Including everyone
Your local services should meet your needs, no matter what health issues you might be managing, your level of pay, the language you speak, your gender or religion.
We work with lots of different groups to understand the barriers that can be put between people and the services they need, so we can work to remove them and make sure anyone who needs care and support can get it.
We make all our information, meetings and events as accessible as possible for everyone in the community, and work hard to get information and support to groups of people who may be more likely to need it, like those with health problems, carers or veterans, for example.
Equality and diversity
We want to promote equality, embrace diversity and work to create a fairer society.
Our services and communities should recognise, value and respect differences in age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic background, physical or mental abilities, religion or belief, social, domestic or economic circumstances. All of these factors provide different experiences, perspectives and knowledge.
All public bodies and NHS organisations have a number of legal obligations placed on us by the Equality Act 2010, the Human Rights Act 2012 and the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
We have to commission and provide services that are easily accessible to everyone, are appropriate to our patients’ needs and that reduce health inequality. We support staff and services to do this to the best of their ability and are constantly looking to make improvements in this area.
We’re also committed to having a diverse workforce, which reflects our local community. We want to be an organisation that people want to work for, regardless of background or personal characteristics. Our aim for all staff to realise their full potential and be treated with dignity and mutual respect.
Human rights and what they mean for us
Human Rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world. The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. For the first time, the Universal Declaration set out the fundamental rights and freedoms shared by all human beings. The Human Rights values are: fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy.
Equalities Act 2010
The Equalities Act 2010 can be viewed on the government’s legislation webpage.
Guidance documents on the Equalities Act 2010 are available to read and download.
Public Sector Equality Duty
The Public Sector Equality Duty came into action in 2011 and applies to public bodies across Great Britain and to any other organisation when it is carrying out a public function.
The purpose of it is to ensure that all public bodies consider all individuals when carrying out their day-to-day work when shaping policy, delivering services and in relation to their own employees.
It also requires public bodies to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities.
More information including guidance can be found on the government website.
