This statement comprises the modern slavery and human trafficking statement of NHS Kent and Medway in accordance with section 54, part six of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 for the financial year ending March 2025. NHS Kent and Medway recognises it has a responsibility to take a robust and proactive approach to slavery and human trafficking and is absolutely committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in its corporate activities.
Our organisation
There are two million people living in Kent and Medway. We have an annual budget of £4.2billion in 2024/25 to provide the best possible care for the whole county.
As an authorised statutory body, NHS Kent and Medway is the lead commissioner for healthcare services (including acute, community, mental health and primary care) in Kent and Medway. The membership, governing body, executive team and all employees 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 is possible to holding our suppliers to account to do likewise.
NHS Kent and Medway has a clear line of accountability for safeguarding. The accountable officer (our chief executive) has ultimate accountability for ensuring that the health contribution to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults is discharged effectively across the whole health economy through commissioning arrangements.
The chief nurse is the executive lead for safeguarding and has responsibility for providing leadership and gaining assurance in relation to safeguarding issues within the integrated care system.
NHS Kent and Medway employs the expertise of designated nurses/professionals for both children and adults. These roles are an integral to supporting NHS Kent and Medway discharge its statutory safeguarding functions within the organisation and across the health system, across both the children and adult’s agenda.
Definitions
Modern slavery is the recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of children, women or men using 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 several reasons, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and organ harvesting. It is irrelevant whether the victim consents to travel and whether or not the victim is an adult or a child.
Exploitation is the deliberate maltreatment, manipulation or abuse of power and control over another person. It is taking advantage of another person or situation usually, but not always, for personal gain. Such as slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, sexual exploitation, removal of organs, securing services by forces, threats and deception and securing services from children, young people and vulnerable persons.
Commitment
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 introduced changes in UK law, which focus on increasing transparency in supply chains.
NHS Kent and Medway is committed to ensuring there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in any part of business activity and in as far as possible, to hold our commissioned services and suppliers to account to do likewise. Kent and Medway has a duty to uphold the statutory principles of the Human Rights Act (1998) whereby article four promotes people’s right to live free from slavery or forced labour. NHS Kent and Medway values; caring for all, including everyone, building trust, doing what’s right and being courageous are consistent with the government agenda to eradicate modern slavery within the UK.
Our approach
Policies and arrangements
NHS Kent and Medway has in place the relevant policies to support the modern slavery human trafficking agenda; this includes:
- safeguarding adults and children policy
- freedom to speak up – including freedom to speak up guardians
- managing allegations policy
- recruitment and selection policy
- procurement policy.
Procurement
Our procurement approach follows the crown commercial service standard. When procuring goods and services, we apply NHS Terms and Conditions (for non-clinical procurement) and the NHS Standard Contract (for clinical procurement). Both require suppliers to comply with relevant legislation.
Recruitment
NHS Kent and Medway is committed to ensuring equality of access to employment and training opportunities and is committed to eliminate unlawful and unfair discrimination and ensure that all groups and individuals within the community benefit through having equal access to employment opportunities provided.
NHS Kent and Medway has recruitment processes in place to make sure we not employ anyone without the correct right to work documentation. All external candidates are requested to produce documents confirming their right to work in the UK. The organisation will also verify an applicant’s identity to ensure it is genuine and that the individual has the right to use that identity.
Going forward
- Continuing to provide expert support and advice, via NHS Kent and Medway designated safeguarding leads, into the commissioning process and supporting multiagency work to respond to modern slavery and human trafficking
- Continuing to gain assurance that all commissioned services have access to training on how to identify those who are victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. This training will include the latest information for staff to develop the skills to identify and support individuals who encounter health services.
- Continuing to work with NHS-funded and partner organisations to ensure modern slavery and human trafficking are appropriately prioritised and feature prominently in safeguarding work plans.
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our organisation’s modern slavery and human trafficking statement for the current financial year.