Asylum Transport Assistant

I’ve been an Asylum Transport Assistant (ATA) for just over a year now. I’m based in Dulwich and generally work Monday to Friday, although I occasionally provide weekend cover. My day starts with a team meeting, when the Central Control Centre (CCC) faxes over a service user transport list. This effectively tells us when and where we need to be and who we are transporting. This can vary from one long journey to three or four shorter ones. The longest journey I’ve had to make was Dulwich to Liverpool - a 400 mile round trip.

We provide transport for asylum claimants who have arrived in the country with nowhere to stay. Initially, we transport them from their port of entry to the Asylum Screening Unit (ASU) in Croydon where they are interviewed and this is their opportunity to provide documents to support their application. After this initial screening, claimants who are destitute are transported by us to their accommodation. Asylum claims can take several months and during this time, claimants are expected to attend regular appointments at an Immigration Centre or they may have to change accommodation during this period. All transporting of asylum claimants is undertaken by ATAs and last year we carried out over 85,000 moves, so we are always busy and no two days are the same.

All our movements are generated from the CCC, which ensures the correct number of staff and vehicles are allocated daily. We generally work in pairs but there are occasions when we need a bigger team for the day’s activities. All our vehicles are kitted out with GPS technology.

Many of the people we transport have fled areas of conflict and persecution, they may have children with them and they may be frightened of their uncertain future. We have to be able to treat them with sensitivity and understanding. They are from many different backgrounds and cultures and so it is important to respect this. Good communication skills and the ability to remain calm when a problem arises are vital to this job.

Every day offers a new challenge which gives me so much satisfaction. My biggest challenge to date was when I transported a pregnant service user. Her paperwork said she was eight months preganant, however just as we reached her accommodation, she went into labour! I stayed calm and called the ambulance service, but for a time I thought I would have to fetch the hot water and towels! Luckily the ambulance arrived in time. The good thing about this particular incident was that I got to meet the mother again a few days later with her healthy new born baby.