This statement is made on behalf of Mediation Now Limited, trading as Family Solutions in accordance with Section 54 (1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 for the financial year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. References to “we”, “us” and “our” are to Mediation Now Limited, trading as Family Solutions as defined above.
Family Solutions is committed to ensuring that there is no slavery or human trafficking in any part of our business or in our supply chains. This statement sets out our current risk analysis and policies, and the steps that Family Solutions has taken to deliver on our commitment, to safeguard against modern slavery in our organisation and through our suppliers.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF OUR BUSINESS
Mediation Now Limited, trading as Family Solutions (“Family Solutions”) operates as a limited company registered in England and Wales (registered number 06339911) and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 473624) to provide legal services. Family Solutions has 2 Directors, 4 employees and 5 consultants, and operates from offices in Fareham, Havant, Petersfield, Ryde, and Southampton.
Our employees
Within our business we have a low level of migrant labour. With the exception of trainees, or apprentices (who are all paid over the minimum apprentice level) and interns, all staff are paid at or above the Living Wage Foundation rate. The standard terms and conditions of employment for all of our staff provide for the freedom of the employee to terminate their employment at any time, and state that any overtime is by agreement between Family Solutions and the employee.
Family Solutions is an inclusive employer, offering flexibility on work and home life balance. We have an open door policy and offer wellbeing support for all our staff. As a business we address mental, physical, financial and digital wellbeing. Support includes regular wellbeing catch ups, 1-2-1 support from our Mental Health First Aiders, and for Directors and consultants a monthly appointment with a Clinical Psychologist.
We are signatories to the Mental Health at Work Commitment, further enhancing our commitment to the wellbeing of our people.
Our supply chains
Family Solutions is a responsible business which is committed to acting with integrity and maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards in all our business relationships, including our supplier relationships. Family Solutions has a zero-tolerance policy towards slavery and human trafficking, and we require our suppliers to take the same approach.
Family Solutions’ buying policy mandates that everyone responsible for buying goods and services for the business is expected to observe the highest standards of honesty and fairness, and work in a manner which ensures full accountability, consistent with our core values. We are committed to acting ethically, with integrity and transparency, and have policies and processes in place to safeguard against any form of modern slavery taking place within our supply chain:
- We identify and assess potential risk areas in our supply chains
- We require that all of Family Solutions’s suppliers comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and are transparent, accountable, auditable and free of modern slavery and trafficked labour
As part of our ongoing risk mitigation, we will:
- Act promptly where a compliance breach has been identified or flagged
- Continue to feedback lessons learnt into the compliance risk management process
Our risk analysis
On the basis of the due diligence and analysis of the Family Solutions business and our supply chains carried out to date, we consider that Family Solutions is currently at a low risk of modern slavery and human trafficking in both the context of our own business and our supply chains.
Our policies
In addition to our core values which guide how we work at Family Solutions, we also have the following policies published on our Intranet (which is accessible by all employees and consultants):
- Whistleblowing policy: protecting whistleblowers through our confidential reporting process
- Harassment policy and guidance for employees prohibiting harassment and intimidation
- Disciplinary policy: prohibiting any threat of violence
- Safeguarding policy: protecting from harm and promoting the wellbeing of young people and vulnerable adults
- Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy: supporting our commitment to wellbeing in our practice
Our due diligence
The procedures set out in this Statement are intended to reduce the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our business and supply chains, and to enable us to monitor potential risk areas in our business and supply chains.
We will continue to monitor our due diligence on our suppliers by reviewing our supplier questionnaire against CIPS ethical guidance, to ensure our suppliers have robust policies and procedures regarding the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
We will prioritise suppliers within the selection process that can demonstrate they behave in a manner that is consistent with our core values.
This statement has been approved and signed off by Claire Webb on behalf of Family Solutions on 31st March 2023.
