Discover the care and support we offer
We provide Hospice care & support to patients and their loved ones living in Kent and East Sussex. Learn more about how we can help you.
Introduction from Nick Farthing our Chief Executive
At Hospice in the Weald, we are committed to providing compassionate, person-centred care to individuals and families facing terminal and life-limiting illness.
Alongside this commitment, we recognise our responsibility to operate ethically and to uphold the dignity and rights of all people connected with our work.
Modern slavery and human trafficking are serious abuses of human rights. We take a zero-tolerance approach to these practices and are committed to ensuring that they do not occur within our organisation or across our supply chains. We aim to act with integrity, transparency, and accountability in all that we do.
This statement outlines the steps we take to identify, prevent, and reduce the risk of modern slavery within our operations and supply networks.
Our Organisation
Hospice in the Weald provides a full range of hospice care and support, free of charge, for adults and children across Kent and East Sussex. Our services include inpatient care, hospice outreach in patients’ homes, counselling, chaplaincy, bereavement support, cancer care, and practical advice for carers.
We support people with illnesses that cannot be cured, offering palliative care to manage pain and symptoms while also addressing emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing.
Our work is delivered by a compassionate, multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, counsellors, therapists, and volunteers.
The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees, with day-to-day management led by the Chief Executive and senior leadership team.
Our Commitment
Our values of respect, compassion, together, integrity, growth and openness underpin everything we do. We are committed to:
- Preventing modern slavery and exploitation
- Promoting fair and lawful working conditions
- Acting ethically in all relationships with staff, volunteers, suppliers, and partners
We take any breach of these principles seriously and will take appropriate action where concerns arise.
Our Supply Chains
As a hospice charity, our supply chains support the delivery of care and include:
- Medical and clinical supplies
- Facilities and maintenance services
- Catering and hospitality
- Retail and fundraising merchandise
- Professional and IT services
Most of our suppliers are based in the UK. However, we recognise that certain goods, particularly merchandise or equipment that may be sourced internationally, where there may be increased risks.
Due Diligence and Risk Management
We take a proportionate, risk-based approach to managing modern slavery risks within our supply chain. Our processes include:
- Conducting checks on new suppliers before engagement
- Including ethical expectations within contracts and agreements where possible
- Considering Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors in procurement decisions
- Focusing additional scrutiny on higher-risk areas, such as goods sourced overseas
We aim to work with reputable suppliers who share our commitment to ethical practices and compliance with relevant legislation.
Policies and Governance
We maintain a range of policies that support our approach to preventing modern slavery, including:
- Safeguarding Policy
- Freedom to Speak Up Policy
- Procurement Policy
- Code of Conduct for Staff and Volunteers
These policies are regularly reviewed and communicated to ensure they remain effective and relevant.
Training and Awareness
We recognise that awareness is key to preventing modern slavery. We are committed to:
- Promoting understanding of modern slavery risks among staff and volunteers
- Providing guidance on how to identify and report concerns
- Encouraging a culture of openness, vigilance, and accountability
Reporting Concerns
We encourage all staff, volunteers, suppliers, and members of the public to report any concerns related to modern slavery or unethical practices.
Concerns can be raised through our Freedom to Speak Up Policy and will be handled sensitively and appropriately.
Continuous Improvement
We are committed to continually strengthening our approach to tackling modern slavery.
This includes:
- Reviewing and improving our supplier engagement processes
- Enhancing awareness and training across the organisation
- Monitoring the effectiveness of our policies and procedures
- Strengthening expectations for third-party partners
This statement is made in accordance with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and reflects our commitment to protecting human rights and maintaining ethical standards in all aspects of our work.