Home Office seeking Expression of Interest

The Home Office are looking to identify additional panel members to represent local authorities on the Multi-Agency Assurance Panels, which are part of the Government’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM) Reforms.

In October 2017, the Government announced a wide-ranging package of reforms to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) - the process which is used to identify and support victims of modern slavery in the UK.

One of the key objectives of these reforms was to establish more certain decision-making, that stakeholders and victims have confidence in. In support of this objective, the Government has created Multi-Agency Assurance Panels to review all negative final decisions (a conclusive grounds decision) on a victim’s trafficking status.

These Multi-Agency Assurance Panels of experts will ensure robust and consistent decision-making processes within the NRM, ensuring that victims get the support that they need.

Last year, the Home Office issued an Expression of Interest to identify panel members from police/law enforcement, local authorities and NGO’s to be part of these Multi-Agency Assurance Panels.

They are seeking candidates with a good knowledge of modern slavery issues ; experience of dealing with vulnerable people (either adult or children); experience of working in a multi-disciplinary environment; excellent communication skills and an ability to analyse information.

The Home Office have recently published guidance to support this role. They have also announced who the independent Chairs of the Multi-Agency Assurance Panels will be.

The closing date for applications is midnight Sunday, 14 July 2019. Please direct any queries to NRMreform@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk