Procurement
The Guidance for staff and Company representatives is in line with the Lords Carter report on unwanted variation in Community Mental Health, It is also a requirement in the NHSI standards of Procurement. Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust appreciates the important role that suppliers of goods and services undertake to assist the Trust with its day-to-day business. Healthcare companies in particular assist healthcare professionals in providing suitable, safe, and cost effective products to the patients in their care. It is recognised however that the prime objective of Supplier/Sales Representatives is to promote and sell their products and/or services to the Trust. This function should be undertaken in an appropriate and ethical manner and must not contravene Trust governance policies and processes or NHS Terms and Conditions of Contract.
Modern Slavery
What is
modern slavery?
Slavery is a violation of a person's human rights. It can take the form
of human trafficking, forced labour, bonded labour, forced or servile marriage,
descent-based slavery and domestic slavery. A person is considered to be in
modern slavery if they are:
- Forced to work through mental or physical
threat
- Owned or controlled by an "employer",
usually through mental or physical abuse
- Dehumanised, treated as a commodity or sold or
bought as "property"
- Physically constrained or has restrictions
placed on their freedom of movement
The use of
slavery in the production of goods and services
Typically, the products bought nowadays have passed through a long chain
of producers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers who have all
participated in its production, delivery and sale. It can therefore be very
difficult to certify that a product has or has not been produced using slavery.
However, the way in which companies operate and manage their supply chain can
affect the likelihood of slavery being a part of the final product. The Modern
Slavery Act gives responsibility to companies for ensuring that no slavery has
occurred, and this applies not only to the products they sell or the services
they provide themselves but also to their suppliers, and the suppliers of their
suppliers, all the way down the supply chain.
What we are
required to do
Primarily our requirements relate to section 54 of the Act "Transparency
in the supply chain" Under the Act, any company with a turnover of more
than £36m must produce a statement for each financial year listing the steps it
is taking to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in
any of its supply chains or in any part of its business. This statement must be
published on company websites and visible to staff, suppliers, customers and
investors. The trickle-down effect of the Act will be felt this year as
businesses begin to ask more searching questions of their suppliers to seek
assurance that they are also taking steps to ensure that their supply chains
are free from slavery
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust requires the contractors to agree to the NHS Terms & Conditions of Contract for the provision of goods or services. By doing so they are confirming that they comply with all relevant Law and Guidance and shall use Good Industry Practice to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in their supply chains.