Our policies and values
Coventry City Council supports national objectives to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking and recognises the significant role the Council has to play in both combatting it and supporting survivors. The Council has a range of policies and procedures in place to support our commitment to preventing modern slavery, including:
4.1 Coventry Protocol for Addressing Adult Modern Slavery
The Protocol presents the Coventry Modern Slavery Partnership’s strategic approach to preventing, combatting, and addressing modern slavery via a 4P strategy, and operational processes for responding to modern slavery.
4.2 Whistleblowing Policy
Encouraging employees and partners to report any concerns regarding unethical or illegal practices. The Council is committed to creating an open culture, where concerns can be raised without fear of retaliation.
4.3 Employee Code of Conduct
Promoting integrity and ethical behaviour in the workplace. All employees are required to comply with the Code of Conduct as it forms part of their terms and conditions of employment. The Code outlines the minimum standards that an employee must adhere to.
4.4 Procurement Strategy
Ensuring all suppliers and contractors comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Following legislative changes, the Council is launching a refreshed Procurement Strategy in 2025 to 2026 that can contribute to a wide range of socioeconomic benefits including a successful local economy, a thriving voluntary sector, community empowerment, equality, consideration for the environment and value for money.
4.5 Equality & Diversity policies
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is grounded in, but not limited to, our responsibilities under the equality legislation. Coventry City Council will continually challenge all forms of unlawful discrimination in its organisation, employment practices and provision of services and provide a workplace which is respectful of everyone and services which demonstrate this commitment.
4.6 Social Value & Sustainability Policy
Details how Social Value & Sustainability is considered and addressed through the Council’s day-to-day activities. The Council has developed a set of representative & example Outcomes which are based on the Vision, Approach and Priorities contained in the One Coventry Plan.
4.7 Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy
The Coventry Domestic Abuse Strategy 2018 to 2025 addresses domestic abuse, including honour-based violence and forced marriage. It recognises that domestic abuse can affect anyone.
The strategy acknowledges the overlap with other crimes such as child sexual exploitation and modern slavery.
4.8 Under Working Together 2018
Under Working Together 2018 there is a shared responsibility between organisations and agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in a local area. Many local organisations and agencies have duty under Section 11 of the Children’s Act 2004 to ensure that they consider the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children when carrying out their functions.
The responsibility for this join-up lies with the three Safeguarding Partners, the police, the local authority and the CCG, who have a shared and equal duty to make arrangements to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children within the Local Authority.
4.9 Care Act 2014
Under the Care Act 2014 each Local Authority must establish a Safeguarding Adult Board (SAB) for its area. The objective of a SAB is to help and protect adults in its area who have care and support needs, are experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or risk of it. The way in which a SAB must seek to achieve its objective is by co-ordinating and ensuring the effectiveness of what each of its members does.
4.10 Policy communications
Policies are reviewed annually and circulated internally at point of renewal. We have ISO19001 accreditation, the above policies are signed off at senior leadership level.
Where stipulated in the tender documents and specifications, Suppliers will be required hold certain accreditations as required. The requirements for each contract the Council procures will vary. Procurement Services will launch a Supplier Code of Conduct in 2025 to 2026 that all Suppliers will be expected to adhere to. The Code of Conduct will be available in the tender documentation and published on the Council’s website.
4.11 Coventry City Council’s Values
Our ‘One Coventry Values’ have been co-created with the support and input of all employees across the Council, so they are reflective of how we want to be represented both as colleagues and to the wider community.
We want to ensure there is clarity of purpose through the Council’s vision of our One Coventry Values and Behaviours; putting diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do. Moving forward the values will become an integral part of our: Reward Strategy, Appraisals, Recruitment, Attraction and Onboarding, Recognition and Development and Employee Engagement.
Our values define us as an organisation and influence everything we do and how we treat each other. We recognise the crucial role each and every one of us plays in helping to achieve our goals. We want Coventry City Council to be an inclusive workplace where people know they are valued and feel empowered in their roles to achieve excellence for our customers and communities.
