The Home Office have been working to improve the transition from child to adult support structures for victims in the National Referral Mechanism – a number of changes went live as of 13/02/2026.
Policy change
- A decision has been taken to allow any potential victim who was referred into the NRM as a child, but has not had their Conclusive Grounds (CG) decision upon turning 18, to provide their consent to remain in the NRM verbally or in writing.
- Similarly, all adults in the NRM (including those who were referred into the NRM as a child), may withdraw from the NRM verbally or in writing.
- These changes have been introduced to standardise consent policy for all potential victims, and is designed to support victims who are unable or hesitant to complete and sign a written form.
- For a potential victim to provide their decision verbally, they must do so through a professional in a First Responder Organisation.
- Professionals will need to have a conversation with the potential victim (only once they have turned 18 if transitioning to adulthood), ensuring that they understand the impact of their decision and it is informed.
- The professional should then sign and return the relevant consent/withdrawal form to the appropriate Competent Authority.
- These forms contain support for professionals on having these informed conversations with potential victims.
To confirm, a potential victim may still complete the relevant form themselves to consent to the NRM / to withdraw from the NRM in writing and return this to the relevant Competent Authority. Allowing potential victims to provide decisions verbally aims to make consent and withdrawal processes smoother by creating an alternative avenue for providing decisions.
More information about how this will work can be found at the ‘Child to Adult Transition Pathway’ at Modern Slavery: statutory guidance for England and Wales (under s49 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015) and non-statutory guidance for Scotland and Northern Ireland (accessible version) - GOV.UK.
- In England and Wales, the MSVCC support provider should contact young people around six weeks before their 18th birthday to discuss the support available through the MSVCC and what it offers.
- Before this happens, the SCA will ask the professional supporting the young person, usually the Local Authority or the ICTG service, to confirm that the young person agrees to their name and phone number being shared with the MSVCC provider.
- If the young person does not agree to this, the MSVCC will not reach out to them.
- The conversation may also take place via the professional’s contact number, provided the young person is present.
- Calls may come from an “unknown number” to safeguard the young person.
- Professionals are encouraged to support the young person during and after this discussion, so they can make an informed decision about whether they wish to remain in the NRM and access adult support, if eligible, once they turn 18.
Please see below useful resources:
Information Pack for Young People in the NRM Turning 18
Understanding the NRM: A guide for Primary School Aged Children
Understanding the NRM: A guide for Secondary School Aged Children
NRM Child to Adult Transition Information Pack for Professionals
The Gender Gap: Understanding and responding to girls' and boys' online experiences
Internet matters have published a report, drawing on data from Internet Matters' Digital Wellbeing Index that examines the similarities and contrasts between boys' and girls' online lives, and the different actions parents take to support and safeguard them.
Locala Sexual Health - New Services
Locala Sexual Health will take delivery of a new 'Clinic in a Van' in Spring 2026 to support Sexual Health and Contraceptive needs for people in Greater Manchester (Stockport, Tameside, Wigan, and Leigh). There will be 2 clinical rooms, with a toilet on board - meeting all the Infection and Prevention standards to be expected from mainstream clinics. More information can be found here.
Child Exploitation Awareness Training for Hotels Teams
The Children's Society are delivering a 90 minute session designed for anyone working in a hotel. The training provides an introduction to child exploitation and will help hotel staff to spot signs of this type of abuse which may happen in their workplace.
Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week
NHS England have launched a campaign for Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, to raise awareness of sexual assault referral centres (SARCs). These services offer dedicated care and support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused at any time in their life and are available to call 24 hours a day across England. Further information on how SARCs can help and contact details can be found below.
Campaign materials
All campaign materials are available by registering for a free account on the Department of Health and Social Care campaign resource centre, which includes the following:
- General SARC animation
- SARC animation for young people
- Campaign film
- Campaign posters – these feature (1) a female of sixth form / uni age and (2) a male of sixth form / uni age
- Social media assets – including a new carousel, which you can see on our @NHSUK X account
- Digital screens
- Infographics
Materials are available for your use at any time, as and when appropriate.
How SARCs can help
SARCs provide a range of free specialist care, treatment and support to people of all ages, whatever their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. This includes; immediate emotional support, medical and forensic examinations, emergency contraception, and testing and assessment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. They can also arrange referrals to sexual health, mental health and sexual violence services as well as support from an independent sexual violence advisor.
Despite these specialist services being available across England, many sexual assault and abuse survivors do not know where to go or who to turn to for help. We also know that some people are put off seeking help due to thinking they need to speak to the police. Help is still available from a SARC without having to talk to the police or report what happened.
Getting in touch with a SARC
Individuals can contact a SARC 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to book an appointment. St Mary's Centre :: Professionals is the SARC that is local to Bury. For more information on help following sexual assault and abuse and SARCs, visit www.nhs.uk/sarcs.
- #LookCloser Programme of Learning Event
Book your place via the learning and development section on our website.
Bury Young Carers
Bury Children's Services have renewed their young carers offer.
Below are some useful links:
- Leaflet for Young Carers: YC leaflet 2025
- Young Carers Self-Assessment Document: https://www.bury.gov.uk/asset-library/young-carers-self-assessment.docx
- Young Carers Toolkit for Professionals: https://www.bury.gov.uk/asset-library/young-carers-toolkit-professionals.docx
Alongside this, this web page has more information on Bury’s Early Help Offer: Early Help - Bury Council alongside a dedicated inbox: Bury Young Carers BuryYoungCarers@bury.gov.uk – please note this is for queries and not referrals, which should be sent instead via the MASH.
Essential Parent Poster
- Essential Parent - Poster[2.07MB]pdf file
Essential Parent - App
Trusted health and parenting information written by experts at your fingertips. A copy of the poster has been provided alongside this newsletter to access the QR codes. This application provides helpful support for families and as professionals, this new initiative requires your support to boost its awareness with Bury families. It is available in over 75 languages and features information and guidance across children’s development.
Safer Sleeping Toolkit
The following short video has been created to support and raise awareness for professionals working with families with additional vulnerabilities (such as substance misuse, domestic abuse and mental health concerns) around Burys Safer Sleeping Toolkit. This covers Burys bespoke toolkit, which has been adapted from the Lullaby Trust's Safer Sleep message, to give tailored information and consideration to where additional vulnerabilities are present for families.