IMSA Model Development
You might have seen us talking about the Independent Modern Slavery Advocates (IMSA) Model Development…but what does this really mean?
Find out exactly what the IMSA Model Development involves below.
What is an IMSA?
The job of an Independent Modern Slavery Advocate (IMSA) is to empower survivors of modern slavery to make informed choices about their own recovery. IMSAs are trained experts who work alongside survivors to provide holistic advocacy, tailored to the individual and designed to meet both their social needs and legal rights. IMSAs work with survivors to help them access their legal rights and entitlements, overcome obstacles and navigate complex legal systems and services.
Where has the IMSA Model Development come from?
The collaboration between Snowdrop, Hope for Justice and the British Red Cross has built on the model of independent advocacy for survivors of modern slavery which has been developed by Hope for Justice over 11 years.
The model was also independently evaluated by Alexandra Wiliams-Woods, a researcher at the University of Liverpool, in 2020. The report found that Hope for Justice’s IMSA model provided an effective way of responding to the significant needs and structural disadvantages that survivors of modern slavery encounter, and led to considerably improved outcomes for survivors.
Crucially, the report also recommended that organisations work together to build an accredited IMSA role and framework. This recommendation was the key driver behind the IMSA Model Development.
So, what’s happening now?
The Snowdrop Project has collaborated with Hope for Justice and the British Red Cross, in addition to consultants with lived experience of modern slavery, to develop a framework for the accreditation of IMSAs in the UK. Currently, there is no accreditation for IMSAs in the UK, meaning there is no accredited provision of independent advocacy for survivors, despite this gap in support being well documented - including by the government itself. The National Referral Mechanism – the government’s system for identifying and referring potential victims of human trafficking and modern slavery – states in its handbook that, “adult victims of trafficking should have an allocated advocate…[this] should be a recognized professional role, accredited or officially recognized by competent authorities, national authorities, law enforcement authorities and statutory social services.”
Developing this accreditation will improve the standards, professionalism and consistency of care for survivors of modern slavery in the UK, helping survivors access the support they need to rebuild their lives. The IMSA Model Development initiative was first launched in 2021, with the aim of establishing an accredited framework which can be used to deliver a standardised IMSA service to survivors in the UK. The initiative is taking place in three stages:
Stage One: The first stage involved extensive consultation between Hope for Justice, the British Red Cross, Snowdrop, frontline staff and consultants with lived experience. The consultation process finished in May 2023, and involved organisations and representatives from across the UK and all sectors.
Stage Two: The second stage launched on 28th September 2023. The findings from Stage One were shared and the draft of the accredited framework was presented.
Stage Three: The last stage of the IMSA Model Development will see the final version of the accredited framework rolled out across the UK. At this stage, the initiative will have achieved its aim of establishing a standardised, professional and consistent level of care for survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery in the UK, through the provision of an accredited framework for IMSAs in the UK.
To keep up to date with the latest news about the IMSA Model Development, sign up to receive our newsletter here.
The Snowdrop Project wouldn't exist without our incredible community of supporters. Whether you choose to become a regular giver or make a one-off donation, your support means that we can continue helping more survivors recover, rebuild and see the light at the end of the tunnel.