The Purpose of This First Year Annual Report

Working Together For Success

Strategic Equality Plan

Annual Report

April 2011 - April 2012

The purpose of this first year annual report

The essential purpose of the specific duties is to help authorities to have better due regard to the need to achieve the 3 aims of the general duty, which are to;

1.  Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct that is prohibited by the Act.

2.  Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.

3.  Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do note.

Therefore, as a specific duty itself, the role of annual reporting is to support Public Sector Authorities in meeting the general duty. It also has a role in setting out achievements and progress towards meeting the other specific duties.

Introduction and relevant information

In order to publish the Strategic Equality Plan ‘Treating People Fairly’ which includes the Equality Objectives the Trust carried out work which included a review of existing national and local reports, literature and other evidence and Consultation and engagement with the public and our staff.

Involvement and consultation

The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust showed its committed to including as many people and groups as possible in developing the Strategic Equality Plan ‘Treating People Fairly’ including:

·  Consultation through the website (inviting views and comments);

·  Discussion forums/focus groups with staff;

·  Sharing draft documents with key community groups to invite comments from their members and contacts;

·  Joint consultative and engagement events;

·  Using patient and staff surveys to receive anonymous feedback;

·  Equality Impact Assessment process;

·  Partners in Healthcare Panel

Our approach was to build on work already started and to review existing equality information held to identify gaps in our information base. Where we have gaps in our information base, we have used feedback from engagement to fill them.

Reports such as “How Fair is Wales?” published by the Human Rights Commission and “Hidden in Plain Sight” were used to inform the work.

We used our consultations with the community and hard to reach groups in order to gain an insight into their experiences with The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, barriers to access of the service and the outcomes which they expected from the organisation. We looked at the groups which the organisation currently engages with and mapped this against the communities within Wales population statistics,

We actively listened to this feedback and looked jointly at ways in which these outcomes could be achieved creating a Gap Analysis from where we are now and where we want to be.

We engaged jointly with other local public sector organisations in all areas of Wales to help draft our equality objectives, linking into existing forums and community groups across Wales.

North Wales Public Sector Equality Network

During 2011 the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust as a partner in the network conducted joint activities to develop a set of shared objectives which every partner has signed up to.

These objectives, the research behind these and the consultation completed have been considered when forming the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust equality Objectives. An Event was held on the 21st of September 2011 where two key questions were asked to stakeholders and partners attending

1. Do you think that the identified themes correctly capture the issues we should be addressing as an organisation-are there any gaps

2. What issues are most important to you

Internally facing

Along with external consultation internally to The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust a Equality and Human Rights Task and Finish group was established which included a wide representation from across the organisations workforce. This group was chaired by the Chief Executive and also included membership of the Director of Workforce and OD and a non- executive director in order for the messages and drive to come from the highest level within the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.

The draft Objectives were considered at the board development day on the 2nd of February 2012 and through internal consultation at a number of internal events.

In March 2012 the Final Version 3 of ‘Treating People Fairly’ was presented to the Board. Board support for the finalised Objectives and Strategic Equality Plan were given prior to publication.

Meeting the General Duty

The Senior Management Team are responsible for ensuring that the development of our equality objectives are aligned to our Trust Strategic Planning Process.

The equality outcomes and objectives will inform the development of specific actions within the delivery plans for services across the Trust.

Whilst the Equality Objectives and Strategic Plan will become embedded into business as usual the Quality and Safety Group which is a sub-committee of the Board will scrutinise progress and provide assurance to the Board.

Heads of Service will be invited to present their action plans and progress on equality initiatives.

To ensure that the Trust is meeting the general duty we will undertake a review of the objectives each year and progress will be formally reported and published.

The Partners in Healthcare external Stakeholder Network comprising individuals and groups representing people with protected characteristics will be invited to monitor progress on plans and actively be engaged in any further consultation and monitoring.

Reviewing and revising the Strategic Equality Plan

The Trust took the decision to review progress towards our Equality Objectives every year and undertake a full review of the SEP after three years, working with staff, our communities and service users to take into account information gathered including outcomes of impact assessments.

Measures

In order to be able to measure the results of our objectives the Trust have developed outcome-focused objectives. It was recognised that there is further work necessary in order to achieve our objectives and the Trust will set out clear actions within the planning process to ensure that the objectives are being delivered along with the general duty, whilst embedding them into business as usual.

Collecting employment monitoring information

The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust has previously completed a data cleanse for the Electronic Staff Record, explaining the need for individuals to complete monitoring forms about protected characteristics. As part of this the Trust decided not to ask about the protected characteristic of Gender Reassignment as the Electronic Staff Record does not have an area for this to be recorded. It is recognised that this is the case across the NHS in Wales.

Due to numbers of employees returning the updated monitoring forms emphasis was placed on the use of Employee Self Service when rolled out across the Trust as a method of employees updating equality information in a confidential way.

Employment information (April 2011- March 2012)

Gender Breakdown
Count of Gender / Gender
Female / Male / Grand Total
Total / 1068 / 1969 / 3037

Age Breakdown by Gender

Age / Female / Male / Grand Total
16-20 / 3 / 4 / 7
21-25 / 55 / 47 / 102
26-30 / 112 / 73 / 185
31-35 / 140 / 176 / 316
36-40 / 191 / 308 / 499
41-45 / 168 / 284 / 452
46-50 / 196 / 388 / 584
51-55 / 118 / 303 / 421
56-60 / 61 / 207 / 268
61-65 / 20 / 136 / 156
66-70 / 4 / 36 / 40
71-75 / 0 / 5 / 5
76-80 / 0 / 2 / 2
Sexual Orientation by Gender
Count of Sexual Orientation / Gender
Sexual Orientation / Female / Male / Grand Total
Bisexual / 1 / 2 / 3
Gay / 1 / 9 / 10
Heterosexual / 516 / 1030 / 1546
I do not wish to disclose my sexual orientation / 532 / 928 / 1460
Lesbian / 18 / 18
Grand Total / 1068 / 1969 / 3037
Religious Belief by Gender
Count of Religious Belief / Gender
Religious Belief / Female / Male / Grand Total
Atheism / 112 / 184 / 296
Buddhism / 1 / 5 / 6
Christianity / 372 / 720 / 1092
I do not wish to disclose my religion/belief / 551 / 995 / 1546
Islam / 1 / 1
Other / 32 / 63 / 95
Sikhism / 1 / 1
Grand Total / 1068 / 1969 / 3037
Ethnic Origin by Gender
Count of Ethnic Origin / Gender
Ethnic Origin / Female / Male / Grand Total
White / 24 / 77 / 101
Not given / 133 / 485 / 618
White - British / 201 / 298 / 499
White - Irish / 5 / 5 / 10
White - Any other White background / 3 / 5 / 8
White Northern Irish / 1 / 1
White Unspecified / 45 / 52 / 97
White English / 46 / 104 / 150
White Scottish / 2 / 11 / 13
White Welsh / 282 / 519 / 801
White Greek / 1 / 1
White Other European / 2 / 1 / 3
Mixed - White & Black Caribbean / 1 / 1
Mixed - White & Black African / 1 / 1
Mixed - White & Asian / 1 / 1
G Mixed - Any other mixed background / 1 / 1
GF Mixed - Other/Unspecified / 1 / 2 / 3
H Asian or Asian British - Indian / 2 / 1 / 3
L Asian or Asian British - Any other Asian background / 4 / 4
R Chinese / 1 / 1
SE Other Specified / 1 / 1
Undefined / 4 / 4
Z Not Stated / 319 / 396 / 715
Grand Total / 1068 / 1969 / 3037
Marital Status by Gender
Count of Gender / Gender
Marital Status / Female / Male / Grand Total
Civil Partnership / 6 / 3 / 9
Divorced / 90 / 84 / 174
Legally Separated / 3 / 6 / 9
Married / 575 / 764 / 1339
NULL / 16 / 22 / 38
Single / 351 / 335 / 686
Unknown / 20 / 748 / 768
Widowed / 7 / 7 / 14
Grand Total / 1068 / 1969 / 3037
Disabled Status by Gender
Count of Disabled / Gender
Disabled / Female / Male / Grand Total
No / 373 / 696 / 1069
Not Declared / 505 / 959 / 1464
Undefined / 166 / 270 / 436
Yes / 24 / 44 / 68
Grand Total / 1068 / 1969 / 3037
Occupation Code Group by Gender
Count of Gender / Gender
Occupation Code / Payscale / Female / Male / Grand Total
Amb. Officer / ELAA / 1 / 1
Band 6 / 6 / 9 / 15
Band 7 / 2 / 37 / 39
Band 8a / 1 / 8 / 9
Band 8b / 2 / 2
Band 8c / 2 / 2
Amb. Officer Total / 10 / 58 / 68
HDS / Band 3 / 28 / 91 / 119
Band 4 / 2 / 2
Band 5 / 2 / 2
HDS Total / 28 / 95 / 123
Para. Practitioner / Band 5 / 4 / 8 / 12
Band 7 / 1 / 11 / 12
Band 8a / 1 / 1
Band 8c / 1 / 1
Para. Practitioner Total / 5 / 21 / 26
Paramedic / Band 5 / 168 / 619 / 787
Band 6 / 14 / 121 / 135
Band 7 / 1 / 2 / 3
Paramedic Total / 183 / 742 / 925
Technician / DTEM / 1 / 1
DWBD / 1 / 1
DWCD / 1 / 1
Band 4 / 106 / 304 / 410
Band 5 / 3 / 3
Technician Total / 106 / 310 / 416
Sen. Mgr / AQ00 / 1 / 1
WLED / 1 / 1
WLPP / 1 / 1
WQ00 / 1 / 3 / 4
Band 6 / 2 / 2 / 4
Band 7 / 1 / 1 / 2
Band 8a / 5 / 8 / 13
Band 8b / 7 / 7 / 14
Band 8c / 2 / 8 / 10
Sen. Mgr Total / 19 / 31 / 50
G0D / WQ00 / 1 / 1
Band 8a / 5 / 5
Band 8b / 1 / 1
Band 8c / 1 / 1
G0D Total / 7 / 1 / 8
Manager / ELAA / 1 / 1
WLPP / 1 / 1
Band 5 / 1 / 2 / 3
Band 6 / 9 / 9 / 18
Band 7 / 8 / 27 / 35
Band 8a / 4 / 4 / 8
Manager Total / 22 / 44 / 66
G1D / Band 6 / 1 / 1
Band 7 / 1 / 1
G1D Total / 1 / 1 / 2
Admin & Clerical / CLPP / 3 / 3
DQ00 / 2 / 2
EQ00 / 1 / 3 / 4
Band 2 / 24 / 4 / 28
Band 3 / 56 / 7 / 63
Band 4 / 49 / 15 / 64
Band 5 / 17 / 13 / 30
Band 6 / 14 / 12 / 26
Band 7 / 2 / 2
Admin & Clerical Total / 166 / 56 / 222
Admin & Clerical (Clinical) / Band 2 / 1 / 1
Band 3 / 34 / 4 / 38
Band 4 / 1 / 1
Band 5 / 8 / 5 / 13
Band 6 / 3 / 3
Admin & Clerical (Clinical) Total / 47 / 9 / 56
Control / ELAA / 1 / 1
WLAC / 1 / 1
Band 2 / 27 / 10 / 37
Band 3 / 152 / 70 / 222
Band 5 / 49 / 19 / 68
Band 6 / 1 / 1
Control Total / 231 / 99 / 330
Fleet / Workshop / Band 4 / 14 / 14
Band 5 / 4 / 4
Fleet / Workshop Total / 18 / 18
PCS / Band 2 / 1 / 6 / 7
Band 3 / 110 / 349 / 459
Band 4 / 1 / 1
PCS Total / 112 / 355 / 467
HCS / NAT / Domestic / DLAB / 1 / 1
DPPH / 1 / 1
Band 1 / 7 / 7
Band 2 / 7 / 98 / 105
Band 3 / 1 / 1
HCS / NAT / Domestic Total / 14 / 101 / 115
Nurse Mgr / Band 7 / 5 / 2 / 7
Nurse Mgr Total / 5 / 2 / 7
Qualified Nurse / Band 6 / 89 / 15 / 104
Band 7 / 9 / 3 / 12
Band 8a / 1 / 1
Qualified Nurse Total / 99 / 18 / 117
Dental / Band 4 / 11 / 11
Band 6 / 1 / 1
Dental Total / 12 / 12
Chairperson / N.E.D / WHAA / 1 / 1
WHAB / 1 / 7 / 8
Chairperson / N.E.D Total / 1 / 8 / 9
Grand Total / 1068 / 1969 / 3037
Contract Status by Assignment Category and Gender
Count of Gender / Gender
Employee Category / Assignment Category / Female / Male / Grand Total
Full Time / Fixed Term Temp / 15 / 25 / 40
Non-Exec Director/Chair / 4 / 4
Permanent / 744 / 1721 / 2465
Full Time Total / 759 / 1750 / 2509
Part Time / Bank / 7 / 53 / 60
Fixed Term Temp / 8 / 1 / 9
Permanent / 294 / 165 / 459
Part Time Total / 309 / 219 / 528
Grand Total / 1068 / 1969 / 3037

Maternity/ pregnancy by role

Occupation Code / Total
HDS / 1
Para. Practitioner / 1
Paramedic / 13
Technician / 4
Manager / 2
Admin & Clerical / 15
Control / 13
PCS / 1
Qualified Nurse / 2
Dental / 1
Grand Total / 53

Applicants by protected characteristic (December 2011-March 2012)