Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement

Organisational structure and supply chains

We are a ‘Not for Profit’ organisation specialising in care and support solutions for older people and individuals with learning disabilities. We operate a group of 18 care homes, retirement villages and domiciliary services. We supply services to 12 local authorities and private fee-paying residents and service users.

Humberside Independent Care Association Ltd and its subsidiaries employ 1700 people and operate across the north of England with its head office based in Hull, East Yorkshire. We do not operate outside the UK.

Our suppliers include recruitment agencies, medical consumables, food and kitchen supplies, facilities maintenance services, waste management and administrative support.

Our Policies

HICA operate a suite of policies that complement our Anti-Slavery Policy to ensure no human trafficking or modern slavery within our company or our supply networks. Our Policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains or in the companies we partner.

Our Code of Conduct, Dignity at Work, Equality, Safeguarding, Whistleblowing, Speaking Up, Grievance, Gifts, Anti-Bribery and other HR and care-focused policies all further reflect our commitment to acting ethically.

Our policies are covered during induction and repeated periodically where required. Policies are also available to all colleagues via their benefits and communications app for reference.

Due diligence & risk management

• Our supplier contracts all oblige them to comply with applicable anti-slavery laws including the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and are risk assessed.
• We only partner with suppliers who demonstrate a strong ethical approach and robust operating policies.
• Our recruitment procedures involve thorough screening checks of a new starters background including their right to work in the UK, their age and identity and their criminal history.
• Our agency suppliers meet our extensive due diligence requirements and audited regularly.
• We continuously monitor working hours ensuring they are not only in line with working time regulations but are not impacting on a colleague’s safety or wellbeing.
• We operate a robust risk assessment process for young workers ensuring appropriate senior oversight of our duty to young workers.
• Our welfare procedures ensure we identify and support those in need. We promote a range of wellbeing benefits for colleagues and signpost to external health and wellbeing services.
• Our HR team oversee compliance against all people policies and statutory laws. All roles are paid above the national minimum wage, and we ensure any voluntary benefits including salary sacrifice leaves colleagues pay above the national minimum wage.
• We provide care in accordance with the CQC Code of Conduct and operate an extensive audit framework to ensure people using our services are protected from any form of abuse.
• We adopt a multi-faceted approach to colleague communication including a Whistleblowing Policy, offering colleagues, people who use our services and our suppliers a variety of ways to communicate and share concerns.

Ensuring compliance

We have received no concerns from colleagues, the public or law enforcement agencies.

Our governance structure and audit framework continue to monitor compliance with internal policies, regulators and statutory laws and ensure controls are effective.

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) Modern Slavery Act 2015 for the financial year ended 31st March 2024. The board of Humberside Independent Care Association Ltd have reviewed and approved this statement.

Terence Peel, Chief Executive Officer

1st September 2024