This statement comprises the slavery and human trafficking statement of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (‘LPT’) for the financial year ending 31 March 2024 in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Our organisation recognises that it has a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking and is absolutely committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in its corporate activities, and to ensuring that its supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.
Organisational Structure
LPT provides community health and mental health support to over 1 million people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. LPT employs over 7,100 staff (including ‘bank’ or temporary staff) who provide care through three clinical directorates:
- Adult mental health services
- Families, young people and children’s services and adult learning disabilities services
- Community health services
The clinical directorates are supported by enabling and corporate services staff, alongside our hosted service providers (Leicester Health Informatics and 360 Assurance) and around 200 active volunteers.
During 2022/23 LPT provided and/or subcontracted 129 relevant health services.
Procurement and Supply Chain
The procurement process has been reviewed to ensure that human trafficking and modern slavery issues are considered at an early stage, with self-certification for potential suppliers that their supply chains comply with the law. We procure many goods and services under frameworks endorsed by the Cabinet Office and Department of Health and Social Care, under which suppliers such as Crown Commercial Services and NHS Supply Chain adhere to a code of conduct on forced labour. We uphold professional practices relating to procurement and supply and ensure procurement staff attend regular training on changes to procurement legislation – all procurement and supply chain staff have undertaken the GCF Modern Slavery Training modules 1-5.
Any area of a supply chain can be vulnerable to risks of modern slavery, which is why the Procurement Department are introducing a supplier relationship management policy and conducts regular contract / supplier meetings where appropriate. These meetings are also conducted by central framework contract providers which the Procurement Department use, and which also help to further promote the awareness of Modern Day Slavery in the supply chain.
The Procurement Department follows good practice, ensuring all reasonable steps are taken to prevent slavery and human trafficking and will continue to support the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and any future legislation.
Recruitment
LPT takes a robust approach in recruiting both its substantive and flexible workforce. We communicate directly with all candidates to discuss any work opportunities and to confirm details of any offer made. We have rigorous procedures in place for the vetting of new employees and workers and ensure that we are able to confirm their identities, their right to work in the United Kingdom and that they are paid above the National Living Wage directly into a personal bank account.
All employees and workers are required to meet with someone from the organisation and provide us with their original Right to Work in the United Kingdom documentation for certification and verification. For any employee or worker with a work permit or visa, we carry out regular audits and management of these documents to ensure they remain valid. All new corporate starters are required to complete an induction which includes information and training on the company policies.
When using employment agencies, we only use specific reputable companies to source workers and always verify their practices in the first instance. Where we undertake recruitment from abroad, we do this in line with the Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England.
Freedom to Speak Up: Raising Concerns (Whistleblowing) Policy
We encourage all our employees and workers to report any concerns related to the direct activities, or the supply chains of the Organisation. This includes any circumstances that may give rise to an enhanced risk of slavery or human trafficking. LPT’s Freedom to Speak Up: Raising Concerns (Whistleblowing) Policy is designed to make it easy for workers to make disclosures, without fear of disadvantageous or demeaning treatment as a result of speaking up. The policy encourages people to raise concerns directly with their Line Manager or the HR Department, but also contains contact details of other internal routes to support speaking up. In addition, there are contact details of an independent charity and the NHS Fraud and Corruption Reporting Line should an employee wish to seek independent advice on a concern that may have.
During the financial year 2023/2024 LPT will:
- Continue the programme of validation for all suppliers as an embedded part of annual reporting by LPT
- Maintain a central, shared, e-filing space which allows all Trust activity to be monitored and audited
- Carry out on-going assessment of contracts which have the highest risk of modern slavery
- Use the Standard Selection Questionnaire (SSQ) in tender exercises to support assurance that suppliers comply with the Modern Slavery Act. Where relevant, the Trust will also apply the new Social Value model criteria as part of tender exercises which may evaluate suppliers compliance with the Modern Slavery Act under the theme Equal Opportunity.
- include a Modern Slavery Act clause in our standard terms and conditions.
Signed on behalf of LPT by Sarah Willis, Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development