Contents

Awareness and Training

Awareness for Everyone

We can all help end modern slavery by being aware of what to look. Signs that someone might be a victim of modern slavery include:
 

Behaviour/appearance

  • Appears to be missing for periods
  • Is known to beg for money
  • Answers appear to be scripted / Appear to be holding back on information
  • Having tattoos or other marks indicating ‘ownership’ by their exploiters
  • Victims may experience post-traumatic stress disorder, with the following symptoms: hostility, aggression, difficulty in recalling details or entire episodes, difficulty concentrating
     

Freedom of Movement

  • Is accompanied by a person who insists on remaining with them at all times 
  • Limited freedom of movement
  • Limited or no social interaction and poorly integrated into the community
  • Dependence on employer for services, e.g., work, transport, and accommodation
  • Limited contact with family
  • Never leaving the house without permission from an employer
  • Only leaving the house as a group
     

Health

  • Signs of physical or sexual abuse and/or has STIs or an unwanted pregnancy
  • Has not been registered with or attended a GP practice
  • Appears to services (doctor/council) only in the final months of a pregnancy
  • Bruises, cigarette burns and untreated injuries
  • Broken bones that haven’t healed properly
  • Malnourished
  • Learning difficulties or drug/alcohol dependent
  • Dental problems and poor hygiene
  • Neurological symptoms, headaches, dizzy spells, memory loss
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms (symptoms relating to the stomach or intestines)
  • Musculoskeletal symptoms (symptoms relating to the bones or muscles)
  • Work related injuries often through poor health and safety measures
  • Signs of mental health issues e.g., trauma, PTSD, panic attacks etc

Work

  • Wearing unsuitable clothing e.g., flip flops in winter; no helmet on construction site
  • Is required to earn a minimum amount of money every day
  • Poor health & safety equipment, no health & safety notices, and unhygienic, unsafe working conditions
  • Excessive working hours, no days off and little spare time to get lunch etc.
  • (Perception of) debt bondage
  • No or limited access to earnings or labour contract
  • Excessive wage reductions or financial penalties
  • Movement of individuals between sites or working in alternate locations

Documents/immigration

  • Has no passport or other means of identification
  • Has false travel/identity documentation
  • Is unable to confirm names and addresses of employer / contacts / home in UK
  • Does not appear to have money but does have a mobile phone
  • Is in possession of money and goods which are not accounted for
  • Coerced to apply for asylum or warned not to apply for asylum
  • Fear of revealing immigration status or lacks knowledge of immigration status

Accommodation

  • Workers are required to pay for food or accommodation via deductions from pay
  • Home delivery meal packaging
  • Crammed/rough sleeping conditions inc. ‘beds in sheds’
  • Cars or minibuses picking up at unusual times
  • Not eating with the rest of the family and no private sleeping place
  • Frequent visitors to residential premises
  • Lack of family photos and personal belongings
  • Post stacked up and discarded envelopes on floor
  • A script by a telephone on making benefits claims
  • Unable to show any autonomy over accommodation e.g., no tenancy, bills, or other in their own name

Employer

  • Employer reports them as a missing person
  • Employer accuses person of theft or other crimes related to their escape
  • Employer speaking on their behalf
  • Employer unable to produce documents required when employing migrant labour
  • Difficult to establish/prove relationship between adult and child(ren)
  • Single adult is contact for a large number of children/families /workers

The above list is not exhaustive and further information on the signs to look out for can be found on the Unseen website.

The UK Modern Slavery Helpline is available 24/7 to offer confidential advice and support for any victim, statutory agency, business, or member of the public regarding modern slavery suspicions or concerns. Trained Helpline Advisers are available to discuss potential signs of modern slavery and options for callers or victims in need.

Training for Professionals

Staff interact with our residents and businesses in a variety of ways. Training and support in identifying and reporting potential victims of Modern Slavery should be tailored to the type of role and area of work. As a Borough we should raise awareness of the issue of Modern Slavery, it is everyone’s business.

The table below outlines the training that should be undertaken by particular staff groups:

Level 1 – General Awareness for all staff and Councillors

The Level 1 training is available via Bexley's internal e-learning platform, Evolve.

This training also has links to further resources and training that may apply to your sector.

It covers:

  • general awareness of modern slavery
  • statutory duty
  • indicators
  • key contacts for referral

Mandatory for ALL local authority staff.

Level 2 – Adult’s Modern Slavery (Half-Day Workshop)

The training is delivered bi-monthly for professionals in the Bexley borough.

It covers:

  • what is modern slavery and human trafficking and applicable legislation
  • how to identify and respond to potential cases of modern slavery and human trafficking of adults, using indicators, and a victim-centred, multi-agency approach  
  • good practice models for multiagency work and what good internal referral mechanisms look like  
  • the National Referral Mechanism

Essential for:

  • Lead Officers in the Community Safety Partnership
  • Service Director Bexley Care
  • Head of Safeguarding adults 
  • Adults Social Care frontline staff 
  • Housing Staff 
  • Community Safety Staff
  • Children’s Social Care staff, particularly Youth Justice Service Manager, MASH, CREST and POC workers
  • Environmental Health Staff/Food Safety Staff
  • Licensing Teams Trading standards
  • Highways, planning and enforcement Staff
  • Contact Centre Staff
  • Frontline health staff
  • Police staff, especially in the Safer Neighbourhood Teams

Level 2 – Children’s Modern Slavery (Half-Day Workshop)

The training is delivered bi-monthly for professionals in the Bexley borough.

It covers:

  • what is child exploitation and different forms of exploitation
  • gender stereotypes and biases, and barriers to safeguarding
  • grooming and recruitment methods and indicators
  • disruption powers and applicable legislation
  • safeguarding processes and risk assessing; the importance of multi-agency working
  • the National Referral Mechanism

Essential for:

  • Lead Officers in Community Safety Partnership
  • Head of Children’s Safeguarding 
  • Children’s Social Care frontline staff, particularly MASH, CREST and POC workers 
  • Youth Services
  • Youth Justice Service Staff
  • Housing Staff 
  • Community Safety Staff
  • Service Director Bexley Care
  • Environmental Health Staff/Food Safety Staff
  • Licensing Teams Trading standards
  • Education Support Staff e.g., Education Welfare Officers, Inclusion Officers, School Improvement Advisors
  • Highways, planning and enforcement Staff
  • Contact Centre Staff
  • Frontline health staff
  • Police staff, especially those in specialist exploitation units