Slavery: Victim Support Schemes

(asked on 3rd June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason Recovery Needs Assessments are being carried out during the covid-19 outbreak; and what steps she has taken to ensure people currently in support are not adversely affected by that assessment process.


Answered by
Victoria Atkins Portrait
Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
This question was answered on 9th June 2020

This Government is committed to stamping out modern slavery and providing victims with the support they need to rebuild their lives.

The Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) process takes place for all confirmed victims of modern slavery who are receiving support through the Victim Care Contract (VCC) to ensure that support is tailored to their individual recovery needs. This process informs a tailored move-on plan, with the aim of establishing longer-term stability by helping victims to transition out of VCC support and back into a community, as appropriate. Where this is not possible, VCC support will continue to meet the victim’s ongoing recovery needs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, confirmed victims who receive a positive Conclusive Grounds decision will have an RNA completed, as it is vital that we continue to facilitate the recovery of victims of modern slavery and build upon the progress that they have made whilst in the VCC to start rebuilding their lives. If, for any reason, the recovery needs of a confirmed victim change, or the confirmed victim needs support beyond the original estimated timescales, a further RNA can be completed by the support worker to reflect this.

The safety and security of those supported through the VCC is a top priority. RNAs are being conducted remotely, where appropriate, in line with advice from Public Health England. Where there is an exceptional need that requires face to face engagement to complete the assessment, support workers will facilitate this with social distancing measures in place.

We recognise at this time that other types of suitable support which could usually be accessed to meet an individual’s recovery needs, for example local authority housing, mainstream benefits, asylum support, and social services under the Care Act 2014, may have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. As part of the RNA process and when making support recommendations, support workers are considering the current availability of alternative support services. Similarly, the Home Office are considering the wider impact of COVID-19 when making RNA decisions. Where possible, arrangements for individuals to access alternative services in line with their recovery plan should still be progressed.

In addition, regardless of whether an individual’s RNA identifies a continued recovery need for accommodation support, we have taken steps to ensure that all victims currently accommodated in VCC accommodation will be able to remain where they are until at least 6 July 2020. This policy will be reviewed before the end of June in respect of the Government’s latest COVID-19 advice.

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