Coventry City Council realised that the lack of consistent council-wide training on modern slavery was impacting their ability to recognise and handle cases appropriately. It became imperative that they change their approach to training.
Recognising this important need, Coventry City Council collaborated with Me Learning to develop a bespoke e-learning package aimed at equipping their staff with the relevant knowledge and tools. This move is helping them to combat modern slavery as well as fulfil their commitment to national anti-slavery objectives.
The Challenge
Prior to the launch of their bespoke e-learning package, there was a lack of consistent understanding and identification of modern slavery cases. While staff were able to recognise general safeguarding issues, they often misidentified or failed to recognise specific cases of modern slavery. This inconsistency hindered the Council’s ability to effectively support victims and combat broader issues of modern slavery that can very often be missed and have lasting impacts on communities.
The need for a training programme that could be widely and consistently disseminated across the council became a priority. The challenge was not just to create awareness, but to ensure that all staff, particularly those in frontline roles, could accurately identify modern slavery and respond appropriately. Coventry Council sought a solution that would be comprehensive, available 24/7 and address these challenges head-on. They realised that an e-learning package would be the ideal solution to enable them to extend beyond the council to the wider region, supporting their commitment to national efforts against modern slavery and human trafficking.
The Solution: A bespoke e-learning package
In response, Coventry Council collaborated with Me Learning to develop a bespoke e-learning package that met the unique needs of the Council. Their decision to go digital has allowed the council to efficiently disseminate vital knowledge, improve case identification, and ultimately enhance the support provided to victims of modern slavery. Having the training in a digital format ensures that learners have a practical and engaging learning experience.
This comprehensive e-learning package included bespoke information and statistics specific to the Council. It was also tailored with the Council’s branding featuring their logo and colours. It was also designed to align with the national “Four P Strategy” (Pursue, Prevent, Protect, and Prepare) and to reflect the specific needs and challenges faced by Coventry.
The package included modules on identifying victims and perpetrators, understanding the local context of modern slavery in Coventry, and debunking common myths. By integrating real case studies and focusing on local data, the training was made highly relevant to the staff’s day-to-day responsibilities.
The training is set to become a cornerstone of the Council’s strategy to ensure that all staff across Coventry understand what modern slavery is, recognise the signs, and most importantly, know what responsibilities they have when it comes to protecting vulnerable individuals and contributing to the development of a safer community.
This collaboration has resulted in:
- Improved Identification: Enhanced ability among staff to recognise and classify modern slavery correctly.
- Increased Awareness: Greater understanding within the community about the complexities of modern slavery and human trafficking.
- Strengthened Response: More robust and coordinated actions from staff, leading to better support for victims and disruption of trafficking activities.
- Better collaboration and consistency: With a consistent level of understanding and competence across the board, the council can collaborate with other teams and other sectors who are also impacted by modern slavery.
“This e-learning package is a game-changer for Coventry. It equips our teams with crucial knowledge and skills, making a real difference in how we support victims and combat modern slavery. It’s about transforming awareness into action across our community.
“This solution allows us to extend critical training beyond the council, efficiently disseminating vital knowledge across a wide area. Within a large workforce, this digital format ensures consistent, accessible, and comprehensive training.”
— Hebe Lawson, Modern Slavery Lead, Coventry City Council
Conclusion
Coventry City Council’s partnership with Me Learning marks a significant step forward in the fight against modern slavery. By investing in a bespoke e-learning solution, the council is not only addressing current knowledge gaps but also laying the foundation for a more informed and responsive workforce. This collaboration has produced a bespoke, impactful e-learning program that not only meets the specific needs of the Council but also empowers the wider Coventry region to participate actively in safeguarding their community against modern slavery.
If you would like to find out more, please contact Anne Clayton, Digital Learning Consultant at Me Learning – anne.clayton@melearning.co.uk or learning more about our training solutions here.
