If your role involves working with children and young people who are at risk or currently experiencing exploitation (CSE/CCE) and/or harm, we can be an additional tool to help reach and support children and young people in your area.

Our dedicated, specialist ‘Is This Ok?’ service can help support children and young people aged 13-18, who want to ask for help in an anonymised and confidential way.

We offer a non-judgemental and safe space for those at risk or currently experiencing exploitation (CSE/CCE) and/or harm, to talk about their experiences in confidence. We can provide reassurance, support them to explore their choices, and help them formulate a safety plan.

Children and young people can also contact us to talk through their concerns and receive advice.

Children and young people access a dedicated chat-bot at www.isthisok.org.uk where they will be asked a few triage questions to determine what type of support they need. Children and young people have the option to either chat to a trained ‘Is This Ok?’ professional or to receive additional advice and support through our dedicated information pages – Info and advice – Is This OK?

As the service is anonymous, we do not require personal details from service-users. However, if a service-user provides personal details such as name, age, address, and goes on to disclose safeguarding concerns to us, safeguarding policies will be followed and information known will be shared with statutory services.

The service is currently available in London and Sussex.

If you are a professional working in one of these areas, you can signpost a child or young person to the service by providing them with the ‘Is This Ok?’ website link – www.isthisok.org.uk

As the service is anonymous and confidential, we ask for no referrals direct from professionals.

If you are a professional working in this area and interested in hearing more, please contact us on isthisok@missingpeople.org.uk.

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery and ensuring they receive the appropriate support.

Modern slavery is a complex crime and may involve multiple forms of exploitation. It encompasses:

• human trafficking
• slavery, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour

An individual could have been a victim of human trafficking and/or slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.

Victims may not be aware that they are being trafficked or exploited, and may have consented to elements of their exploitation, or accepted their situation. If you think that modern slavery has taken place, the case should be referred to the NRM so that the Single Competent Authority (SCA) can fully consider the case. You do not need to be certain that someone is a victim.

To find out more and to make a referral, go to National referral mechanism guidance: adult (England and Wales) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)