Equality and Diversity

This chapter was added in January 2023.

1. Equality and Diversity for Children and Young People

This procedure summarises the Home’s commitment to provide inclusive and equal services to a diverse range of children and young people, and to promote equality and diversity as part of recruitment and employment practices. The Home will not discriminate (directly or indirectly) against any persons (including staff, potential staff or children) on the basis of a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010:

  • Age;
  • Disability;
  • Gender reassignment;
  • Marriage and civil partnership;
  • Pregnancy and maternity;
  • Race;
  • Religion or belief;
  • Sex;
  • Sexual orientation.

Crimes committed against someone because of their disability, transgender-identity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation are hate crimes and should be reported to the police.

Hate crimes can include:

  • Threatening behaviour;
  • Assault;
  • Robbery;
  • Damage to property;
  • Inciting others to commit hate crimes;
  • Harassment;
  • Online abuse.

You can report hate crime online.

In addition:

  1. The Home encourages children to develop respect for themselves and for others;
  2. The Home delivers services that recognise and build on the strengths of children and young people from all cultures, religions, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability and backgrounds; in ways that meet their needs and help them to achieve their full potential;
  3. Every effort is made to ensure that the Home is welcoming to all children and young people and others significant in their care and wellbeing; this effort is reflected in the communication around the Home, including: posters, information boards, displays and leaflets. In addition to this, resources used to develop work with children and young people are chosen for their suitability and anti-oppressive nature;
  4. Children are offered opportunities to try out new experiences, which are not restricted by traditional gender options;
  5. Staff are expected to challenge attitudes, behaviour and language that are non-inclusive and discriminatory, in a positive way;
  6. Managers are expected to monitor the range of children and young people placed within the Home in terms of ethnicity, gender and disability. This is to ensure the service provision is reaching all and not creating barriers to certain groups.

Children are protected, and helped to keep themselves safe, from bullying, homophobic behaviour, racism, sexism, radicalisation and other forms of discrimination. Any discriminatory behaviours (direct or indirect) are challenged and help and support are given to children about how to treat others with respect.

See also Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement for Staffordshire Council.

2. Inclusion for Children and Young People

  1. All children are given the opportunity to be cared for and educated. Where possible this is alongside their peers in order to develop their full potential;
  2. Children are encouraged and supported to understand their rights and be well-informed about ways of challenging discrimination;
  3. The Home's managers are expected to identify local community resources that contribute to meeting the needs of individuals - these are highlighted and promoted and where they do not meet required needs alternatives are sought and suitably identified regardless of geographical location, for example hairdressers who specialise in braiding or cutting African Caribbean hair;
  4. Children are cared for by staff who have been suitably trained in all aspects of equality and diversity including legislation and their responsibilities;
  5. The Home's managers ensure that assessments of the child and the families specific needs is carried out with an aim to support and develop their full potential;
  6. The Home's managers are expected to examine ways in which diversity can be valued and activities adapted to meet the individual child's needs including food preparation and menu choices;
  7. Staff are expected to acknowledge the importance of maintaining a link between the child's home and the Children's Home in meeting the individual's need;
  8. Staff are expected to offer appropriate support to aid inclusion and ensure that the children and young people can fully participate in the Home's activities. If necessary seek additional support in order to do this;
  9. Additional support is offered to staff and/or children who are finding difficulty in understanding diverse or complex situations.

3. Equality in Employment

  • The Home will ensure that no job applicant or employee is discriminated against either directly or indirectly on the grounds of race, colour, creed, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, political opinion or affiliation, sex, marital status, sexual orientation or disability;
  • This will be communicated to all private contractors reminding them of their responsibilities towards equality of opportunity;
  • The Home will maintain a neutral working environment in which no worker feels under threat or intimidated.

3.1 Recruitment and Selection

  • The recruitment and selection process is crucially important to equal opportunities. The Home will endeavour through appropriate training to ensure that employees making selection and recruitment decisions will not discriminate, whether consciously or subconsciously, in making these decisions;
  • Promotion and advancement will be made on merit and all decisions relating to this will be made within the overall framework and principles of this procedure;
  • Job descriptions, where used, will be revised to ensure that they are in line with these  equal opportunities objectives. Job requirements will be reflected accurately in any person specifications;
  • The Home will adopt a consistent, non-discriminatory approach to the advertising of the vacancies;
  • The Home will not confine recruitment to areas or media sources, which provide only, or mainly, applicants of a particular group;
  • All applicants who apply for jobs will receive fair treatment and will be considered solely on their ability to do the job;
  • All employees involved in the recruitment process will periodically review their selection criteria to ensure that they are related to the job requirements and do not unlawfully discriminate;
  • More than one person will carry out short listing and interviewing where possible;
  • Interview questions will be related to the requirements of the job and will not be of any discriminatory nature;
  • The Home will not disqualify any applicant because they are unable to complete an application unassisted unless personal completion of the form is a valid test of the standard of English required for the safe and effective performance of the job;
  • Selection decisions will not be influenced by any perceived prejudices of other staff.

3.2 Disability Discrimination

The Home believe in providing a welcoming, comfortable and accessible environment that is safe and easy to use for children, parents, relatives, staff, visitors and other users of the premises. The Home will endeavour to achieve equality of opportunity for all to ensure equal access to its facilities. Where possible, the Home will avoid physical features that make it difficult for people with a disability and make reasonable adjustments to improve the environment.