Improving the response times of the national NRM system for children - Bexley pilot

The feeling amongst Local Authorities is that the nationalised NRM system could produce substantial delays in decision making in children and often there were insufficient reasons given. Of all NRM referrals made for children, Local authorities far exceeded all other first responders. The pilot which defers responsibility for NRM decisions for children to selected local authorities has the potential to erase these problems.

The London Borough of Bexley has been chosen to be one of these 20 pilots. The pilot will run from January 2023 until March 2024. The monthly NRM panel is made up of core voting members who include, Local Authority, Health, and Police. A representative from the Independent Child Trafficking Guardian (ICTG) service is also required at panels but does not have decision-making capabilities. Other attendees including commissioned services and other aligned professionals will act in an advisory capacity only and will not be able to vote on a decision. Voting members will consider intelligence and make RG and CG decisions at the local panel. These will be then returned to the Single Competent Authority (SCA) for auditing.

Data collection

We collate the data for referrals and notifications made and hold partner strategy and review meetings to improve efficiency, prevention and response to local trends and cases.

In 2022, we joined the Pan-London Stop the Traffik Data Project and this has meant we have altered our data collection to include information around protected characteristics, where available, including age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability. It does not include data collection around marital or family status, but does include a question on forms of control, of which ‘relationship/marriage’ and ‘Restricts access to/manipulates children’ are subcategories. We will work towards improving the collection of this data by frontline workers so that we can improve our knowledge of the local picture.

Evolving environment

We recognise that we need to keep abreast and aware of the national agenda and new emerging laws, policies, and duties, and to ensure consistent and continuous understanding of each professionals’ duties and responsibilities in tackling modern slavery. We can all help end modern slavery by being aware of what to look for - training people in all services is crucial to achieving this. We already provide training around safeguarding and how to support clients in a holistic and person-centred way. We also provide modern slavery training, and child exploitation training, for local authority and partner professionals. We will keep a watch for any other training that will help us and our partners to tackle modern slavery.

The Strategy and Annual Modern Slavery Statement will be reviewed annually to ensure it accurately reflects reporting practices and developments, and any legislative and policy changes.

Accessibility

The Strategy will be made accessible by the designers for people who have visual impairment.

We recognise that victims and witnesses may not speak English as a first language and therefore translation support will be offered when necessary.