Modern Slavery Act 2015 – SIS Position Statement

We have recently been made aware of concerns around the potential for recruitment of interpreters for the purpose of re-trafficking victims (modern slavery).

We wish to provide a level of assurance to all SIS customers.

Sussex Interpreting Services are fully resolved to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015. We believe strongly it is not acceptable that anyone should profit from the appalling abuse and exploitation of individuals.

SIS is committed to taking action to promote ethical business practices and policies that protect our Service Users and workers from being abused and exploited in our own organisation.

All Self Employed Sessional Linguists contracted by SIS and everyone working for SIS will continue to be DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked.

We will collaborate with commissioners, partners and specialist organisations working in this area to support learning and action, and develop resources and responses that combat slavery and human trafficking.

We will take all reasonable steps to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in our service and supply chains or that of our sub- contractors and will be transparent about our practice.

Steps taken will be consistent and proportionate to the size, operational reach and resources available to SIS and will include:

• Fostering an organisational culture where modern slavery is not tolerated in any form
• Ensuring senior level accountability, leadership and responsibility
• Communicating guidance on the signs of abuse and training and capacity building about slavery and human trafficking risks to all staff and sessional linguists
• Risk assessing and regularly reviewing SIS services and those provided by sub-contractors where there is a risk of slavery and human trafficking taking place
• Ensuring relevant organisational policies and procedures (e.g. recruitment, safeguarding, whistleblowing) reflect our anti-slavery commitments