Modern Slavery Statement
Our Modern Slavery Statement
Dudley Integrated Health and Care NHS Trust aims to follow good practice and take all reasonable steps to combat and prevent slavery and human trafficking. We are committed to ensuring that all of our employees are aware of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and their safeguarding duty to protect and prevent any further harm and abuse when it is identified or suspected that the individual may be or is at risk of modern slavery/human trafficking.
We are committed to improving our practices to combat slavery and human trafficking. We are fully aware of our responsibilities we have towards patients, service users, employees and the local community.
Our policies on slavery and human trafficking
We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in any part of our business and in so far as is possible to requiring our suppliers hold similar ethos.
Human Trafficking and Modern slavery guidance is embedded into Trust Safeguarding policies and our awareness raised through its inclusion in adult and children’s safeguarding training.
We adhere to employment checks and standards which includes right to work and suitable references.
We are committed to social and environmental responsibility and have zero tolerance for Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.
Any identified concerns regarding Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking would be escalated as part of the organisational safeguarding processes, in conjunction with partner agencies where appropriate such as Local Authorities and Police.
Our guidance on Modern Slavery is to:
- Comply with legislation and regulatory requirements
- Make suppliers and service providers aware that we promote the requirements of the legislation
- Consider modern slavery factors when making procurement decisions
- Develop awareness of modern slavery issues
We will:
- Aim to include modern slavery conditions or criteria in specification and tender documents wherever possible,
- Evaluate specifications and tenders with appropriate weight given to modern slavery points,
- Encourage suppliers and contractors to take their own action and understand their obligations to the new requirements,
- Expect supply chain/ framework providers to demonstrate compliance with their obligations in their processes
Trust staff must:
- Contact and work with the Procurement department when looking to work with new suppliers so appropriate checks can be undertaken.
Procurement staff will:
- Undertake awareness training where possible.
- Aim to check and draft specifications to include a commitment from suppliers to support the requirements of the act.
- Will not award contracts where suppliers do not demonstrate their commitment to ensuring that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in their own business or supply chains.
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 March 2022.
