Modern slavery act statement

Statement for 2023/24

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 and 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 2023-24.

Our structure

RCGP is a charity incorporated by Royal Charter (Charity Commission 223106, Scottish Charity Regulator SC040430).  We have over 55,000 members in the UK and internationally.  

The Trustee Board is responsible for the management and administration of the College and delegates operational management to the Executive Management Team. A number of Committees provide scrutiny and assurance of its work as authorised by the Trustee Board in a scheme of delegation. Council sets standards, strategy and policy direction on matters relating to the general practice profession.

The College has an infrastructure that supports staff and 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 and another for international and overseas members.

We have four legal entities:

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

Supply chain

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the Act) is referenced in RCGP’s standard contract and Invitation to Tender (ITT) template documentation. This requires contracted suppliers to abide 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 recognise that we work with some high-risk sectors (including cleaning, catering, hospitality and IT) and have taken steps to ensure supplier policies identify those risks and mitigate them. 

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 and encourage staff to report any potential breaches or concerns.  

As GPs, our members play an important role in identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery. RCGP provides child and adult safeguarding toolkits containing practical guidance to support their work. The adult safeguarding toolkit contains guidance 'Quick Guide to Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking' written specifically for GPs 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.