First Rung Ltd: Quality Procedures Manual
POLICY STATEMENT No 6
COMPREHENSIVE EQUALITY POLICY
Promoting Equality and Valuing Diversity
1. Introduction
First Rung Limited is a charity that was set up in 1983 and a company limited by guarantee, incorporated and registered at Companies House in 1987.
Since 1983 it has been responsible for work-based learning for young people. First Rung contracts with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and operates from three locations: Ponders End (EN3), Colindale (NW9) and Watford (WD 24). All centres are based in areas recognised for their urban deprivation and are serving young people who have particularly low levels of basic skills.
Learners are recruited from a geographical area that includes the London boroughs of Enfield, Barnet, Brent, Haringey, Harrow and Waltham Forest as well as the Watford area of South West Hertfordshire.
First Rung is committed to providing services that meet the needs of all sections of the communities it serves.
First Rung is committed to the idea of equal opportunities for all. Our policy is to ensure that no person involved or associated with First Rung receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of nationality, religion, reverence, racial or ethnic origin, language or culture, disability including limitations to physical access or resources, marital status, responsibility for dependants, age, gender, including pregnant women, nursing mothers, or persons on maternity or paternity leave, gender identity, sexual orientation or preference, ability in literacy or numeracy, technical knowledge or skill, behavioural or learning difficulties, lack of ability or insufficient formal qualifications, being an ex-offender, substance abuse, social isolation and homelessness, trade union membership, unemployment, contract worker, asylum-seeking status or for any other protected characteristic or identifiable discriminatory cause.
We value and celebrate the richness of cultures, backgrounds and traditions of the local community we serve.
First Rung is also committed to developing a workforce and a Board that reflects the community it serves. We seek to be an employer that values and develops the skills and abilities of people from different backgrounds. First Rung currently has a Board of nine trustees. The Chief Executive is responsible for the strategic management and direction of First Rung and has a Senior Management Group (SMG) of five members. The Company currently employs 44 staff.
This Comprehensive Equality Policy sets out First Rung’s vision and commitment to ensure equality of access to providing and improving quality services to all our learners.
We believe in human rights for all those connected with this organisation and all members of society. No action shall be taken against them by any person connected with First Rung which would devalue their contribution to society as a whole and to this organisation, or which would lead to a loss of self-respect for them or respect for them from others.
However, we also believe in order and social discipline both in society and in this organisation of work-based learning. We hold the right to request a standard of dress appropriate with the ethos of the organisation and safety at work and standards of behaviour appropriate with the needs and operations of the organisation.
The results of all initial assessments for learners and any tests for staff will always be given to them, and always in surroundings which preserve individual confidentiality and dignity.
Furthermore we confirm that we will, if unable to support learners specifically, refer them to other agencies or organisations so that a continuous pathway of help and advice is formed.
First Rung will implement this Comprehensive Equality Policy in accordance with current legislation and directives. We are committed to the fulfilment of all agreements, regulations and Acts which may have implications for our role in vocational training.
The legislation below has a particular bearing on the implementation of its responsibilities:
· Race relations (Amendment) Act 2000: Race Equality Duty; Disability Discrimination Act 2005: Disability Equality Duty;
· Equality Act 2006: Gender Equality Duty – all harmonised within the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty 2011
· Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009
· Equality Act 2010
2. Our Vision & Principles
2.1 Our Vision
First Rung’s vision is to become and remain a centre of excellence in terms of the services that we deliver. Key to achieving this is First Rung’s commitment to providing excellent training services that contribute to the wider regeneration and sustainability of the communities it serves by entering into partnerships with appropriate organisations and by training and, where possible, by employing local people.
We understand that in order to provide the commitment necessary to realise this vision we must exemplify the principles of promoting equality and valuing diversity in all our activities as a training provider and as an employer.
Our priority will be to tackle all forms of discrimination and exclusion across the six main diversity strands recognising that any one person may be disadvantaged on more than one of these grounds. These are:
· People from an ethnic minority group
· Younger and older people
· People with a disability
· Men, women or transgender people
· Gay men, lesbian women or people who are bisexual
· People with a particular religious belief
However we also recognise that there may be other groups who may be vulnerable to discrimination which we are in a position to tackle as a training provider and as an employer:
· People who are married, single, separated, divorced or widowed
· People with dependents (including carers)
· People whose health and wellbeing is poor or at risk
· People who are socially excluded
· Communities that are not cohesive or that are fragmented
2.2 Our Equality and Diversity Principles
This Comprehensive Equality Policy is guided by six principles:
1. All learners, users, service providers, employees and partners of First Rung have a responsibility to promote equalities and challenge discrimination and stereotyping.
2. All learners and users are able to participate fully in the activities of First Rung and celebrate its diversity.
3. Every learner and user has equal access to high quality services that meet their needs. We recognise that there are some people who may need support in receiving this entitlement.
4. Every learner, user and employee is entitled to a safe environment free from discrimination and harassment.
5. Every employee is entitled to training and development and fair opportunities to promotion.
6. All learners, users, employees and our partners are encouraged to make their contribution to improving our services.
3. Our Equality Statements
First Rung is aware of, and values, the different groups of learners and possible future learners that we serve, and we aim to deliver training that meets the needs of the majority of people within our communities. (As a training provider to local people we recognise our important role in helping to improve quality of life for everyone in First Rung and the need to be accountable to our learners, users and partners and to deliver training with equality and fairness.
First Rung is committed to providing training that meets the needs of the majority of sections in the community in the local area or those seeking to be within the area and to make reasonable adjustments in doing so. I’m not sure the first half of this para makes sense but I don’t know exactly what it is trying to say
We will seek to ensure that access, training, services and opportunities are equal, regardless of race, religion, culture, nationality, ethnic background, colour, physical or mental disability, mental health, gender, sexuality, age, literacy, income level and marital status.
First Rung is also committed to developing a workforce and a Board that reflect the communities it serves. We seek to be an employer that values and develops the skills and abilities of people from different backgrounds.
3.1 Race Equality Statement
As part of our commitment, we aim to:
1. Ensure that the needs of people of black and minority ethnic origin are identified and are included in the planning and delivery of training.
2. Ensure that our policies do not discriminate against people of black and minority ethnic origin either directly or indirectly.
3. Ensure that training is accessible and meet the needs of people of black and minority ethnic origin.
4. Ensure that we work with our partners to eliminate racial harassment and racially motivated crime, support victims and take action against perpetrators.
5. Ensure that people of black and minority ethnic origin are encouraged and supported to be involved in decision making processes and develop additional channels of communication and consultation where formal channels are inappropriate.
6. Ensure that information we provide is accessible to all learners of black and minority ethnic origin, in languages and/or formats that can be easily understood.
7. Promote the value of diversity amongst staff and learners, and ensure our recruitment procedures and development practices do not directly or indirectly discriminate against people of black and minority ethnic origin.
8. Provide our staff with training to enable them to meet our commitment to race equality.
3.2 Disability Equality Statement
As part of our commitment, we will aim to:
1. Ensure that the needs of disabled people are identified and are included in the planning and delivery of services.
2. Ensure that our policies do not discriminate against disabled people either directly or indirectly.
3. Ensure that training opportunities are accessible and meet the needs of disabled people.
4. Ensure that we work with our partners to eliminate harassment of disabled people, support victims and take action against perpetrators.
5. Ensure that disabled people are encouraged and supported to be involved in decision making processes and develop additional channels of communication and consultation where formal channels are inappropriate.
6. Ensure that information we provide is accessible to all disabled learners, in languages and/or formats that can be easily understood.
7. Promote the value of diversity amongst staff and learners, and ensure our recruitment procedures and development practices do not directly or indirectly discriminate against disabled people.
8. Provide our staff with training to enable them to meet our commitment to disability equality.
3.3 Gender Equality Statement
As part of our commitment, we aim to:
1. Ensure that our policies do not discriminate on gender grounds either directly or indirectly.
2. Ensure that we work with our partners to eliminate sexual harassment, support victims and take action against perpetrators.
3. Ensure that all people are encouraged and supported to be involved in decision making processes and develop additional channels of communication and consultation where formal channels are inappropriate
4. Provide our staff with training to enable them to meet our commitment to gender equality.
3.4 Further Commitments
In order to deliver the broadest commitment to equality that reflects the particular learners that First Rung works with, we will ensure that the following groups are not discriminated against in the training we provide:
· Younger and older people
· Those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or other
· People with a particular religious belief
· People who are married, single, separated, divorced or widowed
· People with dependents (including carers)
· People whose health and wellbeing is poor or at risk
· People who are socially excluded
· Communities that are not cohesive or that are fragmented.
4 Our Equality and Diversity Policy Framework
This Comprehensive Equality Policy (CEP) provides the overall policy framework for our equality and diversity work. There are a number of policies which sit below this CEP and work towards supporting it.
4.1 Single Equalities Scheme
In addition First Rung has developed a Single Equalities Scheme (SES) in order to be compliant with the Equality Act 2010 which further supports the CEP. This brings a more holistic approach to ensuring equality and diversity in our workplace which encompasses all the diversity strands and is integral to our business planning process.
It holds full support of our Senior Management Group ensuring internal buy-in and accountability.
The purpose of the SES is to identify new and improved ways of working; to ensure that the organisation is more efficient and effective in meeting the diverse needs of both its staff and customers.
The SES aims to be a living document that is outcome focused- taking First Rung beyond legal compliance- adding value to everything we do in terms of :-
· The people we employ – and hope to employ
· The people we serve – and hope to serve
· Our stakeholders and partners who assist us with both employment and service delivery issues.
SES Action plans and Equality Impact Assessment Tools are the two drivers to secure these tangible outcomes.
4.2 Equality Impact Assessments
Equalty Impact Assessments may be used as a tool for ensuring that equality and social inclusion issues can be considered when drawing up policies or proposals, which affect the delivery of services, the carrying out of First Rung’s services, and the employment practice of the company.
Equality Impact Assessments may help us to:
· Determine how First Rung’s policies and practice, or new proposals, will impact or affect different learners, especially those who experience inequality, discrimination, social exclusion or disadvantage:
· Measure whether policies or proposals will have a negative or positive effect on different learners;
· Make decisions about current and future training delivery and practice in fuller knowledge and understanding of the possible outcomes for different learners and
· Develop ways of monitoring and reviewing the effects of new and changing policies or proposals if they are introduced.
5 Leadership and Corporate Commitment
The Board and Senior Management are committed to developing and maintaining policies and working practices designed to promote equality of opportunity and to address the elimination of discrimination of any form, in particular in relation to race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief.
· First Rung will ensure that discrimination in any form is challenged and addressed in all its activities. It will through systematic reviews, ensure that its policies, procedures and practices address any potential or actual discrimination or disadvantage and regular monitoring and evaluation of their effectiveness will be undertaken.