Equality and Diversity in Health
In 2005 we have taken equality and diversity issues to every part of Southwark PCT. Over 700 staff attended workshops and many teams and departments have looked at the way they commission and deliver services by carrying out equality impact assessments. The learning we have gathered is being used to change the way we do business.
Peta Caine, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Equality and Diversity Steering Group, said: “Our equality and diversity programme is driven by the strong support of the PCT Board and its Chair, Mee Ling Ng. We have identified a clear work plan which sets out key areas and themes for us to focus on over the next few years.”
Our focus will include commissioning, employment, community health and statutory local public health functions.
Highlights of our work
- gaps around service delivery and employment have been identified and action plans are being developed
- out of the 73 equality impact assessments, key themes to emerge have been around ethnic monitoring, future training and development and communication
- development of a Black and Ethnic Minority Forum for staff from Southwark Health and Social Care
- a major piece of work to identify the particular issues around health inequalities for Southwark residents and how best to address them
- the development of scrutiny panels within Partnership Boards to comment on and evaluate on the action plans developed in response to the outcomes of the equality impact assessments
- ethnic monitoring of staff and patients has started, and will be improved in the year ahead. This data is key if we are to develop policies and procedures appropriate to our staff and for developing services that meet the needs of our population
- interpreting and disseminating the key issues that both staff and service users need to be aware of in regards to current and upcoming legislation, such as that on disability and age discrimination.
For further information, please contact Harjinder Bahra on 020 7525 3658 harjiner.bahra@southwarkpct.nhs.uk