From 2021 to 2022, there was a 606% increase in the number of modern slavery cases in the care sector. The surge in cases has come as a result of unscrupulous employment agencies taking advantage of massive staff shortages and recruiting workers overseas to fill the gaps.
Many agencies charge extortionate fees to vulnerable overseas workers who are keen to get to the UK. It is not untypical for workers from abroad to pay £20,000 to a recruitment agency to find them a job in a care home and organise the visa, despite the fact the true cost of a visa is under £1,000. This means workers are in huge debt before they even arrive in the UK and this forces them to accept all sorts of work and circumstances.
The new resource looks at the causes and effects of modern slavery in the care sector, how to spot the signs and what to do with concerns.
It has been written for church safeguarding officers, chaplaincies and church members who visit care homes.
