Appleby Social Care

Appleby Social Care is fully committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking within our organisation and throughout our supply chains. We operate with integrity, transparency, and strong ethical values, ensuring that every aspect of our service upholds the dignity and rights of all individuals.

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and outlines the steps Appleby Social Care has taken during the financial year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 to minimise the risk of modern slavery or human trafficking within our operations and supply chains.

Appleby Social Care is a domiciliary care provider operating across the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Newham, Redbridge, and Epping Forest. We support adults in their own homes by delivering safe, compassionate, and person-centred care.

As a regulated adult social care provider, we work closely with local authorities, NHS partners, community organisations, and independent professionals. We are committed to creating a safe environment for both our service users and our workforce, ensuring that our policies, recruitment practices, and supplier relationships meet the highest ethical standards.

We are dedicated to:

• Acting ethically and with integrity in all business relationships.
   
• Implementing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery and human trafficking do not occur within our organisation or supply chains.
   
• Promoting a culture in which employees, contractors, and partners feel safe to report concerns.
   

To support our commitment, we have established a set of policies designed to identify, prevent, and address the risks of modern slavery:

Sets out Appleby Social Care’s commitment to preventing all forms of slavery and exploitation, outlines roles and responsibilities, and details the procedures in place to identify and mitigate risks.

We have robust recruitment and vetting procedures, including enhanced DBS checks, identity verification, and UK right-to-work checks for all staff and contractors.

We expect all suppliers—including staffing agencies, training providers, equipment suppliers, and contractors—to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
All new suppliers are required to confirm compliance, and contracts include anti-slavery clauses.

Suppliers that do not meet our minimum ethical standards will not be engaged.

Employees are encouraged and empowered to report concerns confidentially. Any suspicion of exploitation, abuse, or trafficking is taken seriously and acted upon immediately.

Slavery, exploitation, neglect, or trafficking is treated as a safeguarding concern. Staff are trained to recognise indicators and escalate concerns promptly.

We regularly review and update all policies to ensure they remain effective and compliant with legislation.

Our supply chain includes:

• Recruitment partners
   
• Training providers
   
• Software and equipment suppliers
   
• Professional and administrative services
   
• Cleaning and maintenance providers
   

We recognise that certain areas carry a higher risk, including temporary staffing agencies, contracted services, and facilities management.

To mitigate these risks, we:

• Conduct supplier checks before engagement
   
• Require compliance with the Modern Slavery Act
   
• Prioritise reputable and accredited suppliers
   
• Include anti-slavery terms in supplier agreements
   

Any concerns raised about suppliers are investigated, and non-compliant suppliers are removed from our approved list.

All Appleby Social Care staff receive mandatory training on:

• Recognising signs of modern slavery and human trafficking
   
• Reporting procedures
   
• Safeguarding and whistleblowing
   

This ensures our workforce understands their responsibilities and can identify potential issues quickly and confidently.

This statement has been approved by the Directors of Appleby Social Care and will be reviewed and updated annually.