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As a Trust, nothing is more important to us than providing the services that our patients need and the only way to do so is through our staff. We respect the needs of all our patients and treat them as unique; patients and staff are all different and this scheme identifies how we can treat them with dignity and respect against a backdrop of fairness
The scheme will evolve and change as we progress and learn lessons. The process of continuing improvement will allow us to improve the services that we offer.
For the reasons given above and because of its importance I commend the scheme to you.
Executive Summary
This Scheme sets out the way in which the Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust will meet and surpass our duties and objectives in relation to Equality and Human Rights for service users, carers and staff.
The Scheme specifically addresses the legislative requirements as defined by:
· Race Relations Amendment Act 2000
· Disability Discrimination Act 2005
· Sex Discrimination Act (1975) as amended by the Equality Act 2006
· Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation)2003
· Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) 2003
· Gender Recognition Act 2004
· Civil Partnership Act 2004
· Employment Equality (Age) Recognition 2006
The Scheme outlines how we will address the various aspects of the legislation. It will incorporate and replace the existing, Equal Opportunities Policy, Race Equality Scheme and Disability Equality Scheme and focuses on
· Race
· Disability
· Gender
· Age
· Religion and Belief
· Sexual Orientation
Key elements of the scheme in addressing both service and employment issues involve common actions including:
· Leadership and Organisational Culture
· Data Collection, Analysis and Reporting
· Impact Assessment
· Partnership Working
· Communication and consultation
· Training and development
· Procurement
Where specific duties are required to be addressed separately these will be included in individual action plans.
The Single Equality Scheme is a living document which takes into account the information currently available. The organisation is dynamic and given the pace of change in the local health economy account will need to be taken of future changes particularly as further information becomes available this scheme will allow the Trust to incorporate changes in the health community into how we manage diversity.
The Trust is an organisation that deals with a range of complex policy related initiatives, and delivery of services to a wide range of stakeholders. Our scheme must be capable of dealing with that complexity. As a result it needs to:
· Be aware of the needs of the local community
· Reflect properly the structures and focus of the legislation;
· Take account of ideas and issues coming out of the the legislative bodies, the Department of Health, the relevant Codes of Practice and good practice guidelines;
· Take into account the work that is already being done throughout the Trust to promote Equality;
· Build as far as is possible on existing processes and mechanisms in order to mainstream equality across the Trust’s work.
The Trust is committed to meeting its general duty and acting as a beacon of good practice for the sector. In achieving this we will utilise specific duties, including this Scheme, to make equality and equal treatment an underpinning theme in the development, delivery and refinement of our functions, services and policies, and in the manner in which we manage our staff.
The Trust will use existing systems and procedures and where necessary new ones, to work to eliminate unlawful discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different groups.
It is recognised that significant further consultation and information is important to maintain the development of the Single Equality Scheme and as such the document will continue to evolve to meet the needs of our service users. We therefore invite comments and feedback from both staff and the wider community. Particular emphasis will be placed on the involvement of relevant groups for example, the Patients’ Trust Steering Group, the Patients’ Forum, the Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS) and independent specific interest groups. Staff will also have an important role to play in development of equality within the organisation and local staff groups for example Joint Staff Consultation Committee (JSCC), Black Minority Ethnic Network (BME), and the Disability Action Group will be involved.
In order to improve our Scheme we invite your comments by 30June 2007, at which point the Scheme will be reviewed.
Comments and suggestions can be addressed to the following people:
Email address:
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Single Equality Scheme
