Modern Slavery, FGM and Exploitation Awareness

This modern slavery and FGM awareness training helps health and care staff recognise and respond to hidden harm: modern slavery and human trafficking, female genital mutilation, child sexual and criminal exploitation, county lines, cuckooing and mate crime. It is written for doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, pharmacy and dental teams, social workers, reception staff, health care assistants and care staff across the UK.

Reception and clinical staff are often the first to notice the pattern: three young men registered on the same day at the same address, brought by an older man who holds their documents; a woman with a burn whose "cousin" answers every question; a care worker who finds new "mates" staying in the flat of a man with a learning disability and his bank card missing. The course explains why these contacts matter, how to take a trauma-informed approach, why a companion must never interpret, and what the law requires in each nation. It then works through speaking safely with a possible victim, choosing the right referral route, the National Referral Mechanism, the FGM mandatory reporting duty, access to NHS care, information sharing and recording.

It is designed to take approximately 2 hours, including reading, reflection points, a written reflective account and a 15-question assessment. It is self-paced on our course portal; see the course catalogue for related titles. Healthcare Practise UK is an independent provider. We are not affiliated with any UK regulator or the NHS, and no regulator has reviewed this course.

The course works from the legislation and guidance in each nation:

The course is careful about limits. Health staff are not NRM first responders, so they share concerns with their safeguarding lead, who involves the police or local authority. Adults must consent to an NRM referral, although a first responder can make a duty to notify submission in England and Wales; children do not need to consent. The FGM duty does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to girls thought to be at risk, or to women aged 18 and over; these go through safeguarding procedures. The standards of the GMC, NMC, HCPC, GDC, GPhC, GOC, GOsC, GCC and Social Work England all require registrants to protect people from harm and raise concerns.

• Module 1, Hidden harm in healthcare settings: why health contacts matter, a trauma-informed approach, professional interpreters and the boundaries of your role.
• Module 2, Modern slavery and human trafficking: labour, sexual and criminal exploitation and domestic servitude, the law in each nation, indicators, and how the NRM works.
• Module 3, Female genital mutilation: what FGM is, its health consequences, the law, the mandatory reporting duty in a decision table, and talking about FGM while protecting daughters.
• Module 4, Child and adult exploitation: child sexual and criminal exploitation, county lines and cuckooing, mate crime and financial exploitation, and harmful practices linked to culture or belief.
• Module 5, Responding, referring and recording: speaking with a possible victim, referral routes by harm, age and nation, access to NHS care, information sharing and recording.
• Module 6, Organisational responsibilities and learning: slavery and human trafficking statements and NHS supply chains, exploitation of health and care workers including international recruits, and learning from reviews.

One case shows why this matters: a woman later identified as a trafficking victim attended an emergency department three times in a year with the same man, who interpreted for her each time. The review found she was never seen alone.

"Apply it" tasks ask you to find out who links your organisation to first responders and to save the Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline number. Your reflective account answers three prompts: what you learned about recognising hidden harm, how you will make sure you see people alone and use professional interpreters, and your action plan for the next three months.

The assessment has 15 scenario-based questions, such as what a nurse must do when a 14-year-old in England says she had FGM as a baby, and how to respond when a colleague says her overseas recruiter holds her passport. The pass mark is 12 (80%); if you score below that, you revisit the linked sections and try again. Passing supports your learning record but does not by itself meet a mandatory training requirement. You receive a certificate of completion from Healthcare Practise UK.

For CPD, record the time you actually spend. Nurses, midwives and nursing associates should note that self-directed online learning normally counts towards the NMC's individual CPD hours rather than its 20 participatory hours, unless you complete it with colleagues and discuss it together. Doctors reflect on CPD at appraisal; the GMC does not set fixed hours. The HCPC, GDC, GPhC, GOC, GOsC, GCC and Social Work England each set their own CPD rules, so check the ones that apply to you, and keep your certificate and reflection together.

Midwives, sexual health, emergency department, primary care and community staff use it to be clear about the FGM duty and NRM routes before they need them. Staff who work in areas with county lines activity, or who visit adults at home, use it to recognise cuckooing and mate crime.

Reception and administrative staff should not be left out: they often see the controlling companion, the shared address and the documents held by someone else. A practice or service can enrol front-desk and clinical staff together and agree a simple internal route for raising a concern. See courses for organisations for team accounts. Organisations reviewing their own supply chains and international recruitment will also find Module 6 relevant.

This course is part of our safeguarding courses group. Exploited children are victims who need child safeguarding, so pair it with Safeguarding Children and Young People; mate crime and cuckooing are adult safeguarding concerns covered further in Safeguarding Adults. Forced marriage and honour-based abuse are taught in depth in Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control Awareness. If you manage recruitment, Safe Recruitment and Pre-Employment Checks in Healthcare is a useful companion. The which course do I need tool can suggest a set.