Staff consultation and involvement

The Trust is committed to consulting and involving staff with the development of its equality and diversity plans and actions.

For example, in the last couple of years there have been specific forums for black and minority ethnic staff to meet with the Chief Executive directly about any cultural barriers; celebrations of Diwali and other calendar landmark events, and encouragement has been given to the creation of a lesbian and gay staff network.

A cross section of staff is involved with the Trust’s equality and diversity steering group.

All staff receive some form of equality and diversity awareness training.

The staff weekly newsletter (‘Focus’) frequently covers activities that are about patient, public and staff engagement around protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act. 

A recent example of staff working with equality and diversity is the following.  In early 2012, the Trust has just commenced a series of visits form school children with learning disabilities, guided around the hospital by staff.  The aim of the visits is to inform the students and to address any anxieties that they, or their carers, might feel about the hospital.  The visits also raise staff awareness of this group of people.