Can a ‘structural competency’ approach improve the safeguarding of diverse marginalised communities from exploitation?

Khazbak, Rana; Gardner, Alison; Burcu, Oana; Gray, Charlotte

Abstract

This article examines if a ‘structural competency’ approach can help with understanding and addressing deficiencies in identifying potential exploitation victims among marginalised communities. Through a case study of multi-agency work within a unitary English local authority area, it explores how safeguarding and anti-modern slavery systems recognise exploitation cases among Roma communities. The concept of ‘structural competency’ illustrates how culture and structure can jointly create stigmatisation and inequities in safeguarding. We argue that ‘structural competency’ highlights structural inequities and institutional discrimination in anti-exploitation and safeguarding practices, in contrast to the commonly adopted approach of ‘cultural competence,’ which can exacerbate the othering and risk of exploitation for marginalised communities.

Citation

Khazbak, R., Gardner, A., Burcu, O., & Gray, C. (2024). Can a ‘structural competency’ approach improve the safeguarding of diverse marginalised communities from exploitation?. Critical Social Policy, https://doi.org/10.1177/02610183241284502

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 30, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Sep 24, 2024
• Publication Date: Sep 24, 2024
• Deposit Date: Sep 25, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 26, 2024
• Journal: Critical Social Policy
• Print ISSN: 0261-0183
• Electronic ISSN: 1461-703X
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/02610183241284502
• Keywords: cultural competence; exploitation; Roma; safeguarding; structural inequities
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/39992037
• Publisher URL: https://doi-org.nottingham.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/02610183241284502