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Equality and Diversity

What are we doing?

The Trust currently complies with its legal requirements regarding equality and diversity but we want to go much further with this agenda and we are committed to securing improvement based on best practice and putting our values into action. We strive for the inclusivity that our staff, people who use our services and those who care for them, deserve. By inclusivity, we mean working together with staff, people who use our services and their relatives and carers to influence and develop services that meet their needs.

Progress in place to date includes:

An established Equality and Diversity Sub Committee of the Trust Board- chaired by Sheila Wright, Non- Executive Director
A comprehensive Equality and Diversity Governance Structure, outlining the approval and decision making processes, with steering groups focussing on each of the Equality and Diversity strands
Creation of Equality and Diversity Staff and Service User Champions to ensure that the views of staff, service users and carers are listened to and heard
A Trustwide Executive Mentoring Scheme which has been extended to all under-represented groups, whilst still retaining a focus on BME staff who are currently under-represented in more senior roles
Enhanced Equality and Diversity training provision, including induction package, face to face training and e-learning for all staff, including medical staff
Bespoke Equality and Diversity Training Awareness on specific strands e.g. Race Equality and Cultural Capability, LGB Awareness, Trans Awareness, Disability Awareness, Deaf Awareness, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Awareness etc.
A re-audit of all Trust premises to ensure compliance under the Disability Discrimination Act
The re-establishment of the Living in Both Worlds group:- a forum for staff who also use mental health services
A new Bullying and Harassment Line to support staff who feel that they are being bullied and/or harassed at work
For the 3rd year running the Trust was successful in securing a place in the top 20 of the Stonewall work place Equality Index (WEI); Ranking 13th place nationally and 2nd top NHS organisation in the country.

It's important to remember that each of us is different and that diversity should be valued, as long as everyone is offered fair and equitable access to employment and services.

Together we can make sure that our equality and diversity agenda is taken seriously and makes a real difference to everyone.

The Trust is also committed to Equality Impact Assessments across all its services. These draft action plans are available on the next page.