Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 introduced changes in UK law focused on increasing transparency in supply chains, to ensure our supply chains are free from modern slavery (that is slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking).

Modern Slavery is the recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of children, women or men through the use of force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability, deception or other means for the purpose of exploitation. Individuals may be trafficked into, out of or within the UK, and they may be trafficked for a number of reasons, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and organ harvesting.

As a commissioner of health care services for the population of South Yorkshire, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) provides the following statement in respect of its commitment to, and efforts in preventing slavery and human trafficking practices in the supply chain and employment practices.

Modern Slavery Statement

The ICB considers human trafficking and slavery to be morally abhorrent and entirely at odds with the ICB’s values, as well as those of the society in which we live and work. The ICB will use the legislative and procedural tools available to us to ensure that the ICB does not support or encourage any person or organisation involved in these practices, and where possible, we will use those tools to ensure that such people and organisations are detected and dealt with by the authorities.

Our Organisation and Commitment to Prevent Slavery and Human Trafficking

The ICB is a clinically led commissioning organisation, working collaboratively across the health and care system to commission health care services including acute, community, primary care, mental health and learning disability services. As an organisation we are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in any part of our business activity and, in so far as it is possible, to hold our suppliers to account to do likewise.

Our Approach

The ICB recognises that Safeguarding is everybody’s business and encourages it to be central to all decision making with the organisation. In order to achieve this, we ensure that we have arrangements in place to provide strong leadership, vision and direction for safeguarding. We make sure we have clear accessible policies and procedures in line with relevant legislation, statutory guidance and best practice. The ICB Safeguarding Team have a strong profile at Place and across the system and introduce themselves themselves to all new employees as part of the Corporate induction. Statutory and mandatory training for safeguarding includes awareness on modern slavery. The ICB commits that the only providers that will be awarded contracts will meet all mandatory conditions set out in general and service conditions, as per the NHS Standard Contract 32.3.5.

Our Policies and Arrangements

Our recruitment processes are robust and adhere to safe recruitment principles. This includes strict requirements in respect of identity checks, work permits and criminal records. Our policies, such as Safeguarding Adults, Children in Care and Children policies, Freedom to Speak up Guardians

provide an additional platform and guidance for our employees to raise concerns about poor and inappropriate working practices. Guidance can also be found in our modern slavery guidance.

Monitoring and Assurance

The ICB aims to be as effective as possible in ensuring that modern slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in any part of our business or supply chains by:

• Effective interagency working with local authorities, the police and third sector organisations which include appropriate arrangements for preventing and responding to modern slavery and human trafficking.
• Continuing to undertake robust NHS employment checks and payroll systems.
• Ensuring good communication across different teams within the ICB in relation to contractual requirements and safeguarding/prevention of abuse and neglect.
• Requiring the ICB’s providers to provide the ICB with assurance around safeguarding compliance within the agreed framework, ensuring modern slavery and human trafficking are part of the organisation’s Mandatory Safeguarding Children and Adult training programme.

This statement is relevant for the financial year ending March 2025 in accordance with Section 54, Part 6 of the Modern Slavery Act (2015) and will be reviewed annually.