Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement

1. Our commitment

We recognise that modern slavery is a serious violation of a person's fundamental rights and can take many forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are committed to acting responsibly, ethically, and transparently, and to remaining vigilant to the risks of exploitation in all areas of our operations.

2. Our people & recruitment

We take appropriate steps to ensure that people working for Prime Years Care Agency are recruited fairly, transparently, and safely. Our recruitment and employment practices are designed to reduce the risk of exploitation and to protect the dignity, rights, and wellbeing of our employees and workers:

• Right to Work: Rigorous identity and right-to-work checks are completed prior to employment.
• Screening & Vetting: Comprehensive recruitment and vetting processes are applied in line with the role's regulatory requirements.
• DBS Checks: Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are completed where applicable.
• Safe Reporting Routes: Staff are made aware of safeguarding, whistleblowing, and other routes for raising concerns.
• Escalation: Concerns about exploitation, coercion, or unsafe working arrangements are treated with urgency and escalated appropriately.

3. Our supply chain

Prime Years Care Agency has a relatively limited supply chain, with goods and services primarily sourced from UK-based providers. We consider the overall risk of modern slavery within our direct supply chain to be low, but we do not assume that low risk means no risk.

We expect suppliers, contractors, and other business partners to operate ethically and to comply with all applicable labour and human rights laws. Where appropriate, we consider modern slavery and ethical employment practices when engaging with suppliers and service providers.

4. Identifying & responding to concerns

Everyone working with Prime Years Care Agency has a role to play in recognising and reporting concerns. We actively encourage employees, workers, and relevant third parties to speak up if they believe someone may be experiencing exploitation, coercion, forced labour, or human trafficking.

Concerns can be raised through appropriate management, safeguarding, or whistleblowing routes. We respond to concerns promptly, sensitively, and appropriately, and escalate matters to the relevant statutory authorities and police where required.

5. Training & awareness

We provide relevant staff with awareness of modern slavery and exploitation, including the importance of recognising potential warning signs and knowing how to report concerns. Training and awareness are embedded within our wider safeguarding, recruitment, and whistleblowing arrangements.

6. Policies & governance

Our zero-tolerance approach is supported by our wider operational policies and procedures, including:

• Modern Slavery Policy
• Safeguarding Policy & Procedures
• Recruitment and Selection arrangements
• Whistleblowing Policy
• Staff Code of Conduct
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Responsibility for this commitment sits with the Directors of Prime Years Care Agency. Managers are responsible for supporting its implementation within their areas of responsibility, and everyone working for or on behalf of the organisation is expected to cooperate with our efforts to prevent modern slavery.

7. Review & continuous improvement

We review this statement and our supporting arrangements regularly to ensure they remain appropriate to our organisation, our services, and the risks associated with our business and supply chain. We use learning from concerns, safeguarding activity, recruitment, supplier relationships, and changes in legislation or good practice to strengthen our approach.