Owner of Leicestershire care provider handed slavery order

The owner of a Leicestershire-based home care service provider has been handed a Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order (STRO).

Leicester Magistrates’ Court approved an application from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) for an interim order against Patience Oyeniran at a hearing on Wednesday November 22.

Oyeniran of Colby Road, Leicester, manages Panashe Home Care Services, providing domiciliary care to people living with physical health needs and conditions such as dementia.

Under the conditions of the civil order, Oyeniran must not transport or arrange to transport any worker or prospective worker to the UK who is not registered as a UK national. She must also not transport anyone within the UK to and from their place of work. The order does not apply to five of Oyeniran’s family members.

The 60-year-old must also not accommodate or arrange accommodation for any worker or prospective worker who is not registered as a UK national and has come to the UK from abroad. As with the first restriction, the same five family members are exempt from the order.

Finally, Oyeniran must not open or close any business interests in the UK involving the recruitment or employment of any staff without notifying the GLAA.

The order was sought after a number of concerns were raised alleging the exploitation of overseas workers.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) cancelled Panashe’s registration in 2022 following an inspection which ranked the service as inadequate.

CQC inspectors found there were not enough staff to provide care that people required. Overseas staff were scheduled to provide unrealistic hours of care which meant inspectors were not always assured people were receiving the care and support they required.

Leicestershire County Council terminated its contract with Panashe and the company no longer provides care packages in the county.

UK Visas and Immigration also revoked Oyeniran’s licence to recruit workers from overseas.

However, further investigations involving the GLAA and Leicestershire Police have indicated Oyeniran may have links to other companies who supply workers in the care sector, potentially placing vulnerable workers at risk of exploitation.

Criminal investigations are ongoing and a hearing for the interim order against Oyeniran to be upgraded to a full order will be held in 2024.

GLAA Investigating Officer Andy Hine said: “Care is one of the GLAA’s current top priority sectors for investigating modern slavery and labour abuse.

“We applied for an interim order against Oyeniran because of the risk she would exploit vulnerable overseas workers by forcing them to work long hours and controlling their wages. Some of the workers’ visas may also have expired only making them even more susceptible to exploitation by unscrupulous employers.

“This case demonstrates the complexities of investigations in the care sector and the need for a partnership approach. The positive interventions by our partners at CQC, UKVI, police and the county council have highlighted the need for all the different agencies to use their collective capabilities and resources to tackle the issues identified.

“The GLAA will rigorously police the order and will not hesitate to take further action if any breaches are identified. STROs are an invaluable tool in restricting the activities of individuals who may commit a slavery or trafficking offence and we would encourage their wider use across law enforcement to protect communities from the harm of such serious criminal behaviour.”

Breaching a STRO is a criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Anyone who suspects workers are being exploited for their labour should contact the GLAA by emailing intelligence@gla.gov.uk or by using the online reporting form.