Equity and diversity
ELFT has shifted from previously using the term “Equality” to now prioritising “Equity”. While equality focuses on treating everyone the same, equity in healthcare recognises and responds to the diverse needs and circumstances of individuals and communities, ultimately leading to fairer and more inclusive healthcare systems.
Ensuring equity and valuing diversity are core values of our Trust. This means offering the right services regardless of age, disability, gender, racial origin, religion, belief, sexual orientation, commitments outside of work, part-time or shift work, language, union activity, HIV status, perspectives, opinions and values.
Our Council of Governors is clear about the importance of having a diverse Board as the direction and culture comes from the top – recruiting a diverse group of NEDs who in turn recruit a diverse group of Executives.
The Trust is committed to challenging prejudice and discrimination wherever this affects service users and staff and putting equality and diversity at the heart of our organisational culture.
We are committed to demonstrating our ‘due regard’ to the Public Sector Equality Duty to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different groups. Listed below are the various ways we meet our statutory, NHS and organisational obligations working with our staff, service users and carers, partners and our local communities. Our Annual Reports provide a summary and more detail is captured in each of the following sections.
Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
ELFT is committed to being a diverse organisation and our workforce is reflective of the communities we serve. We believe that having colleagues with a range of abilities and backgrounds enriches and adds value to the outcomes we have set out to achieve. Partnering with organisations who are representative of various strands of EDI and experts in their field, we can ensure we are meeting the pre-set standards all the way from recruitment stage throughout the career journey of our employees by having fair practices and a host of staff networks to support, nurture and celebrate our valued staff in the workplace.
ELFT Staff Networks
Staff networks offer a place for staff to come together, share experiences and facilitate learning and development. Networks assist in the shaping and delivery of Trust strategy and policy, working to improve staff experience on specific issues relating to each network.
The ELFT Ability Network
We are a network of staff working together to take the ‘dis’ out of disability at work.
By bringing disabled staff and those with long term health conditions together, we can offer mutual support and ensure the Trust has a positive and fair approach to disability in the workplace.
All Network members, disabled staff, and our allies are automatically added to our email distribution list.
The Race and Culture Equity (RaCE) staff network
The Race and Culture Equity (RaCE) staff network is an important forum that provides support to staff and advises the Trust on the development of services and policies in order to address inequalities and advance race equality.
Lorraine Sunduza is the Trust’s RaCE Executive Sponsor and is passionate about this agenda. Staff are encouraged to get involved in the RaCE network to help improve staff experience at work and to help the Trust to understand the diversity of its staff and how we can ensure that everyone is treated fairly.
The LGBTQIA+ Staff Network
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) Staff Network provides support to staff, organises events and advises the Trust on the development of services and policies in order to address inequalities that affect the LGBTQIA+ community.
The staff network sponsors are Dr David Bridle, Interim Chief Medical Officer, and Steve Gladwin, Director of Communications.
The network co-leads are Richard Harwin, Tiffer Hutchings and Naomi Rule.
The network also provides an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ colleagues to support each other, express concerns they may have, and spend time around people who understand their experiences.
The network promotes a better understanding of LGBTQIA+ inclusion and making LGBTQIA+ experiences more visible in the wider Trust.
We also want to empower all employees to step up as LGBTQIA+ allies and improve the workplace culture for everyone within the Trust.
ELFT Women's Network
The ELFT Women’s network is a forum for our female workforce to come together for network meetings, events and support. Women’s Network Bulletin and Intranet page
It’s an open and honest environment where we encourage women to talk about the things that affect them in and out of work. Through this network, we aim to discuss the barriers that women face, the reasons why and what we can do to support all women to break through them. Information related to events will be posted here and via the Trust’s internal communications.
Contact elft.womensnetwork@nhs.net or elft.communications@nhs.net for more information about any of the ELFT staff networks or follow us on Twitter. Please join/rejoin by emailing us to receive communications.
Our Network Leads are:
Olajumoke Adeoye
Chloe Randall
Rebecca Stanley
Doris Mc Meel
Our Sponsor is :
Philippa Graves, Chief Digital Officer
Men's Network
The Men’s Network platform is a safe and inclusive environment for all men to come together and share their common interests, skills and connections.
Men represent around 25% of the ELFT workforce. The Men’s Network is a crucial initiative set to celebrate men’s positive contribution to the Trust. The network looks to address the pressing health issues that affect men in general. It aims to focus on highlighting men’s health and well-being by supporting men to be involved with their health, through a fun, interactive and informative way.
The ELFT Climate Network
The climate network is a group of ELFT staff and service users with an interest in environmental sustainability and climate action. Whether you are an experienced carbon footprinter or have only just heard about this issue then the Climate Network is for you. We aim to bring people together to hear about opportunities, link up on projects, share ideas and hear about exciting developments within ELFT and the wider NHS.
