Trafficking and exploitation
You can find array of statutory guidance and strategy on safeguarding unaccompanied and refugee children and child victims of modern slavery here.
Policy guidance
- Department of Education provides statutory guidance Care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery for Councils and professionals who provide support unaccompanied migrant children that may be victims, or potential victims.
- Home Office has produced a guidance on the roles and responsibilities of independent child trafficking guardians Interim guidance for independent child trafficking guardians.
- Home Office has produced guidance around Working together to safeguard children in a multi-agency setting.
Resources
- Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT UK) has catalogued key statutory guidance and strategy Guidance on safeguarding unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children and child victims of modern slavery.
- Barnardo’s provide an Independent Guardian Service (ICTG service), for unaccompanied children including those who are victims or potential victims of human trafficking. The service offers advice, guidance and support for children (aged under 18) who have been exploited or at risk of exploitation through trafficking and Modern Slavery, alongside support for the professionals involved with their care. As Councils support increased numbers of unaccompanied children via the National Transfer Scheme (NTS), we encourage Social Workers and other professionals to liaise with and explore the support the service can provide in identifying and supporting young people who may have experienced exploitation and trafficking through their journey or following arrival to the UK. They can offer advice on any concerns for individual children or to arrange awareness-raising sessions for staff and teams who would benefit from learning about the ICTG service and the needs of trafficked and exploited young people. Referrals to the ICTG Service can be submitted via ICTG Service Referral Form or by calling the Guardianship Assessment Team on 0800 043 4303.
- The Children’s Society has created a guide and resources on identifying risk factors for child exploitation #LookCloser Signs of child exploitation.
- NSPCC has produced a guide and resources on supporting UASC who have been trafficked or are at risk of being trafficked in Protecting children from trafficking and modern slavery.
- NSPCC has made a guide with information about child trafficking for practitioners supporting young people who are at risk of trafficking or have been trafficked. What You Need to Know About Child Trafficking.
- Home Office has a toolkit to safeguard children under 18 from criminal exploitation and trafficking Child exploitation disruption toolkit – GOV.UK.