Modern Slavery Statement 2025

Meeting: Trust Board – Public Meeting

Date: 9 July 2025

Report Title: Modern Slavery Statement 2025

Agenda Item: PUB25/07/6.2

Author: Richard Whiteside – Deputy Director of Procurement and Logistics

Lead Director: Marika Stephenson – Chief People Officer

Purpose: Decision/Approval

Assurance: Substantial

Link to CQC domain:

Caring
Well-led
Safe

Link to EEAST’s Strategic Mission:

Patient Mission
People Mission

Link to Strategic Risk:

SR2 Quality Governance

Equality Impact Assessment: No negative impact identified

Previously considered by: The updated Modern Slavery Statement (Appendix 1) was reviewed by ELT on 01 July 2025, prior to submitting to Public Board.

Purpose: To seek Board approval for the publication of EEAST’s updated Modern Slavery Statement as per the requirements set out in both the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the Public Procurement Notice (PPN) 02/23.

Recommendation: The Board is asked to approve the below statement (Appendix 1 – Modern Slavery Statement 2025) for publication on EEAST’s public website and intranet.

Executive Summary

The updated Modern Slavery Statement outlines both the actions we have taken and the actions we intend to take to ensure compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Statement has been written in line with Home Office guidelines to ensure the Trust is compliant with our requirements under the Act. The Board is asked to approve the latest version of the Statement and ensure its publication on the Trust website.

Introduction / Background

UK Modern Slavery Policy is now grounded within two areas:

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 The Act combats modern slavery in the UK by consolidating and clarifying modern slavery offences to be used to penalise offenders and provide greater support and protection for victims.

PPN 02/23 Tackling Modern Slavery in Supply Chains The Public Procurement Notice requires all in-scope organisations to manage risks of modern slavery in their supply chains. The associated guidance provides a risk management framework on how to manage risks of modern slavery in commercial activities for both new procurements and existing contracts.

To demonstrate compliance with the Modern Slavery Act, the Trust is required to complete the following actions:

Publish a Modern Slavery Statement each year.
Publish the Statement on the Trust UK website.
The Board of Directors must approve the statement.
The Statement must be signed by a director of the organisation including their name, job title and date.

PPN 02/23 ensures considerations of modern slavery are imbedded into the procurement process and must be considered for all new procurements at each stage of the procurement process: Pre-selection, Selection, Award, Contract Management and through Supply Chain Mapping.

The Procurement Act 2023 has updated and amended the procurement regulations to include modern slavery offences such as child labour and human trafficking as grounds for mandatory exclusion from public procurements since February 2025 when the Act was implemented.

*Source Global estimates of modern slavery: forced labour and forced marriage, 2022, International Labour Organisation

Key Issues / Risks

Modern Slavery risks are managed in accordance with other Trust risks and are logged within the Trust risk register.

Options

To approve the updated Modern Slavery Statement in its current form or propose amendments prior to publication on the Trust’s external website and intranet.

How does this report link with EEAST’s vision, purpose and values?

Compliance with the Modern Slavery requirements ensures that we are accountable for our actions with regards to the Modern Slavery Act 2015

Summary

The Trust Board is asked to approve the Modern Slavery Statement to remain compliant with legislative obligations.