Modern slavery act statement

Statement for 2022/23

RCGP is the professional membership body for GPs in the UK. Our purpose is to encourage, foster and maintain the highest possible standards in general medical practice.

We place great importance on our core values which are:

  • Compassion - for our patients, the populations we serve, our members, our colleagues and ourselves.
  • Inclusivity - we value diversity as part of our community and treat each individual with equal respect.
  • Sustainability - we look to the future and care about the long-term wellbeing of our members, our profession, our patients, and the world around us.
  • Accountability - we take responsibility for the results of our actions and continuously strive to be the best that we can be.
  • Integrity - we are honest, open, ethical, just, and fair.

We recognise our responsibility to take all possible steps to tackle modern slavery risks related to our operations. We also recognise our responsibility to put in place steps that are aimed at ensuring that there is no slavery or human trafficking in our own business or in our supply chains.

This statement is in accordance with Part 6 (Section 54) of the Modern Slavery Act (2015) and covers the period of the financial year 2022-23.

Our structure

We have over 54,000 members in the UK and internationally. Our Council provides the leadership and strategic policy direction for the general practice profession. The Trustee Board is responsible for the management and administration of the College and its status as a charity (223106).

The College has an infrastructure that supports members wherever they are. As well as headquarters in London, there are:

  • national offices in each of the devolved nations
  • thirty faculties representing local areas across the UK organised into five regions
  • an additional faculty representing the Republic of Ireland
  • another for international and overseas members

We have 4 legal entities:

  • RCGP
  • RCGP International Ltd
  • RCGP Enterprises Ltd
  • RCGP Conferences Ltd

Supply chain

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the Act) is now referenced in RCGP’s standard contract and Invitation to Tender (ITT) template documentation. Contracted suppliers must now sign up to abiding by the provisions of the Act.

Base Code of the Ethical Trading Initiative

Since November 2016, we have required suppliers appointed via formal tender exercises and existing suppliers granted contract extensions, to follow the Base Code of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). They must ensure that they take steps on RCGP's behalf to guard against modern slavery, human trafficking, forced and bonded labour and labour rights violations in this supply chain:

The ETI Base Code is founded on the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and is an internationally recognised code of labour practice, requiring that:

  • Employment is freely chosen,
  • Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected,
  • Working conditions are safe and hygienic,
  • Child labour shall not be used,
  • Living wages are paid,
  • Working hours are not excessive,
  • No discrimination is practised,
  • Regular employment is provided, and
  • No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed.

We also ensure that all of our suppliers that have staff working on our sites are contractually obligated to pay, as a minimum, the national living wage, and in London the London Living Wage.

Training

We provide a comprehensive staff induction to ensure our employees understand the standards of behaviour expected and we have engaged staff in our values which promote ethical ways of working.

We promote awareness of our Modern Slavery Statement to staff through publication on our staff intranet site.

GPs and Primary Care play an important role in identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery. The RCGP recognises this by providing child and adult safeguarding toolkits containing practical guidance for GPs. The adult safeguarding toolkit contains specific guidance related to modern slavery: 'Quick Guide to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking'. This was written specifically for GPs and the RCGP toolkit by The Helen Bamber Foundation. It provides a comprehensive overview of Modern Slavery including how to spot the signs in primary care and how to support victims.

Quick guide to Modern Slavery and Human Traffic (PDF file, 274 KB)

The child safeguarding toolkit contains information and guidance on child trafficking and exploitation.