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Make a modern slavery referral

Draft a national referral for a child showing signs of exploitation, then record its outcome.

Checked against the screens:

Every organisation can choose its own words for the people and roles it works with. When you are signed in, this guide uses your organisation’s words. Otherwise it uses the product’s own.

For DSLs, senior staff and admins. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999 and phone your DSL directly. Referral does not replace urgent protection.

Steps

  1. Open the register and press Start NRM referral.
  2. Choose the young person.
  3. Pick the Originating concern (optional). Its indicators are copied across.
  4. Write the Exploitation summary: what is known, by whom, and in what setting.
  5. Record the child's view: asked and recorded, or not yet or unsafe to ask.
  6. Add police details if there is a co-referral. Press Create draft.
  7. Check the draft and Save changes. Submit it yourself, then press Mark submitted.
  8. Record the outcome with the reasonable grounds, conclusive grounds or negative buttons.

If it goes wrong

  • A draft has not been sent. Submit it through the official route yourself, then mark it submitted.
  • If no police or out-of-hours contact is shown, ask an admin to add one.
  • If you started it by mistake, press Withdraw.
  • If you are unsure whether to refer, phone your DSL or the local safeguarding partnership.

How it links together

Linking the originating concern copies its indicator codes onto the draft. Police details can be added when there is a co-referral. The referral appears in the external reports list on the lead page.

Life of a national referralYou submit it yourself, then record the authority's outcome.
  1. ConcernIndicators copied
  2. DraftSummary and child's view
  3. SubmittedYou send, then mark
  4. OutcomeGrounds or negative
  5. ClosedKept in history

What it is for

The Modern Slavery Act requires first responders to refer children who may be victims of modern slavery, county lines, child criminal exploitation or trafficking. The page names the national authority that receives it.

Children do not need to consent

For a child under 18, consent is not needed. The form instead records whether the child's view was sought. Do not put a child at risk to ask.

Indicators

Linking the concern copies its indicator codes onto the draft. You can check them on the referral and add detail in the summary.

The register

The register shows the child, indicators, created date, the national reference and the status: Draft, Submitted, Reasonable grounds, Conclusive grounds, Negative or Withdrawn.

Police

If the police are involved, add their force and reference. The page suggests a force from the local directory, which you can change.

A printable preview

A preview builds a copy you can print or save. Use it to check the wording before you submit.

Questions people ask

Does the child have to agree?

No. For a child under 18 consent is not required. The form records whether their view was sought.

Does creating a draft send it?

No. You must submit it yourself, then press Mark submitted.

What are the outcome buttons for?

They record what the authority decided: reasonable grounds, conclusive grounds or negative.

Who can open this?

DSLs, senior staff and admins. A data protection role can read a referral too.

What if the child is in danger now?

Call 999 and phone your DSL. Do the referral afterwards.

Can I link it to a concern?

Yes. Choose the originating concern and its indicators are filled in.