Mid Dorset Primary Healthcare (MDPH) Ltd

Mid Dorset Primary Healthcare (MDPH) Ltd is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking within our organisation, our workforce and our supply chains. We recognise our responsibility to ensure that our organisation operates ethically, transparently and in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

As a healthcare organisation working within the NHS, we are committed to protecting the rights, dignity and wellbeing of our employees, patients, service users and those working within our wider supply chain.

Our approach

We take reasonable and proportionate steps to identify, prevent and address the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking. This includes:

• undertaking appropriate right-to-work and employment checks as part of our recruitment processes;
• ensuring employees are employed on appropriate terms and conditions and are paid in accordance with applicable legislation;
• maintaining appropriate employment records and workforce policies;
• expecting contractors, suppliers and subcontractors to comply with relevant employment, equality, safeguarding and modern slavery legislation;
• considering modern slavery risks when procuring goods and services and engaging with suppliers;
• maintaining appropriate supplier and contractor information to support due diligence;
• ensuring staff understand how to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns, including concerns relating to exploitation;
• promoting a culture in which concerns can be raised without fear of detriment;
• working with relevant NHS, safeguarding and statutory partners where concerns about exploitation or modern slavery are identified.

Supply chain and procurement

We recognise that modern slavery risks may exist within wider supply chains, particularly where services or goods involve low-paid, temporary, migrant or outsourced workers.

We therefore expect our suppliers and contractors to operate in accordance with applicable legislation and to have appropriate arrangements in place to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within their own organisations and supply chains. Where appropriate, we may seek assurances from suppliers regarding their employment practices and compliance with relevant legislation.

Identifying and reporting concerns

Modern slavery can take many forms, including forced labour, servitude, slavery and human trafficking. We remain vigilant to signs that an individual may be experiencing exploitation.

Any concerns identified within MDPH Ltd, our workforce, or our supply chain will be taken seriously and managed through appropriate safeguarding, HR, procurement and governance processes. Where necessary, concerns will be escalated to the appropriate statutory or safeguarding authority.

Employees are encouraged to raise concerns through their line manager, safeguarding arrangements or the organisation's established reporting and escalation procedures.

Governance and review

Responsibility for overseeing our approach to modern slavery sits within the organisation's governance arrangements. Modern slavery risks are considered as part of our wider risk management, safeguarding, procurement and workforce processes.

This statement will be reviewed periodically to ensure that it remains appropriate to the organisation and reflects relevant legislation, NHS requirements and good practice.