Equality. Diversity Strategy

Transcription

1 & Equality Diversity Strategy

2 2 Look Ahead Housing and Care

3 Contents Introduction 4 Our vision 5 Defining equality, diversity and human rights 6 Why we need a strategy 7 What the strategy covers 7 Themes of the strategy 8 Putting the strategy into practice 10 Monitoring delivery of the strategy 10 Equality, diversity and human rights legislation 11 Equality and Diversity Strategy

4 Introduction With more than 1,000 staff working with over 6,000 customers a year across 29 local authorities in London and the South East, Look Ahead recognises the importance that equality, diversity and human rights play in delivering high quality services that meet the individual needs and preferences of our customers. Look Ahead is committed to supporting our customers to do the things that many of us take for granted to enable those with particular needs to live ordinary lives, as our mission statement puts it. The individuals we support have a range of support needs and, as a result, may not experience equal or fair access to local opportunities, activities and resources. A strong commitment to equality, diversity and human rights is therefore essential to support our customers to meet their needs, achieve their goals and have choice and control of their lives. Look Ahead s Equality and Diversity Strategy summarises how we will ensure that consideration of equality, diversity and human rights informs what we do at every level of the organisation over the next three years. It demonstrates how we will comply with legislative and regulatory standards, and will influence how we design and deliver services, recruit and develop staff and work with the wider community. 4 Look Ahead Housing and Care

5 Our vision As an organisation we seek to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers, staff and others to ensure that consideration of equality, diversity and human rights is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity in all areas of service delivery and employment. We will create a supportive living and working environment for customers and staff, which promotes awareness and understanding, eliminates discrimination, celebrates diversity and ensures that everyone is treated with dignity and respect. with genuine choice and control. Our model of service delivery recognises the important role that staff and customers have to play in improving the communities in which we provide services. We will deliver this vision through focusing on the following three key themes: Promoting awareness Meeting diverse needs Improving outcomes These themes outline our priorities and identify areas for action for the next three years. We will deliver high quality services that are fair and accessible, outcome-focused and provide customers Equality and Diversity Strategy

6 Defining equality, diversity and human rights Equality Equality is about creating a fairer society where everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. It means that no one individual or group is treated less favourably on the grounds of age, disability, sex (gender), sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or any other inappropriate criteria or distinction. Diversity Diversity is about ensuring that Look Ahead both employs and provides services to people from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances. It means being open to people s differences and recognising and valuing the individual talents, contributions and backgrounds of all our customers and staff. Human rights Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to everyone. Based on the core principles of dignity, fairness, respect and autonomy, human rights protect an individual s freedom to control their own life, take part in decisions that impact upon their rights and experience fair and equal access to services. 6 Look Ahead Housing and Care

7 Why we need a strategy This strategy ensures that we continue to work towards meeting the highest standards in our approach to all aspects of equality and diversity as an integral part of our business through: Outlining our commitment to promote awareness and understanding of equality, diversity and human rights for our customers and staff. Recognising the importance of employing, developing and retaining a diverse workforce which understands and can respond to the individual needs of our customers. Offering flexible services and employment opportunities which meet the changing needs of funders, customers and staff. Ensuring our customers have the skills, knowledge and support needed to live ordinary lives within the community. What the strategy covers This strategy applies to all of our customers and staff. For the purposes of the strategy, the following definitions apply: Customer Anyone receiving a support service from Look Ahead or applying to receive one of those services. Anyone living in a property we own or manage, or applying to live in one of those properties. Anyone purchasing a service from us. Staff Anyone we employ, including temporary and voluntary staff. Anyone applying for employment with us while we are considering their application. We also work with other people who, while not being customers or staff, provide essential services for us. These include our board members, Personal Support Assistants, agency workers, volunteers, contractors, consultants and suppliers providing goods and services. This strategy applies equally to these groups. This Equality and Diversity Strategy brings together areas covered by our previously separate gender and disability equality schemes. The scope of the strategy has been extended to include the full range of protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act This ensures that our strategy reflects current legislation and is inclusive in its scope. Timeframe This strategy covers the three-year period from 2012 to Equality and Diversity Strategy

8 Themes of the strategy Theme 1: Promoting Awareness This means ensuring that all individuals are aware of equality, diversity and human rights within and outside the organisation, and making sure people understand their roles and responsibilities. Look Ahead has a duty to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity. We aim to make sure all staff and customers are aware of their responsibilities under the law. Promoting awareness and understanding of equality, diversity and human rights to our customers and staff will help to maintain a supportive living and working environment in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our aims Look Ahead s approach to equality, diversity and human rights is actively promoted and supported by all customers and staff. Our customers recognise their rights, can identify discrimination and have the confidence and skills to challenge this appropriately. Staff are equipped with the training, skills and understanding to help Look Ahead meet its commitment to promote fairness and tackle prejudice and discrimination. Our staff and stakeholders are aware of and understand the diverse needs of our customers. Our neighbours and the local communities we work in recognise the skills and contributions of our customers, and any stereotypes and negative views about the individuals we support are challenged. 8 Look Ahead Housing and Care

9 Theme 2: Meeting Diverse Needs This means ensuring that Look Ahead is able to meet the different needs of all our staff and customers and that we involve customers and staff in the design and delivery of services. Being flexible in the way we promote and deliver services plays an important role in ensuring our services provide fair access and meet customers diverse needs. We will use a range of methods to communicate with customers and provide them with information about their service and support. We will continue to develop our diverse workforce and provide a range of flexible working options that make the best use of the wide range of skills and experience our staff bring to the organisation. Our aims All customers and staff will have opportunities to help shape the services we provide. Services are designed around customers individual needs and preferences. Information about the organisation is available in a format appropriate to the audience it is aimed at. Look Ahead responds to the changing needs and circumstances of our customers, staff and the communities in which we work. We will develop partnerships with specialist agencies and use their expertise for the benefit of both customers and staff. Theme 3: Improving Outcomes This means that Look Ahead will provide our customers and staff with access to the support and resources necessary to succeed and to meet their individual goals and aspirations. We will use our performance monitoring framework to ensure that we meet the expectations of customers, staff, commissioners, regulators and funders. We will monitor customer and staff demographics to ensure fair access and effectively track individual, service and customer outcomes to demonstrate the impact of our services and identify any potential areas for improvement. Our aims Satisfaction with Look Ahead as both a service provider and employer will be high. We will eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment, and effectively handle any allegations of discrimination or harassment made by or against staff or customers. All customers will have opportunities to develop skills, build networks and engage in activities within the local community. We will use feedback to help us identify and address any barriers to achieving positive outcomes for our customers. All staff will be supported to maximise their potential and to develop and advance their careers. Look Ahead is viewed as an employer of choice for its commitment to equality and diversity. Equality and Diversity Strategy

10 Putting the strategy into practice Putting our equality and diversity strategy into practice is the responsibility of everyone within the organisation. We will work to gain the support and co-operation of our customers and partner organisations in doing so. Linked to this strategy is an action plan, developed each year, which sets out how we will achieve our aims across our organisation. In addition, each of our services develops an annual local business plan which is framed around meeting the particular needs of its customers, ensuring fair and equal access to services and elimination of discrimination. Monitoring delivery of the strategy Look Ahead s Senior Management Team will regularly review progress against delivery of this strategy and related annual action plans. An annual report tracking our performance and progress will be scrutinised by our Board of Management, ensuring continuous improvement across all themes. Look Ahead s Customer Services Committee (CSC), which offers customers from across all our services opportunities to work alongside our Board of Management, will also play a key role in monitoring our performance. 10 Look Ahead Housing and Care

11 Equality, diversity and human rights legislation In developing this strategy, we recognise our responsibilities under laws relating to equality, diversity and human rights: Equal Pay Act 1970 Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (amended 2000) Race Relations Act 1976 (amended 2000) Disability Discrimination Acts of 1995 and 2005 Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Race Relations (Amendment) Regulations 2003 Human Rights Act 1998 Employment Equality Regulations for Age (2006), Religion or Belief (2003) and Sexual Orientation (2003) Civil Partnership Act 2004 Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 Equality Act 2006 Equality Act 2010 Equality and Diversity Strategy

12 Look Ahead Housing and Care 1 Derry Street London W8 5HY info@lookahead.org.uk Look Ahead Housing and Care Ltd, a charitable housing association registered under The Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 no 21004R. Registered with the Homes and Communities Agency no LH0013