Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has published details of an independent inspection framework for the Victim Care Contract for supporting survivors of slavery; and which body will be responsible for managing those inspections.

The Home Office has worked with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to develop an inspection framework based on CQC’s five key lines of enquiry to assess the quality of support provided to victims in England and Wales who are receiving accommodation or outreach support through the Victim Care Contract. This framework was developed with the input of support providers and the wider third sector.

In Autumn 2019, and early 2020, CQC piloted inspections based on this framework within the current Victim Care Contract and made iterative changes to the framework as a result. This framework is now complete and will be published in due course.

The inspection regime has been incorporated in the new Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract and the process to formalise the appointment of an independent inspectorate is underway.

An independent inspection regime will enable the Home Office to ensure the consistency and quality of support throughout the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract and give victims the help and support they need to begin to rebuild their lives.