Background
The Modern Slavery Bill was introduced into Parliament on 10 June 2014 and passed into UK law on 26 March 2015. The Modern Slavery Act is an Act to make provision about slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour and about human trafficking, including the provision for the protection of victims.
A person commits an offence if:
- The person holds another person in slavery or servitude and the circumstances are such that the person knows or ought to know that the other person is held in slavery or servitude; or
- The person requires another person to perform forced or compulsory labour and the circumstance are such that the person knows or ought to know that the other person is being required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
Larger organisations must publicly report steps they have taken to ensure their operations and supply chains are trafficking and slavery free. This disclosure duty, contained in the Modern Slavery Act 2015, applies to companies and partnerships supplying goods or services (wherever incorporated or formed) with global turnovers of £36 million and above, providing they carry on business in the UK. The Trust has previously produced a Modern Slavery statutory statement for each financial year since the year ending March 2017.
Organisational Structure
North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust serves an approximate population of 7 million covering an area of 5,500 square miles and employs over 6,300 staff. The Trust receives 1.3 million emergency calls per year, which is 16% of the national (999) activity. To meet this demand the Trust has 3 emergency control centres and approximately 700 emergency vehicles.
The Trust also provides urgent care and patient transport services across the region and manages the NHS non-emergency helpline, 111, regionally. The Trust has an overall annual budget of around £450 million. The Trust is fully aware of the responsibilities it bears towards patients, employees and the local community and as such, has a strict set of ethical values that we use as guidance with regard to our commercial activities. We therefore expect that all suppliers to the Trust adhere to the same ethical principles. The Trust has a non-pay budget of £135m per annum which is spent on goods and services. Over 80% of the £135m is spent with the Trusts top 100 suppliers.
Our Supply Chain
It is important to ensure that suppliers to the Trust have in place robust systems to ensure that their own staff, and organisations within their own supply chain are fully compliant with the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. In compliance with the consolidation of offences relating to trafficking and slavery within the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Trust continues to monitor its supply chains with a view to confirming that such behaviour is not taking place. The following actions in terms of Modern Slavery and Code of Conduct have been embedded within procurement processes:
- The Trust has developed a Modern Slavery Statement and a Supplier Code of Conduct.
- NHS Procurement Template Documents – ensure that Modern Slavery is considered in procurement exercises.
- NHS Terms and Conditions – requires suppliers to comply with all relevant Law and Guidance and to use Good Industry Practice to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in its supply chains.
- All current Trust suppliers have been contacted to provide evidence of compliance with the Act and have been issued with the “Supplier Code of Conduct”. In addition, suppliers have been made aware of how to inform the Trust if they become aware of any breaches to the act within their own supply chain. The same process has been adopted for new suppliers.
- When we write to new Suppliers for information to enable them to be set up on our systems, we ask them for certain information, and this has been expanded to cover a Modern Slavery Declaration.
- We have a Modern Slavery section in our “Procurement Manual” which is an internal guidance document that should raise awareness for all staff.
- The Senior Procurement Team has completed the “Ethical Procurement and Supply Certificate” that is a recognised qualification of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.
Safeguarding
- The Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons Policy was reviewed in July 2021 and makes reference to modern slavery.
- The Safeguarding Team have added Modern Day Slavery to the level 3 training and the induction training for the Trust.
- The safeguarding crib sheets has a modern day slavery tick box option for staff who are raising concerns if they feel that the patient may be a victim of modern day slavery.
- It has been made very clear to staff during training that modern day slavery is a crime and so if a patient is at risk of MDS or is believed to be a victim then the Police should be contacted.
Recruitment
The Trust has a robust recruitment policy and follows all the NHS Employment checks standards including right to work and identity checks. The checks standards are rigorously applied to all prospective employees and bank workers, whether in paid or unpaid employment. Agency staff are sourced through Agencies listed on the approved Procurement Framework (s).
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 2023.