Modern Slavery Statement
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It outlines the steps that Sharrow has taken, and continues to take, to ensure that modern slavery and human trafficking do not take place within our business operations or our supply chains.
We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any form of modern slavery, forced labour, or human rights violations. We are dedicated to acting ethically, transparently, and with absolute integrity in all of our professional and business relationships.
Our Organisation and Business:
Sharrow Dental is a provider of NHS and/or private dental care located in Chelmsford, Essex. Our team consists of self-employed clinicians, employed dental nurses, hygienists, and administrative support staff.
Our supply chain supports the delivery of clinical excellence and includes:
- Dental laboratory services (both UK-based and international sourcing)
- Dental consumables and clinical equipment suppliers
- Specialist waste disposal and facilities maintenance providers
- IT support, communications, and digital software systems
- Recruitment agencies and professional services
Relevant Policies & Governance:
We operate a series of internal policies to ensure we conduct business in an open, safe, and transparent manner. These include:
- Anti-Slavery Policy: Explicitly stating our zero-tolerance stance across operations.
- Safeguarding Policy: Training team members to identify and report signs of abuse or exploitation in vulnerable patients or visitors.
- Whistleblowing Policy: Encouraging all staff to report concerns regarding unethical conduct or suspected modern slavery without fear of retaliation.
- Recruitment and Right to Work Procedures: Ensuring robust identity and background checks are completed before onboarding any staff member or contractor.
Due Diligence and Risk Assessment:
We recognise that the primary risk of modern slavery within dentistry lies within the global supply chains of dental consumables and overseas laboratory fabrications.
To mitigate these risks, we undertake the following due diligence:
- Requesting modern slavery statements and ethical policy assurances from our primary dental suppliers.
- Reviewing the geographical origin of manufactured lab work (e.g., crowns, bridges) to flag high-risk jurisdictions.
- Inserting anti-slavery compliance clauses into new or renewing commercial agreements.
- Declining to trade with any business or supplier that fails to provide sufficient evidence of ethical employment standards.
Training and Awareness:
To ensure a high level of understanding across our practice, all staff members undergo regular safeguarding and ethical compliance training. Team members are trained to recognise the indicators of modern slavery and are instructed to report any immediate concerns to our practice Safeguarding Lead.
Effectiveness and Continuous Improvement:
We measure the effectiveness of our approach by monitoring staff training completion rates, logging supplier compliance statements, and ensuring any reported breaches are immediately investigated and referred to appropriate authorities.
Approval:
This statement has been reviewed and approved by the Practice Management/Board of Directors on 12/08/2026 and will be reviewed annually.
Anthony Clough, Practice Principal
12th August 2026
