Alison Gardner: University of Nottingham Modern Slavery and Homelessness: partnership challenges and opportunities Alison Gardner: University of Nottingham

The Rights Lab

Why does partnership matter? Complexity of Modern Slavery demands a cohesive multi-agency / multi-layer response Complexity of victim’s needs: victim centred approach IASC Strategic Plan 2015-2017 – Priority 3 Modern Slavery Strategy 2014 Modern Slavery Act Review 2016 …and also crucial to addressing homelessness

http://iascmap.nottingham.ac.uk/about/

What areas have anti-slavery partnerships? All Multi-Agency Anti-Slavery Partnerships in the UK Spring 2017, by Police Force area. http://iascmap.nottingham.ac.uk/

What form and structure? National, regional, sub-regional and local structures (majority organised by force boundary). Dynamic and changing over time: informal groups or networks tended to move towards operationally-focussed sub-groups. Some alignment to existing partnership structures, such as local Safeguarding Boards, ‘Preventing Violence to Vulnerable People’ (PVVP) Boards, or multi-agency safeguarding hubs (MASH). No single natural fit.

Who leads? Who is involved? More than 50 different types of organisation engaged in anti-slavery partnerships Vast majority of partnerships were chaired by Police Police took responsibility for partnership co-ordination more frequently than other partners. ‘too much reliance on Police to lead the agenda’ (survey response)

‘The voluntary and community sector (VCS) have an absolutely critical role to play. There’s always a whole issue of distrust around statutory organisations, especially from the victims perspective, and so the VCS are best placed to be able to provide that specialist support, where they can build that trust and those relationships with victims to help them to move on…That’s never going to be the council or the police who do that….’ (Interview, Council Officer)

What do anti-slavery partnerships do?

How is work funded?

Gaps, Challenges, Effectiveness Substantially interlinked in survey responses… Coordination and leadership: horizontally and vertically (national / regional / local). Ownership and engagement: esp. clarity on powers / responsibilities. Accountability – what does good look like? Funding ‘You can’t say you are here for modern slavery victims if you won’t put finance in place’ (Police interviewee).

Implications for responding to MS & homelessness (see recommendations) 9) Gaps in pre/ post NRM support are currently filled piecemeal (but some recent progress from Gov/ good work from NGOs) 10) Partnership is patchy – some areas still need commitment / coordination / action plans 11) Multiple points of contact: need for local clarity and agreement 12) Referral pathways also vary locally (can be contentious).

Opportunities: convening partnerships Regional leads (Police, NGOs, Regional LGA) Local authorities – LGA guidance on responsibilities Faith bodies (e.g. The Clewer Initiative, CUF) https://www.theclewerinitiative.org/ Transforming communities together (Lichfield) Civil Society Groups: e.g. Citizens UK, Rotary Clubs Businesses (Co-op, HSBC, others?)

Opportunities: awareness, prevention, training Unchosen: ‘Stay Safe from Slavery’ http://unchosen.org.uk/stay-safe-from-slavery/ Films, posters and resources to help vulnerable people (and those working with them) to prevent slavery. SW Pilot until Feb 2018

Slavery-free economy and Intelligence / learning Opportunities: Place Joint Awareness raising campaign Autumn 2017 Slavery Free Notts Raise awareness Civic leadership Front line training Slavery-free economy and supply Support for victims Intelligence / learning Notts MSP Nottingham Citizens Evaluation of impact e.g. local media portrayal MS Building referral pathways Red Cross: Your space HfJ training provided Faith based initiatives, e.g. Clewer Exploring idea of SFC with local businesses e.g. Working with banks

Thank you for your attention alison.gardner@nottingham.ac.uk http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/world/beacons/rights-lab/ http://iascmap.nottingham.ac.uk/about/