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.
There are two million people living in Kent and Medway. In 2024/25, the ICB had an annual budget of £4.2billion to provide the best possible care for residents in the region.
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, the board, executive team and all employees are committed to making sure there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in any part of the 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 (the chief executive) has ultimate accountability for making sure 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.
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.
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 making sure there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in any part of business activity and in as far as possible, to hold 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.
NHS Kent and Medway has in place the relevant policies to support the modern slavery human trafficking agenda; this includes:
The 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.
NHS Kent and Medway is committed to providing equality of access to employment and training opportunities and is committed to eliminate unlawful and unfair discrimination and to make sure 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 it does 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 make sure it is genuine and that the individual has the right to use that identity.
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.