Equality & Diversity

Dorset HealthCare is committed to promoting the health and wellbeing of all those who use our healthcare services, as well as their carers and families.

We recognise our responsibility to achieve the highest standards in equality and inclusion, and to be a proactive agent for change. We are fully committed to providing high quality services to everyone, irrespective of whether those individuals are men or women or from different races, cultures and religions, with or without disabilities, of varying ages, of different sexual orientation, with or without caring responsibilities.

The Trust is also committed to equality and diversity in employment, with fair access and fair outcomes for all. We aim to create an environment in which every individual feels valued, and in which differences are recognised and fully utilised in delivering excellent services.

Dorset HealthCare COVID-19 Equality Impact Analysis (EqIA)

COVID-19 has affected everyone across Dorset, particularly people with protected characteristics. There is new evidence every day about the extent of this impact. We are using this equality impact analysis to understand the possible impact of our decisions on people with protected characteristics and the wider community. We are updating the analysis continually to reflect emerging issues and developments.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; National Data Collections 2020

COVID-19 has highlighted the critical importance of workforce equality, and NHS England have therefore decided that Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES) and Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) implementation, including data collections, will continue as usual this year. The data collection period for the WRES and the WDES will be from 6 July to 31 August 2020. There is still no news about the Gender Pay Gap (GPG) reporting.

Dorset HealthCare was 1 of 14 NHS Trusts across the country specifically considered to be of good for its practices and the quality of its WDES action plan in the NHS England WDES Annual Report 2019.

This is an extremely challenging time for everyone, especially our staff working on the frontline; it presents even more reason for us to ensure we are living the principles of EDI all that we do, and to continue to progress WRES, WDES and GPG work in DHC.

Our approach to equality and diversity

Our Equality and Inclusion Implementation Scheme sets out our approach to equality and diversity, both as an employer and as a healthcare organisation.

The scheme explains how we embed equality and diversity throughout the organisation, and how we deliver on key guidance and statutory requirements relating to equality and diversity, including the NHS Constitution, the Equality Act 2010, the Public Sector Equality Duty and the CQC Fundamental Standards.

Our Equality Delivery System is the framework we use to maintain and, where necessary, improve equality performance.

You can contact the team at dhc.edi@nhs.net

Our accreditations

To support us in achieving the highest standards in equality and inclusion across our work, we are accredited with a number of organisations and programmes that promote fair treatment for all, including:

• NHS Employers Partnership Programme
• Mindful Employer
• Disability Confident employer
• Armed Forces Covenant
• Time To Change