Do clinicians receive adequate training to identify trafficked persons? A scoping review of NHS Foundation Trusts

OBJECTIVE: We investigate whether physicians in secondary care in the English NHS receive adequate training to recognise and appropriately refer for services those persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking. DESIGN: Freedom of Information requests were sent to the 105 England’s NHS Trusts delivering acute care in England. SETTING: NHS Trusts providing secondary care in England. PARTICIPANTS: English NHS Trusts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We requested data about the training provided on human trafficking to clinicians, including the nature, delivery, and format of any education, and any planned training. RESULTS: A total of 89.5% of the 105 Trusts responded. Of these Trusts, 69% provide education to physicians on human trafficking, and a further 6% provide training but did not specify who received it. The majority of Trusts providing training did so within wider safeguarding provision (91%). Only one trust reported that it provides stand-alone training on trafficking to all its staff, including physicians. Within training offered by Trusts, 54% observed best practice providing training on the clinical indicators of trafficking, while 16% referenced the National Referral Mechanism. Amongst those not providing training, 39% of Trusts report provision is in development. CONCLUSIONS: Our results find that 25% of NHS Foundation Trusts appear to lack training for physicians around human trafficking. It is also of concern that of the Trusts who currently do not provide training, only 39% are developing training or planning to do so. There is an urgent need to review and update the scope of available training and bring it into alignment with current legislation.