher training to consolidate their interviewing skills after they have been in post for three months. There is also a rolling programme of workshops run by the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, the aim of which is to equip caseworkers better to interview asylum applicants who have been victims of torture.

Other additional training is provided as and when required, such as in respect of changes in legislation or procedures or in response to weaknesses identified by quality assurance work. For example, all asylum caseworkers have recently been invited to attend a refresher course to better equip them to deal with human rights allegations raised alongside asylum claims.

In addition, representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also undertake presentations to provide information about their work and to discuss the procedures and criteria for determining refugee status with asylum caseworkers.