Introduction

Modern Slavery and forced labour can take many forms, Modern Slavery is the recruitment, movement, harbouring, receiving women, children or men through the use of force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability, deception of for any other purpose of exploitation. This statement sets out actions to understand all potential modern slavery risks. As part of the recruitment industry, the company recognises that it has a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking.

The company is absolutely committed to maintaining and improving systems and processes to prevent human rights violations related to our own operations and that of our supply chain.

Company Structure and its purpose

The Company is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implement and enforce effective systems and controls to, as far as practical, ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in the Company or our Supply Chain. We comply with all legislation, importantly the Modern Slavery Act 2015 – ensuring we prevent any illegal working.

The industry attracts a workforce from all backgrounds. In the UK, we are able to utilise the skills of employees from across the world, particularly Europe. Whilst the benefit of this influx of workers allows for a competitive market, it also has the risk of potential exploitation.

Reachout Medical supports and nurtures a belief in the value of working within the NHS, embedding the 6Cs and provides a complete medical staffing solution to its valued partners, forming part of the NHS. We are committed to treat every individual with the highest respect and promote equality and diversity for all workers, employees and applicants. The Directors of Reachout Medical has adopted a zero tolerance to modern slavery, human trafficking, bribery, corruption and any indirectly association with such criminal acts.

Our Policy

As an Equal Opportunities Organisation, we welcome candidates and internal staff via online job searches, referrals and recruitment drives. Our recruitment drives are held nationally and internationally by a carefully selected team who will hold open days inviting those with an interest to come along and have an informal discussion about their expectations and plans. Candidates and staff are then welcome to begin their registration.

As a recruitment agency we are governed by The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) for which we recently passed their compliance audit.

  1. Modern slavery policy. This policy sets out the organisation’s stance on modern slavery and explains how employees can identify any instances of this and where they can go for help.
  2. Recruitment policy. We operate a robust recruitment policy, including conducting eligibility to work in the UK checks for all employees to safeguard against human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against their will.
  3. Whistleblowing policy. We operate a whistleblowing policy so that all employees know that they can raise concerns about how colleagues are being treated, or practices within our business or supply chain, without fear of reprisals.
  4. Ethical Trading and Business Ethics Policies. These policies explain the manner in which we behave as an organisation and how we expect our employees and suppliers to act.

Training

To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chain and our business, we provide training to relevant members of staff so that they understand the signs of modern slavery and what to do if they suspect that it is taking place.

  •  Our senior management team receive detailed training in identifying and resolving concerns around modern slavery and human trafficking.
  •  Our staff undertake training that include government guidance around modern slavery and human trafficking and in understanding our requirements when checking applicant documentation.
  1. Any staff, workers or other parties are strongly encouraged to report any concerns when following our checking procedure for the following;
  •  The workers documents for right to work are genuine, are original and belong to the person who is completing our registration paperwork
  •  Photos are checked to ensure look like the worker and are the same across all training cards and that all the right to work in the UK paperwork is in date
  •  The workers legal documents are their own, including (passport, identification and bank account details)
  1. suspicions that they might have to our office manager.
  2. Reports surrounding these issues are taken extremely seriously by our board of directors and senior management, who are committed to ensuring that all investigations shall be prompt and effective. If our investigations reveal any issues, we are committed to taking appropriate action, including but not limited to:
  •  Working with the appropriate organisations to improve standards,
  •  Removing that organisation from our preferred supplier list,
  •  Passing details to appropriate law enforcement bodies.

Due Diligence

To ensure our continued initiation to identify and eradicate risks, Reachout Medical ensures our chain suppliers submit their own statement on the Modern Slavery Act as part of their tender.

As a major multi Framework agency, our recruitment processes follows government procurement standards including but not limited to:

  •  Crown Commercial Service
  •  Health Trust Europe
  •  NHS Pre Employment Check Standards
  •  Core Skills for Health

As an Employment Agency we are legally governed by the Employment Agencies Act 2003 and its subsequent amendments, and in complying with this legislation we carry out our recruitment processes in line with the prevailing acts, statutes and laws including, but not limited to:

  •  Working Time Regulations 1998
  • Equality Act 2010
  •  Agency Worker Regulations 2011
  •  Employment Agencies Act 2003
  •  Data Protection Act 2018 (General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR))
  •  Employment Rights Act 1996
  •  The Employment Act 2008
  •  Employment Rights 1996