Government Support
Wading through the terminology
There's a lot of jargon used within the anti-slavery sector. Here are a few terms you might see:
National Referral Mechanism (NRM): The government's system for identifying and assessing potential victims of modern slavery, and a gateway to initial support and protection.
First Responder: The only people who can refer someone into the NRM.
Competent Authority: The decision-making body in the NRM.
Reasonable Grounds Decision (RG): After the initial referral, the competent authority makes a decision whether the person may be a victim of modern slavery. At this stage, they "suspect but cannot prove" that someone has been exploited. This should be made within five days of the referral. A positive RG entitles the person to support.
Conclusive Grounds Decision (CG): After further evidence gathering, the competent authority either accepts or rejects the person as a victim of modern slavery. This decision is made after 45 days, "on the balance of probabilities".
Main and sub-contractors: The Home Office currently oversees the NRM, and this is contracted to The Salvation Army for the administration of support. Support is then administed by sub-contracting to 12 other charities around the UK. Together, these charities deliver safe houses, outreach and reach-in support.
Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC): The Home Office provides support to adult potential and confirmed victims of modern slavery through the government-funded MSVCC. The Salvation Army is contracted by the government to provide accommodation, interpreting, financial support, and other assistance to adult victims of modern slavery and exploitation.
The type of support that's available for survivors of modern slavery and exploitation depends on whether the individual is an adult or a child.
Support for adults
An adult who is a potential victim of modern slavery can voluntarily choose to enter the NRM. If the person enters the NRM, the police will be informed, even if the person does not wish to speak to them. This is because it will be recorded as a potential crime.
If a person opts to enter the NRM, they are entitled to certain rights and support under the European Convention Against Trafficking (ECAT). This includes:
- Appropriate and secure accommodation
- Psychological assistance
- Material assistance
- Access to emergency medical treatment
- Translation and interpretation services
- Counselling and information, particularly in regards to their legal rights
- Assistance in criminal proceedings
- Access to the labour market, vocational training and education where appropriate
These become available to a person after a positive RG decision through the MSVCC, and remain available until a CG decision has been made. A CG decision can happen any time after 45 days, but in reality this often takes at least nine months.
When the person is referred to the NRM, they are not guaranteed accommodation until a positive RG decision has been granted. If the person is homeless and destitute, the referrer should contact The Salvation Army (0800 808 3733) to discuss earlier accommodation options before an RG decision is made.
If the person receives a negative CG decision, they will receive another 14 days of support. After this, the pathway for this person will depend on their personal circumstances and immigration status. A negative CG decision can be challenged if the person disagrees. Anyone can help them submit a request for reconsideration. Legally, the person could also challenge the decision through a judicial review. We highly recommend legal advice at this stage.
If the person receives a positive CG decision, their remaining needs are assessed. The person will only receive support with areas that relate to their exploitation. If the Home Office deems that their needs no longer fit this criteria, the person will be exited from the NRM.
Support for children
Children who have been exploited are supported and safeguarded by Children's Services, who refer the child into the NRM. The child does not need to consent to their referral, and child protection processes should continue alongside the NRM process. Once the referral has been made, the process is the same as for adults, with the Competent Authority deciding whether the child may or may not be a victim of modern slavery (making a Reasonable Grounds decision) and then, if a positive RG is made, whether to accept the child as a victim of modern slavery (through a positive Conclusive Grounds decision). The NRM is tailored to adults, rather than children, and thus specialist support for children is not provided.
Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTGs) are an independent source of advice for children who have been exploited, and act as somebody who can speak up on their behalf. The ICTG service is commissioned by the government and contracted to Barnardos, who provide ICTGs in a number of locations around the UK. Unfortunately, at the moment, there are no ICTGs in South Yorkshire.
At the Snowdrop Project, we appreciate that these systems are complicated to navigate. Although we are not First Responders, we run comprehensive training for both First Responders and non-First Responders which helps individuals understand their duties and the rights of survivors. To learn more about the training we offer, you can contact us on 0333 880 5008.
After the NRM
”The journey from being a victim to becoming a survivor is unique for each individual and without the right support in place, it is a journey many individuals cannot make”
- Snowdrop Project client
Without access to continued and long-term support, survivors are often extremely vulnerable to a host of issues including re-exploitation, homelessness and ongoing mental health problems. Although the NRM may assist someone with entitlements under the ECAT, there are often support and care needs that go beyond this.
The Snowdrop Project was created to address the unmet needs of survivors after the NRM. Due to the traumas of their past and the complexity of their lives, survivors still have multiple needs and intertwined issues, which are addressed during their time with Snowdrop. Across our clients. 80% have ongoing or new legal cases, 45% have little to no English, 100% have mental health problems (15% have complex mental health problems), 75% don’t live in stable accommodation and 100% have no job prospect at the point of referral. Without post-NRM support, survivors can quickly become isolated and left in a vulnerable position.
When Snowdrop was created in 2012, post-NRM support did not exist anywhere in the UK. Over the next eight years, we campaigned to make this provision accessible for all survivors. In 2021, the UK government created ‘Reach-In’ support. This means that, for those with a positive CG decision, they are entitled to receive advice and sign-posting. Although this does not cover all the long-term support needs of survivors, it is a step in the right decision. In 2021, Snowdrop decided to join the contract as a ‘Reach-In’ provider whilst continuing to provide charitably-funded advocacy and psychosocial support that goes beyond the remit of ‘Reach-In’. You can find out more about our ‘Reach-In’ work here.