NHS Digital Social value charter

NHS Digital is committed to working with its supply chain to collectively increase the amount of social value delivered by public sector organisations. 

To support this intention, we have established this charter, setting out our key themes which we ask our suppliers to consider and work with us to achieve.

Social value is subjective and means different things to different people depending on the context and environment that is worked within. We define social value to be the benefits that come from public service contracts that improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of people and communities.

We recognise the positive impact that suppliers bring on our behalf. Our aim is to engage with suppliers on social value, so collectively we can positively contribute to the overall wellbeing of our communities. 

NHS Digital will: 

• embed social value into its commercial strategies and plans
• ensure that social value requirements incorporated in its procurements and contracts are relevant, fair and proportionate
• work with our staff and suppliers to improve understanding of social value and provide information, training and support accordingly
• ensure that procurement scoring methodology and criteria contain appropriate consideration and weighting of social value
• capture data and intelligence which demonstrates the social value generated through our commissioning and procurement activity

Contracted suppliers are expected to: 

• where contracts are underway, consider where social value benefits can be delivered
• operate in a way to maximise the social value generated from their activities
• ensure compliance with all applicable environmental and social laws, regulations and standards
• work in partnership with NHS Digital and other valued suppliers to deliver social value benefits relevant to NHS Digital business activities
• provide clear evidence and data to NHS Digital which demonstrates the social value they generate through their contracted activities

Successful implementation of this approach will be measured against six social value themes.

Help local communities to manage and recover from the impact of COVID-19.

Examples of supporting COVID-19 recovery include employment creation, re-training, return to work:

• mentoring, mock interviews, CV advice and careers guidance
• work placements, pre-employment courses, paid/unpaid student placements, or paid internships of 6 weeks or more
• support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
• delivery of training schemes and programmes to address any identified skills gaps and underrepresentation in the workforce for the contract, for example prison leavers and disabled people

Create new businesses, new jobs and new skills. Increase supply chain resilience and capacity.

Examples of tackling economic inequality include entrepreneurship, growth and business creation: 

• raising awareness of future opportunities to target audiences, meet the buyer events and awareness
• raising by guidance or events of how to tender effectively for public supply chain contract
• grow supplier diversity in the contract supply chain or in the location/community where the contract is performed, including small medium enterprise (SME) and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) participation and new business creation
• meet the buyer events; awareness raising by guidance or events of how to tender effectively for public supply chain contracts 

Examples of fighting climate change include ensuring tenders/supplier contracts meet high environmental and social sustainability standards:

• remanufacture / repurpose pre-owned ICT hardware
• buy low energy products, for example TCO/EPEAT accredited
• buy products with low embodied carbon, for example remanufactured
• lease over ownership (put the improvement drivers in the hands of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
• buy modular, upgradable, repairable products, for example right to repair / eco design regulations
• buy products with a carbon footprint of X kg CO2 / £ spent (would need to specify by commodity)
• buy products which are resilient to the impacts of climate change, for example hosting choices
• ensure products can be delivered flexibly on low energy end user devices

Reduce the disability employment gap and tackle workforce inequality.

Examples of improving equal opportunity include increase representation of disabled people:

• inclusive and accessible recruitment practices
• working conditions which promote an inclusive working environment and promote retention and progression
• becoming a Disability Confident employer and inclusion of supported businesses in the contract supply chain

Improve health and wellbeing and improve community cohesion.

Examples of improving wellbeing include support health and wellbeing in the workforce:

• implementing the 6 standards in the Mental Health at Work commitment and, where appropriate, the mental health enhanced standards for companies with more than 500 employees in Thriving at Work with respect to the contract workforce, not just ‘following the recommendations’
• public reporting by the tenderer and its supply chain on the health and wellbeing of staff comprising the contract workforce, following the recommendations in the Voluntary Reporting Framework

Protect rights and freedoms and operate in compliance with the UN guiding principles on human rights.

Examples of ethical procurement include modern slavery:

• mapping the supply chain to provide assurance risks are understood and being managed effectively including in relation to vulnerable groups, type of work, location of supply chain
• outline policies and practices to be applied to or put in place for the contract to mitigate and manage modern slavery risks

The leadership and governance of this approach will be led by the Chief Commercial Officer.