For the third year running Nottinghamshire Healthcare has been named as one of the top 100 employers in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index, which features the best employers in Britain for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people.
The integrated healthcare provider was ranked 13th overall, the second best performing employer in the healthcare sector and the top healthcare employer in the East Midlands, scoring 170 points out of a possible 200.
The result reflects the Trust’s commitment to equality and diversity and demonstrates its ability to ensure that the services provided truly reflect people’s needs. It has also continued to share best practice with other organisations to help support further improvements in this area.
A key focus for the Trust this year was around monitoring patients’ sexual orientation and engaging directly with LGB service users. This has enabled the way in which services are provided to this group to be examined and in turn, improved.
The scoring was based on evidence submitted to demonstrate workplace culture and activity, covering policy, practice and service user engagement.
Catherine Conchar, Head of Equality and Diversity said: “We are delighted with this achievement. It is fantastic recognition of the hard work and commitment of the Trust to be an employer and service provider of choice for our diverse communities. Engaging with lesbian, gay and bisexual service users, carers and communities was a very positive and valuable experience and will actively influence the services we provide.”
The Trust was scored on evidence submitted to demonstrate workplace culture and activity, covering policy, practice and service user engagement.
Professor Mike Cooke CBE, Chief Executive, said: “We are so proud to once again be ranked as a top employer and service provider for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. This is a true reflection of the culture we have created within the Trust that embraces equality and diversity at every level.”
The number of companies participating in the index – now in its eighth year – has more than doubled since 2006. Every organisation in this year’s top 100 offered diversity training that covered lesbian, gay and bisexual issues, and collected monitoring data on the sexual orientation of their employees.
