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Our Modern Day Slavery Referral Process

We are committed to working in partnership across the Borough to respond to modern day slavery. If you have any concerns, please refer to the information below.

National Referral Mechanism  (NRM)

If a person/family is in immediate danger always call 999.

If an adult, child or family is identified as a potential victim of trafficking or Modern Day slavery:

  • refer to the routes below;
  • and relevant contacts.

Refer any children to Children's Social Care (MAST) if:

  • you have additional safeguarding concerns in relation to the care they receive from their parent/carers;
  • or you have concerns that the children are not related to the adults and are therefore unaccompanied minors.

Note: Always refer unaccompanied minors to MAST:

  • Phone: (01422) 393336 (in normal working hours).

Adult or Family Victim

Referral to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM)

  • All potential adult victims must give consent to go through the NRM.

Only First Responders make referrals to this process. All Police Officers and Council officers are First Responders.

  1. Local Authority Initial Point of Contact should be notified of the potential referral. If you have consent inform the Police on 101.
  2. If you are a First Responder and you have consent, complete a NRM.
  3. If you are not a First Responder, the Police or the Council can send this form in for you.
  4. First Responders send this form to NCA Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit:
  5. The referral is then considered by a Competent Authority. This will be the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit or the Home Office UK Visa and Immigration UKVI. They will give a 'reasonable grounds' decision.
  6. While waiting for the decision, CMBC Housing will accommodate the person/family for up to 5 days.
    • Food/toiletries fund can be accessed via the Emergency Hardship Fund at St Augustine's Centre:
      • Phone: (01422) 352492.
    • A referral should now be made to Adults, Health and Social Care:
      • Phone: (01422) 393000.

If a decision is negative

The Council's Housing Options Team may be able to provide a place to stay short-term. This will depend on a persons' circumstances.

If the decision is positive

The person/family can have 45 days support , which includes housing.

They will be collected by the Salvation Army and taken to a place of safety, normally the same day. At this point, a caseworker will be allocated.

If collection is delayed AHSC should be contacted.

If the adult/family does not give consent to enter the NRM

A form (MS1) must still be completed, but anonymised. The Local Authority has a duty to notify the Home Office of any suspected victim they come across. (Section 52 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.)

For more details, visit: (GOV.UK) Modern slavery: how to identify and support victims.

Child(ren) Under 18 years

Unaccompanied children considered to be trafficked or a victim of modern slavery should be referred to Children's Social Care (CSC). This is to make sure there are no immediate safeguarding concerns.

  1. Refer via the Multi-Agency Screening Team (MAST):
    • Phone: (01422) 393336.
    • Follow up in writing within 48 hours using a Referral Form.
  2. If the case is open, discuss your concerns with the allocated social worker. CSC will complete NRM (if needed) within five working days.
  3. Any Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) case will be discussed and agreed via the CSE Hub. (Police or CSC will complete the form within five working days.)

Important: Safeguarding processes and actions take priority.

Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery Decision Making Table

  Action Means Purpose
Human Trafficking Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons. This can be internal movement or cross border.
  • Threat or use of force;
  • coercion;
  • abduction;
  • fraud;
  • deception;
  • abuse of power or vulnerability.

(There does not need to be a means used for children as they are not able to give informed consent.)

To exploit a person for benefit, such as:

  • sexual exploitation;
  • forced labour or domestic servitude;
  • slavery;
  • financial exploitation;
  • illegal adoption;
  • removal of organs.
Slavery, Servitude, Forced or Compulsory Labour Not needed for action to have been taken to bring person into the situation.

A person is held in a situation through:

  • threat or use of force;
  • coercion;
  • abduction;
  • fraud;
  • deception;
  • abuse of power or vulnerability.

(There does not need to be a means used for children as they are not able to give informed consent.)

To compel another to act in a way that amounts to slavery, servitude or forced/compulsory labour.
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Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery Decision Making Table

Contact

Out of hours

(Between 5pm and 9am on Bank Holidays and weekends.)

  1. West Yorkshire Police are the First Responders and can be contacted by calling 101.
  2. The person/family will be kept safe. As soon as they can, the Police will refer any adult/family to the Emer­gency Duty Team (EDT). This is to access emergency shelter.
  3. If the adult/family's decision/collection is delayed, the EDT will refer to Adult Social Care as a vulnerable adult. This will be to consider if ongoing services are needed while waiting for a NRM decision/action.

If the adult/family will not consent to Police involvement:

Calderdale Council Initial Point of Contact for information and advice:

MDS Calderdale Council Initial Point of Contact for Children:

MDS Point of contact Adults:

UK National Information and Advice

For independent expert advice, contact Hope For Justice:

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