CSE/ Trafficking Safe Accommodation Fostering Provision Rachel Maloney Jane Coppock

Background Growing evidence suggests a high number of trafficked children from a number of countries go missing from care in the UK. Furthermore, pressured resources can mean that the victims of sexual exploitation and trafficked children are placed in unsafe, out of authority placements or secure accommodation.

DFE FUNDED PILOT Barnardo’s secured a two year contract with the Department for Education to deliver a cost effective, sustainable programme to ensure trafficked and exploited children are kept safe from harm. It was fully evaluated by the University of Bedfordshire with findings attached.

Funded project outcomes and on going organisational developments To begin to develop and continue to implement a sustainable national resource to help children escape exploitation, support victim recovery and prevent re- victimisation Recruit and train specialist foster carers to provide high levels of supervision and support Raise children’s awareness of the dangers of trafficking/exploitation and sever contact between child and exploiter/trafficker by delivering training sessions Further to the project to continue to share best practice across the sector and to offer specialist fostering placements

Outcomes of the project/ on going service delivery stable, safe accommodation Incidence of missing reduced Able to identify abusive/exploitative behaviour Able to develop healthy/trusting relationships Reduction in level or risk/harm

Outcomes of the project/ on going service delivery Recovery from sexual abuse/exploitation Access to information on housing, health, benefits, rights and support needs Foster Carers/staff aware of safety strategies Contribute to planning and decision making Re-engage with family and/or community

What will this achieve for Local Authorities the service will achieve;- Cost effective alternatives to expensive out of authority and secure placements Significant improvement to front line practice in safeguarding children at high risk

Key outcomes Stable, safe accommodation for children at high risk Incidence of missing from care reduced Able to identify abusive/exploitive behaviour Able to develop healthy/trusting relationships Reduction in level of risk/harm Recovery from sexual abuse/exploitation

Contribute to planning and decision making Re-engaged with family and/or community High end placements costs for LAs are reduced. Significant improvement to front line practice in safeguarding children at high risk.

Specialist Intervention Model Individual sessions for the young person provided by a project worker from Barnardo’s CSE/ Trafficking services Clinical input from Barnardo’s Specialist services to the Fostering team and fostering household Specific pre and post approval training weekly visits to the foster carer by SSW and specialist support groups Standard breakdown of costs to provide a fostering placement ( this equates with our London Model Contract fee’s)

What did we achieve ? 13 young people were placed as part of the National DFE Pilot 5 young people placed in the South East service ( SE) which covers London ( LA- Hampshire, Kent, Solihull) 4 SE young people ( who had been trafficked / sexually exploited ) successfully transitioned on they remain in contact with their carers

1 SE young person from the pilot ( CSE) remains stabilised in placement – the LA care plan is for her to remain with the FC until adulthood 2013/ young people ( Kent, and East Sussex )have been placed post the pilot and remain in our care with significant progress being made– we want to do more we can see the difference it makes !

Support and training – what's different ? FC Pre approval ( 2 day training) on CSE/ trafficking – details on request FC Post approval – on going support/ specific refresher up training However what’s most important is a resilient fostering team around the child that accessible/ robust and knowledgeable about the needs of this cohort of young people and who work pro- actively not reactively with risk

We involve our young people in our influencing / policy activities so we get it right – a by product of this it enhances their feeling of self worth and engages them in different ways – they feel connected in to the organisation and other young people in similar situations A recent example is our Microsoft `WADU `app that was developed by our young people who were part of the DFE pilot

Placement Costs £1600 Includes a significantly enhanced fee for the foster carer that remains the same throughout the placement Placement model has the flexibility to reduce costs to the LA over time

Infrastructure planning Recruitment for new specialist foster carers Up skilling of current carers where this is feasible Recruitment of CSE/ trafficking FP specialist workers

QUESTIONS What are your needs for this group of young people? What are the possibilities for collaborative working? What else would you like to know? What next ?