Modern Slavery Statement

This statement applies to all companies within and associated to [Safer Hand Care Solutions Ltd and Safer Hand Solutions Ltd] (referred to in this statement as ‘The Group’). The information included in the statement refers to the financial year [2022/2023].

[Safer Hand Care Solutions Ltd operates from 2 branches – Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire and Maidstone, Kent, and is run by the Directors, supported by the Operations Manager and Brank Managers. Safer Hand Solutions Ltd operates from the Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire branch and is run by the Directors, supported by the Operations Manager and the Recruitment Manager. 

The organisation offers temporary, contract and permanent staffing solutions to a variety of care settings and commercial businesses across the country.  

The labour supplied to the organisation in pursuance of its operation is carried out in the UK, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire and Maidstone, Kent.  

The [Organisation/Group] considers that modern slavery encompasses:

• Human trafficking;
• Forced work, through mental or physical threat;
• Being owned or controlled by an employer through mental or physical abuse of the threat of abuse;
• Being dehumanised, treated as a commodity or being bought or sold as property;
• Being physically constrained or to have restriction placed on freedom of movement.

The [Organisation/Group] acknowledges its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and commits to complying with the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The [Organisation/Group] understands that this requires an ongoing review of both its internal practices in relation to its labour force and, additionally, its supply chains.

The [Organisation/Group] does not enter into business with any other organisation, in the United Kingdom or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to involve itself in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour. 

No labour provided to the [Organisation/Group] in the pursuance of the provision of its own services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. The [Organisation/Group] strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation in [insert countries where your employees are situated], [and in many cases exceeds those minimums in relation to its employees].

In order to fulfil its activities, the [Organisation/Group]’s main supply chains include those related to the pre-employment and compliance checks for temporary personnel, the use of I.T. software, services and communications.

The [Organisation/Group] considers its main exposure to the risk of slavery and human trafficking to exist in the supply of temporary, contract and permanent staff to 3^rd parties. 

In general, the [Organisation/Group] considers its exposure to slavery/human trafficking to be relatively limited. [Nonetheless], it has taken steps to ensure that such practices do not take place in its business nor the business of any organisation that supplies goods and/or services to it. 

During the reporting period covered by this statement, the COVID-19 pandemic had taken hold. For several months, the UK was placed into lockdown to stem the spread of COVID-19. This created several challenges for the [Organisation/Group], as it did for others across the nation.

The [Organisation/Group] welcomes the UK Government’s decision, as confirmed in April 2020, to allow for a delay of up to 6 months in the publication of modern slavery statements without the risk of facing penalty.

The [Organisation/Group]  concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic did adjust the risk of modern slavery to a level above that which existed before the pandemic, which is as set out under ‘POTENTIAL EXPOSURE’ above. It’s use of suppliers dropped significantly due to the fact that homeworking was swiftly implemented in March 2020 which meant that its premises, from which it usually conducts day to day business, were temporarily closed. Several of our workforce were placed on furlough as a result of the drop in demand for our services, meaning there were no additional temporary labour needs.

During the pandemic, the Group’s employees still had access to the grievance procedure to raise any concerns that they may have had.

In line with emergency legislation passed by the Government, Group employees have been paid Statutory Sick Pay during periods of self-isolation where it has not been possible to agree a temporary period of homeworking.

The [Organisation’s/Group’s] modern slavery risks were subject to the same monitoring procedures during the pandemic as at all other times.

The [Organisation/Group] carries out due diligence processes in relation to ensuring slavery and/or human trafficking does not take place in its organisation or supply chains, including conducting a review of the controls of its suppliers.

The [Organisation/Group] has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another organisation which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.

In accordance with section 54(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the [Organisation/Group] has taken the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place: 

• A zero tolerance policy towards modern slavery, in addition to the existing compliance checks in place for all workers

The [Organisation/Group] has set the following key performance indicators to measure its effectiveness in ensuring modern slavery is not taking place in the [Organisation/Group] or its supply chains.

• Pre-employment checks
• Ongoing compliance checks

The [Organisation/Group] has the following policies which further define its stance on modern slavery [modern slavery policy; a corporate social responsibility policy; supplier code of conduct; recruitment policy].

The [Organisation/Group] provides the following training to staff to effectively implement its stance on modern slavery [induction training, training on modern slavery policies.].

The [Organisation/Group] has a Slavery Compliance Officer, to whom all concerns regarding modern slavery should be addressed, and who will then undertake relevant action with regard to the [Organisation/Group] obligations in this regard.  

This statement is made in pursuance of Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and will be reviewed for each financial year.