Modern Slavery Statement

A not for profit organisation and Scottish Charity, we are also a Registered Social Landlord.

For over 48 years we have been developing Housing, Care and other Services to enable Scotland's older people to live the life they want. Our brand promise is 'Free to be' - it sums up our firm belief that older people should have the freedom to make their own choices and be free to live as independently as possible. A promise which, thanks to the experience, dedication and passion of our staff and volunteers, we are uniquely placed to bring to life.

Bield is one of the largest providers of Housing and support services for older people. We employ around 1000 people, including volunteers, and manage over 5400 properties across Scotland. This includes retirement housing, retirement housing with meals, retirement plus housing, shared ownership and care services. Bield also provides a range of other services including maintenance, factoring and a call receiving centre (BR24).

We continue to review our existing policies and procedures in light of the Act each year. We are confident that our policies promote good behaviour among our colleagues at work and within our supply chain. Our policies and procedures are kept under review to make sure that they reflect the Bield's evolution  and our regulatory and statutory obligations.  We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to ensuring modern slavery does not occur in our business or supply chain which includes:

• Employee Code of Conduct
• Dignity at Work Policy
• Equality & Diversity Policy
• Anti Fraud & Bribery Policy
• Health & Safety Policies
• Recruitment Policy
• Right to Work Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy
• Standing Orders
• Financial Regulations
• Procurement Policy and Regulations

In addition to our policies, we are taking a number of steps which help detect and prevent slavery and human trafficking. They include:

• We follow the Scottish Government's Fair Working Practice guidance which makes clear how we should structure invitations to tender to ensure that we can gather evidence from potential suppliers to show that they treat their staff fairly
• We pay the Scottish Living Wage as a minimum to all employees;
• Requirements for all new employees to provide original documentation (such as a passport) before they start working with us to verify their legal right to work in the UK;
• Strategies on equality and diversity and safeguarding;
• A requirement for all staff to adhere to the Code of Conduct which includes requirements in relation to workplace behaviour and equality and diversity;
• A whistleblowing policy which protects staff should they raise concerns about issues such as modern slavery
• Tenancy management policies which set out the action to be taken where our properties are used for unlawful purposes.

Our procurement activities take place in Scotland and our contractors and suppliers are predominantly UK and EU-based. We strive to ensure our suppliers share our values on modern slavery and also carry out their own due diligence on their own supply chains to limit the risk of modern slavery taking place.

We strive to make sure that when we purchase goods and services we comply with all relevant laws and conduct ourselves in an open, honest and ethical manner.

We carry out checks on our suppliers through pre-qualification questionnaires and/or tender documents. In doing so, we exclude any unsuitable companies. Once we engage a supplier, we make sure they have policies which are similar to ours and match our overall values.

Bield does not currently provide staff with training in relation to slavery and human trafficking in the supply chains as Bield believes that the policies and procedures referred to the above are sufficiently robust to ensure that the risk of any occurrence is extremely low.

Bield, therefore, believes that to the best of its knowledge, its suppliers do not engage in illegal slavery or human trafficking.

Bield does not currently gather KPI data in relation to modern slavery but this is an area which will be developed over the coming months.

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Bield's slavery and human trafficking statement.

Approved by the Board of Management of Bield Housing & Care on 23rd May 2019 and signed on its behalf by Brian Logan, Chief Executive.