26 Wych Elm
Harlow
Essex CM20 3GN
Tele: 01279 909157
E-mail: info@achhealthcare.co.uk
Last Revision: August 2023
Revision: 3.0
Next Revision: August 2024
Signed By: Admire Dube
Position: Director
Signature:
©All Policies and Procedures are owned by The Company and copying material requires permission from a Director of The Company
1.1
To ensure that everyone at ACH Healthcare Ltd is aware of the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy and Procedure and the procedures in place to identify, respond appropriately and report in line with local and the national guidance. This policy refers to adults who may be at risk, the procedure for children is detailed in the Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy and
1.2
This policy must be read alongside the Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedure. ACH Healthcare Ltd will ensure that staff understand Harlow Council safeguarding reporting procedures and that these procedures are communicated to all staff. Other policies that relate to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking include but are not limited to the Raising Concerns, Freedom to Speak Up and Raising Concerns, Freedom to Speak Up and Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure, Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy and Procedure, the Recruitment Policy and Procedure, the Right to Work Checks Policy and Procedure and the Agency Staff Policy and
1.3
To meet the legal requirements of the regulated activities that {ACH Healthcare Ltd} is registered to provide:
2.1
The following roles may be affected by this policy:
2.2
The following Service Users may be affected by this policy:
2.3
The following stakeholders may be affected by this policy:
3.1
To promote awareness of concerns surrounding slavery and human trafficking and promote the commitment of ACH Healthcare Ltd in addressing slavery and human trafficking in all its forms. An annual statement will be produced, where
3.2
To ensure that identification, protection, care and support for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking is at the heart of our safeguarding procedures at ACH Healthcare Ltd.
4.1
Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour, and human trafficking, all of which include the deprivation of a person’s liberty by another to exploit them for personal or commercial gain.
4.2
ACH Healthcare Ltd has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery within the business and supply chains and we are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our dealings and relationships. We will implement and enforce effective systems and controls to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in ACH Healthcare Ltd or within any third parties (agencies) that we are associated with.
4.3
All staff will be made aware of the issues surrounding slavery and human trafficking, whilst being encouraged and supported to report any concerns to ACH Healthcare Ltd management. ACH Healthcare Ltd will also support any staff that may be subject to slavery or human trafficking.
4.4
Where modern slavery or human trafficking is identified, ACH Healthcare Ltd will share information with the Harlow Council Safeguarding Team to safeguard the individual from harm and with the objective of preventing future situations arising, to promote the elimination of routes and sources of slavery or human trafficking.
4.5
All line managers are responsible for ensuring that those reporting directly to them comply with the provisions of this policy in the day to day performance of their roles.
4.6
All employees who suspect any members of the workplace being victim of modern slavery must notify their line manager.
4.7
ACH Healthcare Ltd will take steps to ensure that sufficient communication and employee awareness training is undertaken with regards to Modern.
4.8
All employees will be made aware of the Raising Concerns, Freedom to Speak Up and Raising Concerns, Freedom to Speak Up and Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure at ACH Healthcare Ltd. The purpose of this policy and associated procedure is to enable ACH Healthcare Ltd to thoroughly investigate allegations of any wrongdoing raised by employees within ACH Healthcare Ltd without fear of reprisal.
4.8
ACH Healthcare Ltd will use this policy to underpin and inform any statement on slavery and human trafficking that we may be required to produce to meet the requirements of Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA).
5.1 Reporting Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Concerns
The following procedure must take place where there are any concerns that someone is a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking. ACH Healthcare Ltd must ensure that staff are aware that victims of modern slavery or trafficking will often not self-identify. Many will present a different issue.
5.2 Safer Recruitment
All staff engaged with providing services at ACH Healthcare Ltd will be subject to thorough and rigorous recruitment procedures that will include a DBS check, identity check, confirmation of validity to work in the UK, employment history, suitability for the role and references. This will minimise the chance of employing a person that has been, or is subject to, slavery or human trafficking. ACH Healthcare Ltd will follow the Right to Work Checks Policy and Procedure to ensure that a robust and fair process is followed at all times.
5.3
ACH Healthcare Ltd will only use staff provided by third-party organisations (such as agencies) that are either registered with the regulator or who can confirm that the staff being supplied are free to work in the UK and meet all the requirements for the role being provided for.
5.4
All staff will undertake training on modern slavery and human trafficking. This will ensure that they are aware of the indicators of modern slavery which include:
5.5
Staff will be advised that if they are subject to slavery or human trafficking, or if they are aware of any individual that may be subject to slavery or has been trafficked, or if slavery or human trafficking is disclosed to them they must inform the Registered Manager of ACH Healthcare Ltd or the police as soon as possible.
If a member of staff is unsure about whether a particular act, the treatment of workers more generally, or their working conditions within any tier of the supply chain of ACH Healthcare Ltd constitutes any of the various forms of modern slavery, they should raise it with the Registered Manager of ACH Healthcare Ltd.
5.6 Modern Slavery Annual Reporting
The Government guidance states that under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, certain businesses are required to publish an annual modern slavery statement setting out the steps they have taken to identify and address their modern slavery risks. It is essential that ACH Healthcare Ltd continues to identify and address the risks of modern slavery in operations and supply chains. As well as focusing on the health and safety of workers, ACH Healthcare Ltd will consider how fluctuations in demand and changes in the operating model may lead to new or increased risks of labour exploitation.
5.7 Recruitment Risks
Some suppliers may be seeking to recruit additional workers in order to meet increases in demand. ACH Healthcare Ltd will ensure that rigorous recruitment checks are maintained and that suppliers adhere to the same robust processes to ensure that vulnerable workers are not being exploited by third parties seeking to profit from heightened demand.
5.8 The Health and Safety of Workers
As a responsible organisation, it is important that the relevant local or national government policies are implemented throughout the supply chain at ACH Healthcare Ltd.
5.9 Risk Assessment
ACH Healthcare Ltd will undertake a risk assessment of how suppliers are operating to highlight and help identify where there are risks of Modern Slavery or Human Trafficking occurring. A template available in the QCS Management system will be used where appropriate.
5.10 Review of Effectiveness
ACH Healthcare Ltd intends to take further steps to identify, assess and monitor potential risk areas in terms of modern slavery and human trafficking, particularly in the supply chains of our providers. We will also continue to:
5.11 Indicators of Forced Labour
6.1 Section 52 Modern Slavery Act
This places a duty on Local Authorities to identify and refer modern slavery child victims and consenting adult victims through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) This responsibility identifies a local authority as a First Responder. The Council as a first responder (FR) into the NRM process has a duty to notify the Home Office if anyone working within the council identifies a person with indicators suggesting they may be trafficked or enslaved
6.2 Modern slavery
6.3 Exploitation (Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking)
6.4 Turnover
“Turnover” means the amount derived from the provision of goods and services falling within the ordinary activities of the commercial organisation or subsidiary undertaking, after deduction of:
6.5 Human Trafficking
Professionals providing this service should be aware of the following:
Physical Appearance
Shows signs of physical or psychological abuse, look malnourished or unkempt, anxious/agitated or appear withdrawn and neglected. They may have untreated injuries
Isolation
Poor Living Conditions
Be living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation, and/or living and working at the same address
Restricted Freedom of Movement
Unusual Travel Times
Reluctant to Seek Help
Avoid eye contact, appear frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers and fear law enforcers for many reasons, such as not knowing who to trust or where to get help, fear of deportation, fear of violence to them or their family
The Following Signs Could Indicate a Situation of Labour Exploitation:
The Following Signs Could Indicate a Situation of Sexual Exploitation:
The Following Signs Could Indicate a Situation of Domestic Servitude:
The Following Signs Could Indicate a Situation of Criminal Exploitation:
The Following Signs Could Indicate a Situation of Child Exploitation:
Who needs to publish a statement?
A commercial organisation is required to publish an annual statement if all the criteria below apply:
Organisations are responsible for determining whether the legislation applies to them. You may wish to seek legal advice to decide if your organisation needs to produce an annual statement.
If ACH Healthcare Ltd meets the criteria, the modern slavery statement must;
Be approved by the board or directors and signed by a director. This assigns ownership to senior-level management and encourages their proactive involvement in tackling abusive practices in business operations
Companies that do not meet these basic requirements are breaking the law
The statement must be:
What else must it include?
THIS STATEMENT IS A TEMPLATE AND MUST BE UPDATED TO REFLECT ACH Healthcare Ltd
This statement sets out the steps that ACH Healthcare Ltd has taken and is continuing to take to ensure that modern slavery or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain.
Modern slavery encompasses slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour. ACH Healthcare Ltd has a zero- tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery and human trafficking. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity and transparency in all business dealings and to putting effective systems and controls in place to safeguard against any form of modern slavery taking place within the business or our supply chains.
[Insert what your organisation does e.g. provide homecare services to xxx number of people, with xx number of staff at xx number of locations. State if you work with any particular partners e.g. Local Authorities.]
ACH Healthcare Ltd implements its business strategy in an ethically, socially and environmentally responsible manner. We fully acknowledge our responsibility to respect human rights as set out in the International Bill of Human Rights. The IBHR informs all of our policies related to the rights and freedoms of every individual who works for us, either as a direct employee, agency worker or indirectly through our supply chain. We are also committed to implementing the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights throughout our operations. Respect for the dignity of the individual – and the importance of each individual’s human rights – form the basis of the behaviours we expect in every workplace nationally.
We will not accept any form of discrimination, harassment or bullying and we require all of our managers to implement policies designed to increase equality of opportunity and inclusion for all employees including agency workers. We have also developed and implemented policies and processes which are intended to extend these commitments through our supply chain.
Policies
We have several internal policies to ensure that we are conducting business ethically and transparently. These include:
Direct Communication
The Company encourages members of the public or people not employed by us to write, in confidence, to raise any concern, issue or suspicion of modern slavery in any part of our business.
Suppliers
[Insert what you think are your risk levels and what you do to mitigate those risks]
We conduct due diligence on all suppliers before allowing them to become a preferred supplier. We include an online search to ensure that particular organisations have never been convicted of offences relating to modern slavery and we include our modern slavery policy as part of our contract with all suppliers. Suppliers are required to confirm that no part of their business operations contradicts this policy. As part of our contract with suppliers, they confirm to us that:
Risk Assessments
Our supply chains include procurement of staff, consumables, facilities maintenance, utilities and waste management [add further areas]. We have conducted a risk assessment and will ensure that we will take further steps to ensure that we support the eradication of modern slavery, that staff understand how to recognise modern slavery and the appropriate safeguarding reporting processes are followed should there be concerns within our supply chains, with customers or suppliers.
Performance indicators
We will know the effectiveness of the steps that we are taking to ensure that slavery is not taking place within our business or supply chain if:
Safeguards
We aim to encourage openness and will support anyone who raises genuine concerns in good faith under this policy, even if they turn out to be mistaken. We are committed to ensuring that no one suffers any detrimental treatment as a result of reporting in good faith their suspicion that modern slavery of whatever form is or may be taking place in any part of our business. Detrimental treatment includes dismissal, disciplinary action, threats or other unfavourable treatment connected with raising a concern. ACH Healthcare Ltd will accept and take seriously concerns communicated anonymously.
However, retention of anonymity does render investigations and makes validation more difficult and can make the process less effective. Individuals are therefore encouraged to put their names to allegations. Any claims or allegations made which are found to be malicious or vexatious will result in disciplinary action being taken against the individual.
Responsibility for this Statement
The ultimate responsibility for the prevention of modern slavery rests with the [insert who at Senior Management level has responsibility] for ensuring that this policy and its implementation complies with our legal and ethical obligations. Managers at all levels are responsible for ensuring that those reporting to them understand and comply with this policy and are given adequate and regular training on it and the issue of modern slavery.
Assessment of effectiveness in preventing Modern Slavery
We understand that modern slavery risk is not static, and will continue our approach to mitigating this risk. We will assess the risk via our internal auditing processes.
This statement is made according to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes the modern slavery and human trafficking statement of ACH Healthcare Ltd for the financial year ending xxxx. [State who has approved] of ACH Healthcare Ltd has approved this statement.
Approval for this statement
This statement was approved by the [State title] Date