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Understanding Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery in Pharmacy (Level 2)
Level 2 awareness for pharmacy staff on recognising exploitation, responding safely, and escalating safeguarding concerns
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Lesson
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Reporting, recording and escalation
When you have a concern, record what you saw and heard, share it through the correct channels, and follow local safeguarding procedures. You do not need proof before taking action. Concerns might arise from a pattern of signs, a single worrying interaction, or specific observations that suggest possible exploitation.
Clear records and prompt escalation help protect the person and allow others to assess the situation. The pharmacy team's role is to notice, record and pass on concerns, not to investigate independently.
Recording concerns clearly
Record facts, not guesses: note what was seen, said and observed, using the person's words where appropriate.
Include practical detail: record injuries, behaviour, dates, times, repeat visits and the presence or actions of companions.
Keep language objective: avoid labels or assumptions and describe observations in a neutral, professional way.
Include patterns over time: separate small concerns may be significant when viewed together.
Escalating appropriately
Follow the pharmacy's safeguarding process and local policy. This may mean informing the responsible pharmacist, contacting a safeguarding lead, or making a referral via the local route. Escalate promptly if there is immediate risk, ongoing harm, or concern for a vulnerable child or adult.
If your pharmacy has a designated safeguarding lead (DSL) or safeguarding lead, tell them as soon as possible.
If there is no safeguarding lead on site, tell the responsible pharmacist or the most senior person available.
Share the facts clearly: what you saw, what you heard, who was present, and what concerned you.
Do not wait for proof if something does not feel right.
If you are concerned, follow your local safeguarding process and contact the appropriate service.
This may include children's social care, adult safeguarding, police 101, or 999 if someone is in immediate danger.
If your pharmacy is part of a chain, use the superintendent pharmacist's safeguarding route or head-office safeguarding contact.
If you work in an independent pharmacy and are unsure, use your local safeguarding contact list and police route without waiting for a perfect answer.
Record what was seen, heard, and done, and escalate promptly.
Review the concern promptly and focus on immediate safety.
Check whether there is an urgent risk of harm and contact 999 straight away if there is immediate danger.
Consider whether the concern relates to a child, an adult at risk, or possible modern slavery and follow the appropriate safeguarding route.
Make sure the concern is recorded clearly, factually, and without assumptions.
Decide whether the concern should be shared with children's social care, adult safeguarding, police, or another appropriate agency.
If modern slavery is suspected, follow the local process for referral or notification and seek advice if needed.
Support staff, keep information appropriately confidential, and make sure next steps are followed through.
Scenario
Scenario
Over the past month, your pharmacy team has seen the same patient three times. Each visit involved a different companion collecting medicines with them or waiting nearby. The patient has appeared withdrawn on every occasion and on one visit had bruising without an explanation.
A medicines counter assistant says, "Something doesn't feel right, but we do not have proof of anything." The pharmacist agrees the pattern is concerning and asks what should happen next.
What should the pharmacy team do when a pattern of concern is emerging but there is no clear disclosure?
In pharmacy practice, accurate factual recording and timely escalation are the appropriate next steps after identifying concern.
Key Points
Please take a moment to review these points, reflect on their significance and consider how they apply to your own experiences.
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Mecourse Lifelong Learning (2026) ‘Reporting, recording and escalation’. Birmingham, UK: Mecourse Lifelong Learning [Online]. Available at: https://www.mecourse.com/understanding-human-trafficking-and-modern-slavery-in-pharmacy-reporting-recording-and-escalation [Accessed 12 May 2026].
Vancouver
Mecourse Lifelong Learning. Reporting, recording and escalation [Internet]. Birmingham, UK: Mecourse Lifelong Learning; 2026 Apr 15 [cited 2026 May 12]. Available from: https://www.mecourse.com/understanding-human-trafficking-and-modern-slavery-in-pharmacy-reporting-recording-and-escalation.
Chicago
Mecourse Lifelong Learning. “Reporting, recording and escalation.” 2026. https://www.mecourse.com/understanding-human-trafficking-and-modern-slavery-in-pharmacy-reporting-recording-and-escalation. Accessed May 12, 2026.
APA
Mecourse Lifelong Learning. (2026, April 15). Reporting, recording and escalation. https://www.mecourse.com/understanding-human-trafficking-and-modern-slavery-in-pharmacy-reporting-recording-and-escalation
IEEE
Mecourse Lifelong Learning, “Reporting, recording and escalation.” Mecourse Lifelong Learning. https://www.mecourse.com/understanding-human-trafficking-and-modern-slavery-in-pharmacy-reporting-recording-and-escalation (Accessed: May 12, 2026).
AMA
Mecourse Lifelong Learning. Reporting, recording and escalation. Mecourse Lifelong Learning. Published April 15, 2026. Accessed May 12, 2026. https://www.mecourse.com/understanding-human-trafficking-and-modern-slavery-in-pharmacy-reporting-recording-and-escalation.
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