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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (Scotland) Policy

Introduction

The purpose of a policy on equality, diversity and inclusion is to make sure that the service is fully committed to these principles and values, and to communicate this commitment to all stakeholders. The policy should always be referred to wherever differences of view based on lack of understanding or prejudice about diversity, equality and inclusion are evident. The commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion should be included in the service’s statement of purpose and information produced for the people who use the service. These documents show how the service is responsive to their diverse needs, including those with disabilities and protected characteristics set out in equality legislation, and how it applies equality principles when recruiting and selecting staff.

Aims

• To ensure that no person applying for a service will be refused on discriminatory grounds, eg because of their ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion and other relevant protective characteristics as described by the Equality Act 2010 and human rights laws when they meet all other admission criteria.
• To ensure that inferior or substandard services are not provided because of a person’s ethnicity, sexual orientation or any grounds on which discrimination can occur.
• To act appropriately if anyone receiving our services experiences offensive or abusive treatment directed against their ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, whether gay lesbian, bisexual, trans or preferred gender.
• To work out with each person what they want and need and how they will be provided with the required service. This will be influenced by the individual’s gender, sexual orientation, culture, personal choices and other characteristics and it should not be assumed everyone wants the same thing.
• To ensure people who use services and staff to relate to one another on the basis of equality and respect for individual differences and chosen lifestyle, including anyone who defines themselves in terms of the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
• To develop an attitude of self-awareness among the staff and people who use the services to ensure any form of discriminatory behaviour, such as offensive or abusive language directed against a person’s ethnicity, gender, sexuality or religion does not occur and to communicate that it is unacceptable in whatever form it might take and from whichever person.
• To ensure that people who use the services and staff are continuously aware of the procedures for dealing with complaints and allegations of discriminatory or oppressive language or behaviour, and which could also involve the service’s safeguarding policies.
• To ensure that all complaints, allegations and incidents of abuse that breach this equality, diversity and inclusion policy are addressed properly and in non-discriminatory ways.

Legal Compliance

The service understands that providers must fully comply with all anti-discriminatory laws, including the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, the current Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations, and Scottish Government guidance issued under the Fairer Scotland strategy.

The service recognises that it must achieve the national health and care standards My Support, My Life, which are based on the principles of:

Dignity and Respect: “My human rights are respected and promoted”, and “I am treated fairly and do not experience discrimination”, eg:

• 1.1 I am accepted and valued whatever my needs, ability, gender, age, faith, mental health status, race, background or sexual orientation.
• 1.2 My human rights are protected and promoted and I experience no discrimination.
• 4.1 My human rights are central to the organisations that support and care for me.
• 4.2 The organisations that support and care for me help tackle health and social inequalities.

This service understands that inspectors might also ask how people are protected from bullying, harassment, avoidable harm and abuse that may breach their human rights, including that which is associated with a person’s sexual orientation and preferred gender.

The service understands that it must fully comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

Policy Statement

This policy applies to anyone receiving a service from {{org_field_name}}, including people using services who are children and their families.

Equality, diversity and inclusion means that every person — adult or child — has their individual needs comprehensively addressed. They will be treated equally and without discrimination. This is regardless of the individual’s ethnic background, language, culture, faith, gender, age, sexual orientation or any other aspect that could result in their being socially stigmatised and discriminated against purely because they have such characteristics, or subject to hate crime.

In implementing its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy, the service does not accept that there can be any hierarchy of protected characteristics, but aims to celebrate all individual differences, regardless of being caused by ethnic backgrounds religion, sexual or gender diversity.

The service will treat everyone equally and with respect. It recognises that treating people unequally can result in their losing their dignity, respect, self-esteem and self-worth and ability to make choices and is in breach of their human rights.

The service does not assume that equality, diversity and inclusion principles and policies apply only to the service’s staff. People using services must also respect the ethnicity, culture, religion, gender and any disabilities of staff and not discriminate against them on any of these grounds when expressing their views and preferences.

The service makes clear that it finds unacceptable any form of racist and similar discriminatory behaviour from any source.

The service also builds these policies into its external contractual relationships.

Procedures to Ensure Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

{{org_field_name}} expresses its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion by:

• respecting people’s ethnic, cultural, religious practices and individual sexual identities
• reassuring the people using it’s services that their diverse backgrounds and individual preferences enhance the quality of experience of the service
• accepting people as individuals, not as cases or stereotypes
• involving people using the services to express their individuality and to follow their preferred lifestyle irrespective of any LGBTQ+ status, also helping them to celebrate events, anniversaries or festivals which are important to them as individuals and in relation to their sexual orientation or gender identity
• showing positive leadership and having management and human resources practices that actively demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and social inclusion principles
• developing an ethos throughout {{org_field_name}} that reflects these values and principles
• expecting all staff to work to equality, diversity and social inclusion principles and policies and to behave at all times in non-discriminatory ways
• providing training, supervision and support to enable staff to do this
• having a code of conduct that makes any form of discriminatory behaviour unacceptable; this is applicable to both staff and people who use services and is rigorously observed and monitored accordingly
• addressing rigorously and fully in line with the service’s complaints procedure, any complaint which a person using the service or someone acting on their behalf might make about the behaviour of another or others that is causing them offence because it potentially breaches the service’s policy on equality, diversity and social inclusion
• addressing any acts of abuse or hate crime towards a person because of their ethnicity, religion, or LGBTQ+ spectrum characteristics through the service’s safeguarding policy and procedures, involving and cooperating with the local safeguarding authority as required
• encouraging people who are vulnerable or at risk from experiencing abuse because of their ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and LGBTQ+ spectrum identities to obtain support through local or national support groups and organisations and advocacy schemes
• carrying out regular assessments of the impact of our approach to equality, diversity and social inclusion on policies, people who use services and service provision generally.

Training

All staff are trained to follow the policies on equality, diversity and inclusion. The training is regularly refreshed and updated.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}

Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}

Next review date: this policy is reviewed annually (every 12 months). When needed, this policy is also updated in response to changes in legislation, regulation, best practices, or organisational changes.

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