Modern Day Slavery Statement

This statement is published in line with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Fair Ways is a charity that provides care to young people and families; including Fostering, Residential Care, Health Services and Education.

Our commitment to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015

Fair Ways is committed to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the abolition of modern slavery and human trafficking.

As an equal opportunities employer, we’re committed to creating and ensuring a non-discriminatory and respectful working environment for our staff. We want all our staff to feel confident that they can expose wrongdoing without any risk to themselves.

Our recruitment and people management processes are designed to ensure that all prospective employees are legally entitled to work in the UK and to safeguard employees and those in our care from any abuse or coercion. We are heavily regulated by OFSTED and CQC and our recruitment practices are in line with Safer Recruitment which includes DBS, oversea checks and references.

Due to the nature of our business, we assess ourselves to have a low risk of modern slavery in our business and supply chains.

Our supply chains are limited and we procure goods and services from a restricted range of UK and overseas suppliers.

Our policies in relation to the Modern Slavery Act 2015

The following policies and legislation are available to all staff through the Fair Ways Access (HR) system:
• E-safety. (DOC REF OR43)
• Safeguarding Adults. (DOC REF OR46)
• Data Protection, Confidentiality and Information Sharing. (DOC REF26,b,c,)
• Duty of Candour. (DOC REF OR45)
• Complaints (DOC REF  OR86)
• Whistleblowing (DOC REF OR35)
• Children Act 1989 and 2004;
• Department of Education National Minimum Standards 2011
• NMS 2000 (amended 2003);
• Children’s Homes Regulations including Quality Standards 2015;
• The Protection of Children Act 1999;
• The Human Rights Act 1998;
• The Sexual Offences (Amendments) Act 2000;
• The UN Convention of the Rights of the Child 1989;
• The National Care Standards Act 2000;
• Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 (amended 2013)
• National Minimum Standards 2013
• Children and Social Work Act 2017
• Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation 2016;
• Safer recruitment legislation and guidance
• Modern Slavery Act 2015;
• Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and Prevent Duty Guidance;
• Education Act 2002 and related guidance

We will continue to embed the principles through:
• ensuring staff involved in procurement activity are aware of and follow modern slavery procurement guidance on GOV.UK
• ensuring that consideration of the modern slavery risks and prevention are added to Fair Ways policy review process as an employer and procurer of goods and services
• continuing to take action to embed a zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery
• ensuring that staff involved in buying or procurement and the recruitment and deployment of workers receive training on ethical employment practices

This statement has been approved by Harriett Whitren-Jones, Director of HR Operations (February 2024).
This statement will be reviewed and updated every year.