Our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where all our staff, patients, carers and service users are treated with dignity and respect.
At East Kent Hospitals, we value the differences that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation and will build a culture that is personal, fair and diverse.
We will ensure that no employee or person visiting our hospitals will be discriminated against because of who they are. It is the duty of each employee to share the responsibility of creating and maintaining an environment of teamwork, trust and respect.
The principles that underpin this statement are as follows:
A workforce that is valued and whose diversity reflects the community it serves, will enable us to deliver the best possible healthcare service
An environment characterised by teamwork, trust and respect will enable every employee in the Trust to achieve their potential
Our Trust views individual diversity positively, and recognises that everyone is different, valuing equally the unique contribution that individual experience, knowledge and skills can bring to the organisation.
Our equality objectives
Ensure all leadership development activity includes diversity, inclusion and unconscious bias elements
Develop our EDI staff networks and elevate the voice of members through our EDI steering group
Reduce discrimination experienced by disabled, BAME and LGBTQ+ staff and applicants, and increase the percentage of these staff in senior positions
Improve service delivery for those patients with a disability and patients from a BAME background
Our public duty
The Equality Act 2010 ensures individuals have equal treatment in employment and access to private and public sector services regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity. These are known as the nine protected characteristics.
Section 149 of the Act sets out the Public Sector Equality Duty, which offers protection in relation to employment, as well as access to goods and services.
As a public sector organisation, East Kent Hospitals has general and specific public sector duties. We must demonstrate we:
Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act
Advance equality of opportunity between people who share protected characteristics and those who do not
Foster good relations between people who share protected characteristics and those who do not.
Sometimes referred to as the three aims of the general equality duty, the Equality Act also explains that having due regard to advancing equality involves:
Removing or minimising disadvantage suffered by people due to their protected characteristics
Taking steps to meet the needs of people from protected groups where these are different from the needs of other people
Encouraging people from protected groups to participate in public life or in activities where their participation is disproportionality low.
As a public authority we are also required to publish information to demonstrate our compliance with the General Equality duty imposed by section 149(1) of the Equality Act, not later than 31st January 2012, and subsequently at intervals of not greater than one year beginning with the date of last publication. The information published must include, in particular, information relating to persons who share a relevant protected characteristic who are our employees or other persons affected by our policies and practices.
For more information about the Equality Act 2010, check the Government’s Easy Read guide to The Equality Act.
Download our equality, diversity and inclusion policy Diversity profile of East Kent Hospitals area