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Safeguarding

Refugees and asylum seekers are all are at heightened risk of exploitation and human trafficking, but particularly women, children and young people. Fleeing their homes often means losing their support systems and safety, leaving them isolated and vulnerable, especially following physical and mental trauma. Even after reaching a new country, these individuals face risks like forced labour and debt slavery, forced marriage, child exploitation, trafficking. This is due to uncertain legal statuses and the precarious circumstances for many refugees and asylum seekers.

These issues can happen everywhere (see the case study below), and so organisations across Gloucestershire have put in place measures to identify and prevent these situations occurring. Some of the measures are set out below:

How do we check the suitability of future Homes for Ukraine and Homes for Refugees hosts?

  • Basic DBS checks for all hosts and their families, with enhanced checks conducted for those hosting children.
  • Every home is inspected to ensure safety and to address any potential risks.
  • Safeguarding visits are carried out after the arrival of guests, with both hosts and guests interviewed together and separately to address any concerns.
  • A follow-up call is made two months after arrival, with face-to-face visits at 6, 12, and 18 months to promptly address any safeguarding concerns.
  • For guests with limited English, the team includes three Ukrainian speakers to provide support as needed.

When asylum seekers arrive in the county, they receive a protective and supportive approach, with both GARAS and the migrant health team providing regular visits to help with practical tasks like GP registration and signposting, and they are able to form relationships where they can identify any safeguarding needs.

The case study below shows that this can happen in Gloucestershire, but that routine safeguarding and proactive measures put in place across all refugee and asylum seeker programmes have, it is hoped, kept these issues to a minimum.

Case study: Exploitative labour practices

Iryna and her daughter had been living with their host for six months. At a routine six-month visit by the GCC migration team, concerns arose about Iryna’s employment situation by her host’s company. Despite promises that she would be paid and have a contract, she had not been paid and had no contract after two months of work.

Iryna was hesitant to speak out, but was given the team's contact details just in case she needed to make contact. The visiting team were concerned and followed up with Iryna through GARAS. They visited her within 24 hours; overcoming initial resistance from the host who claimed that Iryna was unavailable due to work commitments. Following the visit GARAS and the migration team felt that there was an urgent need to find a new host to ensure the safety of Iryna and her daughter.

The following day, as the team looked for a new host, tensions in the host’s home escalated when Iryna confronted her host about unpaid wages. Iryna contacted the team fearing retaliation from her host. With support from GARAS and the police, Iryna and her daughter were safely moved to alternative accommodation within hours.

Within a week, a new host welcomed them into a safe and stable home. The former host was reported and the situation managed by the police.