E-ACT Modern Slavery Statement 2022 – 2023

 

This statement is made on behalf of the E-ACT Multi-Academy Trust (company number 06526376) pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement. This statement relates to actions and activities during the year Sept 2022 – August 2023.

 

E-ACT recognises that it has a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking. The organisation is committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking within its activities and to ensuring that its supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.

 

This statement sets out E-ACT’s actions to understand all potential modern slavery risks related to its business and to put in place steps that are aimed at ensuring that there is no slavery or human trafficking in its business and supply chains.

 

Structure, business, and supply chains

 

E-ACT is a national multi-academy trust (MAT), working within some of the most economically deprived areas of the country. The list of our academies can be found on our E-ACT website.

 

E-ACT has two main areas of operations:

  • A national level which oversees the business as a whole;
  • A local level – e.g., an individual academy.

 

Our suppliers are UK based and key supply areas cover catering, maintenance/repairs, agency staff and cleaning.

 

Our approach

 

We work to the highest professional standards and comply with all laws, regulations, and rules relevant to our business. We expect the same high standards from those we work with and are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. We act ethically and with integrity in all of our charitable and business relations.

 

Policies, documentation, and key relationships

 

The following key policies and documentation detail our approach to protecting our pupils and staff from modern slavery and ensuring our supply chains are free from modern slavery.

 

  • Procurement and Contracts Policy;
  • Concerns and Complaints Policy;
  • Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure;
  • Single Central Record (SCR), Personnel Files and Safer Recruitment Policy;
  • Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy;
  • Code of Conduct;
  • Supplier terms and conditions.

 

In addition, we work closely with the National Joint Council (NJC) to help reduce risk by improving employee working and pay practices.

 

Our Audit & Risk Committee (ARC) has overall oversight of the process and practices embedded within E-ACT to reduce Modern Slavery and in ensuring our supply chains, which rely on people, can demonstrate adherence with local and national laws and regulations, including paying the minimum wage. The members of the Committee work together with the Personnel Committee as appropriate on these areas.

 

Identifying and addressing risks

 

We recognise as a Trust that there are two main avenues of risk through which modern slavery could impact E-ACT. The first is through matters of a safeguarding nature which covers child sex exploitation or human trafficking which can directly impact our pupils. This also potentially affects the staff of our contractors. The second is our supply chain and the vendors we contract.

 

Supply chain

 

E-ACT’s procurement regulations set out the requirements we have in relation to our engagement with suppliers. Our suppliers are expected to comply with all local and national laws and regulations. This includes paying their staff the minimum wage, and any on-site staff passing a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check. We publish our standard terms and conditions to ensure providers looking to contract with us are aware of our standards. Should suppliers fail to meet our minimum requirements, or be unwilling to make any changes, we may cease to trade with them.

 

Procurement is subject to internal audit review, as well as assessed by our external auditors annually. Frameworks via public sector buying organisations are considered for all tenders and these meet the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 by default. In the event we opt not to use an existing framework all tenders go through Head of Procurement at which point the modern slavery risk will be considered and incorporated into the tender evaluation criteria.

 

We have completed a desk-based audit of our key suppliers’ statements to reassure ourselves they continue to operate in accordance with the requirements of the act. No areas of risk were identified. We continue to ensure that we support staff in working with existing and new suppliers through training and understanding of our processes embedded in our procurement practices to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking, and fully understand our duty as a Trust as prescribed in legislation namely in the form of e-learning. Safeguarding colleagues also cover modern slavery within their CPD programme.

 

Safeguarding

 

We take safeguarding incredibly seriously in upholding our statutory duties and striving to safeguard staff and pupils through a culture of safeguarding in everything we do. We have a National Safeguarding Director, together with two Regional Safeguarding Leads (one for each region) as well as Designated Safeguarding Leads in every academy. Collectively these colleagues work together to implement policy and secure excellence in safeguarding practice across the Trust. These colleagues are incredibly experienced in this area and model excellent practice for all staff. Through their encouragement, each academy proactively works with the local authorities, the local safeguarding partnerships, the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) and local stakeholders to combat safeguarding issues, including child sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Their good practice is shared amongst the academies and the focus of safeguarding training always includes detailed training about early identification of those at risk of exploitation.

 

The quality and impact of our safeguarding practice is reviewed at every level of Trust governance. Safeguarding policy and practice is reviewed at every School Review Day, and Directors provide assurance to the Executive Leadership Team at the Challenge days. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer meets regularly with our National Director of Attendance, Behaviour and Safeguarding, who also provides regular reports to both Education Committee and full Board.

 

Statutory safeguarding practices and impact on keeping children safe are formally reviewed by the national safeguarding team and audited through the work of the Internal Audit Team. This is also quality assured by the National Director of Attendance, Behaviour and Safeguarding.

 

Safeguarding is an agenda item at every full Board of Trustees Meeting, and we have a named Trustee with portfolio responsibility for Safeguarding. This Trustee is also the Vice-Chair of trustees.

 

Our E-ACT Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy is reviewed annually by the Executive Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees. It is fully compliant with all statutory requirements and guidance set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE 2020). Throughout the COVID 19 pandemic we have issued Addendums to this policy in accordance with updated guidance and requirements issued by Government.

 

Due to the geographical spread of our academies, each academy Designated Safeguarding Lead is required to understand the local safeguarding context. This is included within the policy for each academy and published on each academy website.

 

 

Key performance indicators to measure effectiveness of steps being taken

 

Training

 

Every member of staff, whether or not they are based in an academy, is trained on the policy (either in person or via e-learning) and is required to declare annually that they have read and understood the policy and their training. In addition, E-ACT also has a Whistleblowing Policy which enables those with concerns about any wrongdoing or breaches of law, to raise these concerns in confidence without fear of disciplinary action.

 

Throughout the year the annual safeguarding training plan across the Trust includes a detailed focus upon on early identification of those at risk of exploitation and training to help all staff know what to do if they become aware of any potential risks. We are fully satisfied that through our robust safeguarding training that staff could identify and act appropriately for at risk pupils, staff, and contractors.

 

This is not an area for complacency however and we keep under closely scrutiny and evaluation our safeguarding policy and practice. This enables us to refine and develop excellence in all we do and in this Modern Slavery Statement for 2023 – 2024 we recognise the impact of the pandemic is not to be underestimated as we continually enhance the knowledge of our staff to prevent slavery and human trafficking and child sexual exploitation. Safeguarding awareness sessions for modern slavery (and trafficking) at academy level are included within our staff safeguarding CPD plan.

 

We evaluate our processes for raising concerns to ensure that there are clearly identified ways to report concerns of whistleblowing or modern slavery which are available to all users of our estates.

 

Reporting

To date, no referrals have been made in relation to modern slavery.

Signed: Tom Campbell, Accounting Officer for E-ACT

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 5 December 2023