Modern Slavery Statement

Introduction

This statement sets out Certitude's actions to understand all potential modern slavery risks related to our organisation and to put in place steps that are aimed at ensuring that there is no slavery or human trafficking in our organisation and supply chains. This statement relates to actions and activities during the financial year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

As part of the Health and Social Care Sector, we recognise that we have a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking.

Our organisation is absolutely committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in its corporate activities, and to ensuring that its supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.

Organisational structure and supply chains

This statement covers the activities of all organisations within the Certitude Group; Certitude, Southside Partnership, Support for Living and Yarrow.

Certitude is London’s leading adult social care provider for people living with learning disabilities, autism and mental health support needs and their families and carers. We support people across 15 London boroughs.

As a non-profit organisation supporting vulnerable people we are absolutely committed to preventing any form of slavery in our activities.

We work with a number of suppliers, making sure that they respect the standard requested, ensuring their supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.

We currently operate solely in London, UK and we do not seek to procure services from outside the UK.

Relevant policies

We operate the following policies that describe our approach to the identification of modern slavery risks and steps to be taken to prevent slavery and human trafficking in our operations;

• Speak Up - Whistleblowing policy We encourage all our colleagues, customers and other business partners to report any concerns related to the direct activities, or the supply chains of, our organisation. This includes any circumstances that may give rise to an enhanced risk of slavery or human trafficking. Our whistleblowing procedure is designed to make it easy for people to make disclosures, without fear of retaliation.

• Expected Behaviour Policy Our code makes clear to employees the actions and behaviour expected of them when representing our organisation. We strive to maintain the highest standards of employee conduct and ethical behaviour when managing its supply chain.

• Recruitment Policy We work with reputable and recognised partners in sourcing candidates. We conduct background checks including eligibility to work in the UK for all prospective colleagues to safeguard against human trafficking.

• Use of Agency workers policy We use only specified, reputable employment agencies to source labour and verify the practices of any new agency before accepting workers from that agency.

• Safeguarding Policy This policy sets out behaviour which could give rise to safeguarding concerns, including Modern Slavery.

Due diligence

We undertake due diligence when considering taking on new suppliers, and regularly review our existing suppliers. Our due diligence and reviews include:

• evaluating the modern slavery and human trafficking risks of each new supplier;

• reviewing on a regular basis all aspects of the supply chain;

• invoking sanctions against suppliers that fail to improve their performance in line with an action plan or seriously violate our supplier code of conduct, including the termination of the business relationship.

We continue to review our practices and performance in preventing modern slavery and ensure we continue to provide information and training to our colleagues.