Single Equality Scheme Summary

1. Single Equality Scheme Summary In partnership with

2. What is the Single Equality Scheme (SES)? • A document that sets out what the Care Trust is going to do to make sure Equality, Diversity and Human Rights is taken into account in everything we do whether that’s providing services, employing people, developing policies, communicating, consulting or involving people in our work.

3. What is the Single Equality Scheme (SES)? (2) • This scheme replaces our existing Race, Disability and Gender Equality Schemes and also includes the Equality Strands of Age; Religion/Belief; and Sexual Orientation. This is why it is called a Single Equality Scheme. Human Rights is also an underpinning theme throughout our Scheme.

4. Why have a Scheme? • As a public authority, we have a legal duty to produce a Scheme under the following equalities legislation: Race Equality Duty – The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 Disability Equality Duty – Disability Discrimination Act 2005 Gender Equality Duty – Sex Discrimination Act as amended by the Equality Act 2006

5. Why have a Scheme? (2) • Having a Scheme helps us: • make it clear what our responsibilities are under Equalities legislation and what the responsibilities of our staff are • set out our plans for making sure that people from different groups are not discriminated against or disadvantaged when using our services or working for us • make sure these plans are monitored and put into place • demonstrate our organisation’s commitment to equality and diversity

6. Why have a Single Equality Scheme? • We have developed a Single Equality Scheme that covers not only Race, Disability and Gender, but also Age, Religion/Belief, and Sexual Orientation – underpinned by Human Rights. We have done this because we: • recognise that inequalities are rarely experienced in isolation, but are often interdependent; • wish to focus on the ‘whole picture’ when planning and delivering services; • are committed to making the most of resources and investment.

7. How did we develop it? • Northumberland Care Trust is part of the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Network. • Working in partnership with this network and other Trusts in the region, we developed a template for the Single Equality Scheme that all Trusts could use. • As part of this Network, we have commissioned some work from the North East Voluntary and Community Services Equalities Coalition to help us consult on this.

8. What’s in our Scheme? • Our Vision for health and social care services • A description of our duties and how we will meet them • Facts and figures about Northumberland in relation to each of the different Equality Strands • A closer look at each Equality Strand & what people have told us about them in relation to health & social care

9. What’s in our Scheme? (2) • Our Key Objectives – based on equalities legislation and what people have told us • Our Action Plan – linking each action to the different Equality Strands and to our legal duties • A Glossary & References • A list of those who have contributed to the Scheme (to date)

10. What are our Key Objectives? • To have the right leadership, corporate commitment and governance in relation to equality, diversity and human rights • To make sure our services and polices do not discriminate or disadvantage different groups through doing Equality Impact Assessments • To work together with local people, staff, groups and other partners to ensure our Scheme reflects their views and priorities

11. What are our Key Objectives? (2) • To provide services and information that is accessible to all, and to communicate well • To have a workforce that meets the needs of the people of Northumberland and employ staff with the right skills, training and support • To make sure the services we commission and buy do not discriminate or disadvantage any groups • To monitor and report back on our performance

12. Our Action Plan • Our Action Plan has been developed by carrying forward existing actions from our Race, Disability and Gender Equality Schemes. These actions were developed in partnership with local people, groups, staff and other partners and so we must make sure they are done. • Our Action Plan also includes actions set for us by Equalities Legislation and by the Strategic Health Authority.

13. Our Action Plan (2) • We have also added in new actions that have been based on feedback from our stakeholders since we developed our previous Schemes. • We will continue to amend and add to our Action Plan based on new involvement and consultation with local people, staff and other stakeholders.

14. Our Action Plan (3) • Our Actions include things like: • having the right people identified to take a Board Level lead for Equality, Diversity & Human Rights • participating in national initiatives around certain equality strands (e.g. taking part in the Stonewall equality work place index) • introducing an audit process for our Equality Impact Assessments to make sure things have changed for the better

15. Our Action Plan (4) • Our Actions include things like: • continuing to engage with local people and groups on this Scheme and involve them in planning, developing and monitoring services • developing a mystery shopping scheme to identify any barriers in accessing and using our services • contributing to the Council’s achievement of the Local Government Equality Standard • reporting clearly on our progress to all stakeholders

16. Our Action Plan (5) • Our Actions include things like: • consulting regularly with our staff about their views of issues relating to Equality, Diversity and Human Rights • producing new guides for staff on making sure information and meetings/events are accessible for everyone • improving the training and information provided to staff around Equality, Diversity and Human Rights

17. Our Action Plan (6) • Our Actions include things like: • monitoring the make up of our workforce to make sure it represents the communities it serves • making sure we have the right policies in place to support staff and to promote a culture that embraces diversity and equality • strengthening the systems we have in place to monitor the services we commission and buy in to ensure they comply with equalities legislation

18. Engaging with People • Elements of our Scheme have already been developed on the basis on feedback from local people, our staff and groups which was gathered during the process of developing our original Race, Disability and Gender Equality Schemes. The views and priorities of these stakeholders have been carried forward into our revised Single Equality Scheme. • We have also involved local and regional groups in developing the section focussing specifically on individual Equality Strands and the implications for health and social care.

19. Engaging with People (2) • We have started to share our Scheme more widely with local people, our staff and groups and will amend our Scheme based on the feedback we receive. • As part of the SHA Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Network, we are involved in working with the North East Voluntary and Community Services Equalities Coalition to help us consult more widely across the region about the format and structure of our Scheme. • This is an ongoing process and we will continue to update and refresh our Scheme in partnership with all stakeholders.