This statement is made for the financial year ending 31 March 2024, in accordance with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It applies to Counselling Matters, a trading style of Counselling Connections Limited, that provides counselling, psychotherapy, and supervision services to individuals, couples, and groups in the UK.
Our organisation and values
Counselling Matters aims to promote mental health and well-being for all. We believe that everyone deserves respect, dignity, and freedom, and we are committed to upholding these values in our work. We provide high-quality, affordable, and accessible counselling and psychotherapy services to people from diverse backgrounds and circumstances who may be facing various challenges and difficulties in their lives. We also offer training, supervision, and consultancy to other professionals and organisations in the mental health field.
Our approach to modern slavery
We recognise that modern slavery is a global and complex issue that affects millions of people around the world. We are aware that modern slavery can occur in any sector or industry and that no organisation is immune to the risk of being involved in it, directly or indirectly. We are determined to prevent modern slavery from occurring in any part of our organisation or activities and to take appropriate action if we identify any signs or concerns.
As a counselling service, we have no supply chain, as we do not obtain any goods from external suppliers or contractors. However, we do have a responsibility to ensure that our staff, volunteers, and clients are protected from any form of modern slavery or exploitation. To this end, we have implemented the following policies and procedures:
- We conduct rigorous recruitment and vetting processes for all our staff and volunteers, including checking their identity, eligibility to work, qualifications, and references. We also provide them with contracts, payslips, and fair wages and benefits in accordance with the law and best practice.
- We provide regular training and supervision to our staff and volunteers to ensure that they know the signs and indicators of modern slavery and how to report any suspicions or concerns.
- We adhere to the ethical codes and standards of our professional bodies, such as the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). These codes and standards require us to respect the autonomy, dignity, and rights of our clients and to protect them from any harm or abuse.
- We monitor and evaluate our services and activities to ensure that they are effective, safe, and compliant with the law and our policies. We also seek feedback from our staff, volunteers, clients, and stakeholders to identify any areas for improvement or development.
Our future plans
We are committed to reviewing and improving our policies and procedures on a regular basis to ensure that they reflect the current legislation, guidance, and best practices on modern slavery. We will also continue to raise awareness and educate our staff, volunteers, clients, and stakeholders on the importance and relevance of this issue and how we can all play a part in preventing and combating it.
