Hampshire charity "hugely disappointed" to not have sector included in new government scheme
The government have announced a new child exploitation scheme which is hoped to speed up support for victims
A Hampshire charity are "hugely disappointed" to not have their sector included in the safeguarding teams for child exploitation.
The new government scheme aims to join eight new areas, including Hampshire, to 20 existing pilot sites in hopes to bring faster and more local decision-making to more vulnerable children.
Gillian Finch, an adult survivor and CISters charity Founder and Trustee, is telling us how important lived experience is for the decision-making process.
She said: "It is about being able to understand the harm that's been done.
"We are walking wounded, but nobody knew this was my experience because I was really good at hiding it.
"I had a well-paid job, all of those things, until one day it was, ouch.
"We need the services to be there when somebody goes, ouch.
"And not have to go on a year's waiting list or three year's waiting list.
"It needs to be timely intervention, it needs to be led by the victim, survivor led, and trauma informed.
"That's why, when I look at the construction of the teams, they will talk about trauma led and trauma informed, but I don't see that when I look at the representation.
"Where is that voice?"
CISters are a peer support service who support adult victims.
Ms Finch added that any scheme that encourages a child to seek help is a good thing, but she has concerns around not having a trauma informed input into decisions.
The government say pilot sites have cut decision wait times from more than a year to just over three months.
They say child victims of exploitation and human trafficking will receive specially tailored support sooner as eight new areas join a pilot to bring faster decisions in their cases.
Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said: "When a child falls victim to modern slavery—whether through human trafficking or in the vile County Lines drug trade—they can face unimaginable trauma and lasting damage.
"Time is of the essence when it comes to getting them the specialist support they need to heal and be children again.
“This Devolved Decision-Making pilot is delivering remarkable results - cutting waiting times by over a year means vulnerable children get the support they desperately need much faster.
"By expanding to eight new areas, we're building the evidence to roll this successful approach out nationally and improve how we protect all children in our country from modern slavery."
Hampshire is set to expand its existing programme to cover a wider regional model.
Councillor Roz Chadd, Hampshire County Council's Executive Lead Member for Children's Services, said: “As the local safeguarding authority working directly with children and young people, we and our partners are well placed to identify potential child victims of modern slavery and trafficking, and to make effective and swift decisions about their support.
"We therefore welcome our inclusion in this pilot which places decision making powers in local hands, further strengthening efforts to protect some of the most vulnerable children in our communities.”