Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is absolutely committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all their forms. As part of the NHS and one of the largest employers in the local area, we take our responsibilities very seriously. We’re dedicated to ensuring modern slavery has no place within our organisation, our supply chains, or the services we provide. This statement outlines the actions we’ve taken, and continue to take, to meet the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and to ensure transparency in tackling modern slavery.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust provides healthcare services to the people of Walsall and beyond. We deliver a wide range of services across multiple sites; we employ over 5,000 staff and work with a large network of suppliers and partners.

We recognise we have a duty to uphold the highest ethical standards in all aspects of our operations, including our supply chains, where modern slavery risks can arise. We’re committed to working collaboratively with our stakeholders to ensure we play an active role in combating modern slavery.

At WHT, we are committed to:

• Ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains, services, or any part of our business
• Upholding and promoting fair employment practices
• Encouraging transparency and accountability among our suppliers and partners

[This has been pulled from the new RTW website – we need to clarify if this is applicable to WHT]

The Trust sources its Procurement function through the North Midlands and Black Country Procurement Group (NMBC) hosted by the University Hospitals of North Midlands which is committed to:

Achieving full compliance with all aspects of Ethical Procurement / Modern Slavery as set out in NHS England’s guide ‘Applying net zero and social value in the Procurement of NHS goods and services’ (PAR 1030 – 1 March 2022) which builds on the requirements outlined in the Procurement Policy Note 06/20 ‘Social Value Model, including net emissions requirements’ (1 April 2021).

All procurement undertaken will contribute to the NHS Net Zero and Social Value goals in line with a clear approach outlined in the aforementioned guide (PAR 1030) to adopt and apply the principles outlined in PPN 06/20 to all commissioning and purchasing.

Reducing carbon emissions and improving labour standards are very important areas for the health and social care sector. All Trusts have an ethical duty to protect and promote health and wellbeing and contract with suppliers of goods and services that operate in a socially responsible way with good environmental practices and employment practices. The Trusts will use Ethical Procurement for Health (EPH) to support this. Products used will have sustainable specifications using Government Buying standards and Green Public Procurement criteria. Their aim is to use their buying power to generate social benefits and consider economic, social, and environmental wellbeing when negotiating public service contracts as enshrined in the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.

In addition, the NHS Terms and Conditions of Contract for goods and services specifies the following terms for suppliers to adhere to in relation to equality and human rights:

• Ensure that (a) it does not, whether as employer or as provider of the Services, engage in any act or omission that would contravene the Equality Legislation, and (b) it complies with all its obligations as an employer or provider of the Services as set out in the Equality Legislation and take reasonable endeavours to ensure its Staff do not unlawfully discriminate within the meaning of the Equality Legislation.
• In the management of its affairs and the development of its equality and diversity policies, cooperate with the Authority in light of the Authority’s obligations to comply with its statutory equality duties whether under the Equality Act 2010 or otherwise. The Supplier shall take such reasonable and proportionate steps as the Authority considers appropriate to promote equality and diversity, including race equality, equality of opportunity for disabled people, gender equality, and equality relating to religion and belief, sexual orientation, and age; and the Supplier shall impose on all its Sub-contractors and suppliers, obligations substantially similar to those imposed on the Supplier.