Minds Matter Clinic | 2026/27

Minds Matter Clinic is firmly committed to protecting the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of every individual connected to our organisation. We operate a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and any form of exploitation. This commitment extends across our workforce, our service users, and all organisations we work with.

This statement outlines the measures we have in place to ensure that our services and supply chains are conducted ethically, responsibly, and in full compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Who We Are

Minds Matter Clinic provides mental health services, psychological therapies, and wellbeing support across the North West. Our work is grounded in respect, compassion, and safeguarding, with a clear focus on delivering safe and ethical care. While modern slavery is often associated with certain industries, we recognise that it can occur in any sector, including health and social care. As such, we remain vigilant in identifying and addressing risks wherever they may arise.

Our Commitment

We are committed to operating with integrity, transparency, and accountability in all areas of our work. This means actively preventing exploitation within our organisation and taking reasonable steps to ensure that our supply chains meet the same ethical standards. We promote fair and lawful recruitment practices, maintain safe and supportive working environments, and ensure that individuals have clear and accessible routes to raise concerns. Our approach is not static; we continuously review and strengthen our processes to respond to emerging risks and best practice guidance.

Our Policies and Governance

Our commitment to preventing modern slavery is embedded within our wider governance framework. A suite of organisational policies underpins this approach, including our safeguarding procedures, recruitment and selection standards, whistleblowing arrangements, code of conduct, equality and diversity commitments, and procurement practices. These policies are subject to annual review and are formally approved at Board level to ensure they remain current, effective, and aligned with regulatory expectations.

Ethical Recruitment and Employment Practices

We maintain robust recruitment processes designed to protect individuals from exploitation and ensure compliance with legal requirements. All staff are subject to appropriate right-to-work checks, identity verification, qualification validation, and reference checks prior to employment. Employment terms are transparent, and remuneration is fair and clearly communicated.

We do not charge recruitment fees to candidates under any circumstances. Where agency or temporary staff are engaged, we ensure that providers adhere to equivalent standards through contractual requirements and ongoing monitoring. This helps to mitigate the risk of exploitative practices entering our workforce through third-party arrangements.

Our Supply Chain

Our supply chain includes a range of partners such as clinical service providers, IT and digital suppliers, estates and facilities services, training organisations, and equipment providers. We recognise that risks of modern slavery can vary across different sectors and geographical locations.

All suppliers are expected to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and demonstrate a clear commitment to ethical labour practices. As part of our due diligence processes, suppliers are required to confirm that they do not engage in forced labour, child labour, or exploitative practices. We also seek assurance that they have appropriate controls and policies in place within their own organisations. Where suppliers are identified as higher risk, we apply enhanced scrutiny and monitoring.

Identifying and Managing Risk

We take a proactive approach to identifying and managing modern slavery risks. This includes assessing areas such as recruitment practices, agency staffing arrangements, subcontracted services, overseas supply chains, and sectors where there may be higher vulnerability due to low wages or workforce turnover.

To manage these risks, we utilise a combination of supplier declarations, contractual safeguards, risk assessment tools, and clear escalation pathways for any concerns. This structured approach allows us to identify potential issues early and respond appropriately.

Training and Awareness

Raising awareness is a key part of our prevention strategy. Staff are provided with training to help them understand what modern slavery is, recognise potential indicators of exploitation, and know how to respond if concerns arise. This training is particularly important for managers, those involved in recruitment, and colleagues responsible for procurement, and is delivered as a mandatory requirement for these roles.

Reporting Concerns

We actively encourage a culture of openness and accountability. Individuals are supported to raise concerns through a range of accessible channels, including our whistleblowing procedures, safeguarding leads, line management structures, and anonymous reporting options. All concerns are taken seriously and are investigated promptly, with sensitivity and confidentiality maintained throughout the process.

Our Priorities for 2026/27

Looking ahead, Minds Matter Clinic is committed to further strengthening its approach to tackling modern slavery. Over the coming year, we will enhance our supplier due diligence processes, introduce a structured modern slavery risk heatmap to better identify and monitor areas of concern, and improve contract oversight for higher-risk suppliers. In addition, we will deliver refresher training across key teams and undertake an annual internal audit to ensure our controls remain effective and aligned with best practice.

Approval

This statement is made under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and applies to the financial year 2026/27.
It has been approved by the Board of Directors of Minds Matter Clinic.

Signed: Dr Sana Afsar
Director / Nominated Individual
Minds Matter Clinic
Date: 08/05/2026