MODERN SLAVERY STATEMENT
Introduction
This statement is made pursuant to s54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that Pathways Care Limited has taken, and is continuing to take, to make sure that modern slavery or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain during the year ending 31 March 2020.
Modern slavery encompasses slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour. Pathways Care Limited has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery. 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 chain.
About the organisation
Pathways Care Limited provides domiciliary care services to adults in the community. We are a small organisation with less than 10 employed staff. We provide care to people in their own homes.
Our policies on slavery and human trafficking:
Pathways Care Limited is aware of our responsibilities towards service users, employees and the local community and expects all suppliers to adhere to the same ethical principles. We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Our internal policies replicate our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships.
Currently, all awarded suppliers sign up to our terms and conditions of contract which contain a provision around Good Industry Practice to ensure each supplier’s commitment to anti-slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains; and that they conduct their businesses in a manner that is consistent with Pathways care’s anti-slavery policy.
We operate a number of internal policies to ensure that we are conducting business in an ethical and transparent manner. These include:
1. Recruitment policy. We operate a robust recruitment policy, including conducting eligibility to work in the UK checks for all directly employed staff, to safeguard against human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against their will
2. Equal Opportunities. We have a range of controls to protect staff from poor treatment and/or exploitation, which complies with all respective laws and regulations. These include provision of fair pay rates, fair terms and conditions of employment, and access to training and development opportunities
3. Safeguarding policies. We adhere to the principles inherent within both our safeguarding children and adult’s policies. These provide clear guidance so that our employees are clear on how to raise safeguarding concerns about how colleagues or people receiving our services are being treated, or about practices within our business or supply chain.
4. Whistleblowing policy. We operate a whistleblowing policy so that all employees know that they can raise concerns about how colleagues or people receiving our services are being treated, or about practices within our business or supply chain, without fear of reprisals
5. Standards of business conduct. This code explains the manner in which we behave as an organisation and how we expect our employees and suppliers to act.
Training
Advice and training about modern slavery and human trafficking is available to staff through our mandatory safeguarding children and adults training programmes, our safeguarding policies and procedures, and our safeguarding leads. It is also discussed at our compulsory staff induction training.
We are looking at ways to continuously increase awareness within our organisation and to ensure a high level of understanding of the risks involved with modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and in our business.
Our performance indicators
We will know the effectiveness of the steps that we are taking to ensure that slavery and/or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain if:
- No reports are received from our staff, the public, or law enforcement agencies to indicate that modern slavery practices have been identified.