Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what training on conducting Recovery Needs Assessments (RNA) and approving RNA plans has been provided to staff (1) of the Salvation Army, (2) subcontractors in the Victim Care Contract, and (3) the Single Competent Authority; and what funds have been provided for such training to be carried out.

All confirmed victims of Modern Slavery will have their support needs assessed by their support worker as part of the Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) process, to inform a tailored move-on plan that is personalised to their specific recovery needs. These assessments are quality assured by the prime contractor (The Salvation Army, ‘TSA’) before being submitted to the Single Competent Authority (SCA) for a decision.

The published RNA guidance provides detailed information for TSA, subcontractors and the SCA on carrying out this process. This document includes guidance on how to complete the RNA form, guidance on when recovery needs arising from modern slavery may require support through the Victim Care Contract (VCC) and where recovery needs may be met by alternative support services. This guidance can be found: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recovery-needs-assessment-rna-process-guidance.

Staff training for TSA and its subcontractors, including training on the RNA process, is a matter for TSA as the prime contractor. Training costs are met by funds provided through the Home Office’s VCC to deliver these support services.

All new SCA staff working on RNAs receive initial training detailing decision-making practice, the purpose of RNAs, published guidance, legislation, decision types and quality expectations. Following initial training each new Decision Maker (DM) spends a number of weeks shadowing an experienced DM, being shown a variety of decisions being considered and written, and referring back to guidance. This consolidation period allows a new DM to match the theoretical learning with its practical application.

The DM will then be allocated suitable cases of their own to start making decisions for victims. Each DM has a buddy (who is an experienced member of the team) allocated for any support required, and every decision is checked by a Technical Expert for accuracy and quality. The cases assigned increase in variety and complexity, with the buddy system and full checking remaining in place to ensure that every decision is correct and any additional support or learning for the DM is provided. Once the quality and accuracy checking results for a DM are consistently at the standards required, the DM becomes a “signed off” decision maker and moves into Business As Usual checking arrangements.