Policy statement
Modern slavery (or modern-day slavery) is a human rights violation and has severe consequences for the health and wellbeing of survivors. It is an exploitative crime that impacts on physical and mental health and has public health implications.
This policy serves to inform staff at Ecoflix Foundation about modern slavery and the impact it can have on affected patients and the healthcare they receive.
Status
This document and any procedures contained within it are non-contractual and may be modified or withdrawn at any time. For the avoidance of doubt, it does not form part of your contract of employment.
Training and support
The organisation will provide guidance and support to applicable staff to understand their rights and responsibilities under this policy. Additional support will be provided to managers and supervisors.
Who it applies to
This document applies to all employees, partners and directors of the organisation. Other individuals performing functions in relation to the organisation such as agency workers, locums and contractors are encouraged to use it.
Furthermore, it also applies to clinicians who may or may not be employed by the organisation but who are working under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS).
Why and how it applies to them
Staff at Ecoflix Foundation must be aware that modern slavery and human trafficking exist within many communities nationally. As such, all staff must be aware of signs that could indicate modern slavery and know how to support those affected.
The organisation aims to design and implement policies and procedures that meet the diverse needs of our service and workforce, ensuring that none are placed at a disadvantage over others, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. Consideration has been given to the impact this policy might have with regard to the individual protected characteristics of those to whom it applies.
Modern slavery
Modern slavery is defined as the recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of children, women or men through the use of force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability, deception or other means for the purpose of exploitation.
Human trafficking
This is the movement of people by means such as force, fraud, coercion or deception with the aim of exploiting them. It is a form of modern slavery.
Modern Slavery Act 2015
The Modern Slavery Act gives law enforcement the tools to fight modern slavery and to ensure perpetrators can receive suitably severe punishments for these crimes and also enhances support and protection for victims.
Servitude
The obligation to provide services imposed by coercion
Forced or compulsive labour
Involuntary work performed under the menace of a penalty such as violence or intimidation
Female genital mutilation (FGM)
FGM is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. The female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed for no medical reason. Whilst it is not widely considered as a form of human trafficking, it may be an indication to consider.
It is also known as female circumcision or cutting.
Cuckooing
Cuckooing is when professional criminals take over a vulnerable adult’s home for criminal activities. Cuckooing is commonly associated with drug dealing.
These criminals are very selective about who they target as ‘cuckoo’ victims and are often entrepreneurial.
Victims of cuckooing are often drug users but can include older people, those suffering from mental or physical health problems, female sex workers, single mothers and those living in poverty. Victims may suffer from other forms of addiction such as alcoholism and are often already known to the police. Dealers often approach the victim offering free drugs in exchange for using their home.
Cuckooing increases the risk of domestic abuse, sexual exploitation and violence. Children as well as adults may be used as drug runners.
Gangs are generally known to access several addresses, moving quickly between vulnerable people’s homes for just a few hours, a couple of days or sometimes longer. This helps gangs to evade detection so they can operate from a discreet property, out of sight, under the police radar. These gangs may use accommodation in rural areas including serviced apartments, holiday lets, budget hotels and caravan parks.
Manchester Safeguarding Partnership states that when the criminals use the victim’s property for criminal enterprises, the inhabitants become terrified of going to the police for fear of being suspected of involvement in drug dealing or being identified as a member of the group which would result in their eviction from the property. Some vulnerable adults may be forced to leave their homes, making themselves homeless and leaving the gangs free to sell drugs in their absence.
The BBC article titled ‘Cuckooing’: When drug gangs take over your own home provides a good insight into this issue.
Honour-based abuse
The Crown Prosecution Service describes honour-based abuse as
Women are predominantly (but not exclusively) the victims and this can be distinguished from other forms of violence as it is often committed with some degree of approval and/or collusion from family and/or community members. Males can also be victims, sometimes as a consequence of their involvement in what is deemed to be an inappropriate relationship, if they are gay or if they are believed to be supporting the victim.
Honour based abuse cuts across all cultures, nationalities, faith groups and communities, usually where a culture is heavily male dominated. Relatives may conspire, aid, abet or participate in honour-based abuse for what might seem to be a trivial transgression.
Modern slavery and human trafficking explained
Slavery is an umbrella term for activities when one person obtains or holds another person in compelled service. Someone is in slavery if they are:
Forced to work through mental or physical threat
Owned or controlled by an ‘employer’ usually through mental or physical abuse or the threat of abuse
Dehumanised, treated as a commodity or bought and sold as ‘property’
Physically constrained or have restrictions placed on his/her freedom
Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery and concerns the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people. This is recognised as possibly being for the purposes of exploitation which includes (but this list is not exhaustive):
Human trafficking
Forced labour
Domestic servitude
Sexual exploitation, such as escort work, prostitution and pornography
Debt bondage, such as being forced to work to pay off debts that realistically they never will be able to
Registration and treatment
Asylum seekers, refugees and migrants face many of the same health problems as the UK population. In addition, they may:
Have poor awareness of the NHS and fear barriers to accessing treatment
Come from countries of origin with poor healthcare
Suffer health impacts (mental and physical) after leaving their country and being detained in the UK
Have experienced war, conflict or torture
Be separated from family, have poor housing and be socially isolated
Such patients are entitled to free treatment from the NHS and practices have a contractual duty to provide emergency and immediately necessary treatment.
This organisation ensures that:
It does not refuse to register someone because of any protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010
It does not refuse to register someone on other grounds such as social class, appearance or medical condition
It registers patients without requiring any documentation. Overseas visitors do not need to provide proof of identity or immigration status although asylum seekers may have an application registration card (ARC) from Immigration Services
It registers asylum seekers and refugees who are not in permanent housing as a temporary patient for up to three months
Refer to the New patient registration and health check policy
Modern slavery and healthcare
The Safeguarding Policy is to be referred to and gives further details on how to raise a concern, the recording and sharing of information, consent and confidentiality.
In all cases, whether adult or child, clinicians are encouraged to act on their instincts if they think that something is ‘not right’. There may be a pattern of signs or symptoms that could alert the clinician such as a combination of triggers or an inconsistent story or history.
It is important to remember that:
Trafficked people may not self-identify as victims of modern slavery
Trafficking victims can be prevented from revealing their experience to healthcare staff from fear, shame, language barriers and a lack of opportunity to do so. It can take time for a person to feel safe enough to ‘open up’
There is a need to be cautious regarding age and the following rule is to be adopted:
If a person states they are under 18, or if a person says they are an adult although there is a suspicion they are not, the patient should be treated as if they were under 18 years old.
In all cases, safeguarding principles should be considered and the Safeguarding Policy is to be consulted.
Victims of modern slavery may only come to the attention of staff when seriously ill or injured or with an injury or illness that has been left untreated for a while. Healthcare issues may include:
Evidence of long-term multiple injuries
Indications of mental, physical or sexual trauma
Sexually transmitted infections
Pregnant, or a late booking over 24 weeks for maternity care
Disordered eating or poor nutrition
Evidence of self-harm
Dental pain
Fatigue
Non-specific symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
Symptoms of psychiatric and psychological distress
Back pain, stomach pain, skin problems, headaches and dizzy spells
Signs of trafficking should also be considered and these can include the following if a person:
Is accompanied by someone who appears controlling, who insists on giving information and coming to see the clinician
Is withdrawn and submissive, seems afraid to speak to a person in authority and the accompanying person speaks for them
Gives vague and inconsistent explanations of where they live, their employment or schooling
Has old or serious injuries left untreated
Either gives vague information or is reluctant to explain how the injury occurred or to give a medical history
Is not registered with a GP, nursery or school
Has a lack of official documents
Has experienced being moved locally, regionally, nationally or internationally
Appears to be moving location frequently
Presents an appearance that suggests general physical neglect
Has no official means of identification or presents suspicious looking documents
Should the clinician or member of staff have suspicions about slavery or trafficking, they are encouraged to try to find out more about the situation and speak to the person in private without anyone who accompanied them to the premises.
A victim of human trafficking is unlikely to open up initially due to lack of trust. They need to be reassured that they are in a safe space allowing for them to talk. It may take a number of meetings before the person opens up so be prepared to make follow up appointments.
Staff should not be concerned about challenging cultural beliefs and should not let these stand in the way of making informed assessments about the safety of a child, young person or adult.
As before, the Safeguarding Policy should be considered for further guidance. Additionally, advice may be sought from colleagues and the safeguarding lead.
In all cases, staff should:
Be trauma-informed in their approach. Be sensitive to the possible indications of trauma e.g., hyper vigilance, mistrust, anxiety, numbing and a dissociative state. Respond non-judgementally and reassuringly
Not rush the consultation. The victim may have some cognitive impairment as a consequence of the abuse and may find it difficult to remember details or make decisions
Be sensitive to possible fear of contact with statutory agencies – the victim may have been told that they will be deported
Avoid calling authorities such as police or immigration services unless they have the informed consent of the patient or where the threat of danger to the patient or others is such that they need to do so
Not raise the slavery or trafficking concerns with anyone accompanying the child or adult
Ensure the healthcare needs of the individual are addressed, treatment is provided and referrals made where necessary
Female genital mutilation
Whilst not listed as a particular sign of slavery or trafficking, recognition of FGM within some cultures should lead to a wider consideration of the environment in which some women live as circumstances may be such that could be considered under the modern slavery umbrella.
Further information can be found within the FGM Policy.
Clinical disengagement
Whilst there are simple reasons for some patients to not show up for an appointment, consideration of modern slavery should be considered for those who repeatedly DNA or become disengaged with their own healthcare.
Disengaged patients are often:
Vulnerable adults or children
Patients with a mental health diagnosis or learning difficulty
The elderly
Those who would ordinarily be brought to their appointment
Patients connected to the safeguarding register
Patients on the DNAR or palliative care registers
Those patients who the organisation have concerns about
The above list could be associated with modern slavery.
Refer to the Clinical Disengagement Policy.
Honour-based abuse
One of the most common examples of honour-based abuse is forced marriage with victims often suffering the conditions of slavery through domestic servitude.
Staff are to raise concerns any accordingly with the safeguarding lead and/or seek advice from the Safeguarding Policy.
As part of annual training commitments, staff at Ecoflix Foundation receive in-house training on the recognition, reporting and recording of all patients suspected as being victims of modern slavery or trafficking or associated safeguarding concerns.
The following training materials are used during this training:
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) defines methods used by traffickers to exploit their victims and includes victims’ accounts.
The Government’s Modern Slavery Awareness Booklet provides detailed information for staff working within the public sector.
Staff who suspect that a patient may have been trafficked can contact the 24-hour confidential helpline. This is maintained by the Salvation Army and provides professional advice and support on 0300 303 8151.
Staff may also report cases by the following means:
Phoning 999 if it is felt that there is an immediate risk of harm
Reporting to the police on 101
Calling the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 if there is not an immediate risk of harm
Modern slavery and trafficking is more prevalent than people may first consider.
With correct training and information, Ecoflix Foundation has taken steps to inform and empower staff to assess and act upon suspected cases.
Ecoflix is jointly owned by The Ecoflix Foundation US and The Ecoflix Foundation UK. Ecoflix Foundation US is a registered 501(c)(3) in the United States of America. 501(c)(3): C2568417. Registered address: 24730 Long Valley Road, Hidden Hills, LA, CA 91302 USA Ecoflix Foundation UK is a registered charity (number 1200441). Registered address: Aston House, Redburn Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE5 1NB
