On therapeutic care for victims of human trafficking Rehabilitation and recovery for victims of trafficking should be understood as a process which needs to be sustained in accordance with individual needs to ensure their long term well-being and enhance their safety. HBF terms this “sustained recovery”. Enduring injuries and illnesses which result from repeated interpersonal violence may require long term therapeutic attention. We propose the following minimum standards of therapeutic intervention delivered via multi-disciplinary teams for victims of trafficking. Delivery of such services are best dealt with through coordinated multi-agency collaboration, for example, via a National Referral Mechanism. Assessment for, and access to, programs of therapy In HBF’s experience, victims of trafficking usually require a period of stabilization before they are able to effectively participate in a programme of therapy. Every victim of trafficking should have a clinical assessment tailored to include an evaluation of their particular readiness for therapy conducted by an experienced clinician. Psychological and physical responses to trauma are different in every case. Pressure to participate in a formal programme of trauma counselling is likely to be counterproductive. There needs to be an awareness of these issues by those who are likely to signpost victims of trafficking towards trauma counselling. Unless the person feels that they are ready and wishes to engage, the therapeutic process invariably falters or fails. Furthermore, the fact that an individual is not engaged in a formal programme of trauma counselling should not preclude consideration of their psychological and physical responses when considering their “personal situation” under article 14(1)(a) of the Convention. Cases in which victims are considered to have “escaped” from their trafficking situation for some time are frequently considered to have “recovered” from their experiences. However, as the HBF chapter demonstrates throughout, “escape” does equal “recovery” and people who are in this situation should not be denied formal clinical assessments to determine their therapeutic needs. On access to healthcare services Victims of trafficking should have an opportunity to access fully integrated and co-ordinated healthcare services125 which are tailored to their particular needs. At minimum this should include access to126: – Any emergency treatment that is required for the well-being and immediate security of the victim – Comprehensive physical and psychological health assessment for the purpose of onward referral to appropriate healthcare services – Sexual health screening with pre-test and post-test discussion with an appropriate professional.127 On the training of healthcare professionals HBF recommends the provision of practical guidelines on the identification of victims of trafficking for all healthcare professionals, including those who work in general medicine and in specialist centres and teams. Such guidelines should be supported by in-post training at all levels (on induction and as an aspect of continuous professional development). Such guidelines and training should extend to all administrative, reception and other staff who may potentially come into contact with victims of trafficking. Information can be made available to various professionals in accordance with their remit and degree of potential contact with victims of trafficking, ranging from basic onward referral information to face-to-face training using case Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, “The term “pre-test counselling” has been used in the past to describe a person needing to see a professional with specific training and expertise in relation to HIV and/or counselling prior to undertaking an HIV test. Today the term “pre-test discussion” (PTD) is more appropriate. Its primary purpose is to establish informed consent for the HIV test, which means the individual must be competent to consent. They should understand the purpose, risks and benefits of being tested and of not being tested, and they must give their consent voluntarily.” UK National Guidelines for HIV Testing 2008 - 115