Equality and diversity policy

Rationale

The Hope Service is an integrated service which combines both Surrey County Council and Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Policies and Procedures. As issues arise the response process to be followed will be that of the most appropriate organisation. The Manager for Hope is to be contacted in the first instance and will direct the query to ensure the appropriate application of Policies and Procedures of each organisation.

Purpose of the policy

The Equality Act 2010 was introduced to ensure protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of specific characteristics (referred to as protected characteristics). This means that schools cannot discriminate against young people or treat them less favourably because of their sex (gender), race, disability, religion or belief, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity.

Age, marriage and civil partnership are also "protected characteristics" but are not part of the school provisions related to young people.

The Act requires all public organisations, including schools to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty. The Public Sector Equality Duty or "general duty" requires all public organisations, including schools to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
• Advance equality of opportunity between different groups
• Foster good relations between different groups

What is equality and diversity?

Equality refers to providing equal opportunities to everyone and protecting people from being discriminated against. Diversity refers to recognising and respecting and valuing differences in people.

What is discrimination?

It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of age, gender reassignment, being married or in a civil partnership, being pregnant or on maternity leave, disability race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation. These are 'protected characteristics'.

Discrimination can come in the following forms:

• direct discrimination - treating someone with a protected characteristic less favourably than others
• indirect discrimination - putting rules or arrangements in place that apply to everyone, but that put someone with a protected characteristic at an unfair disadvantage
• harassment - unwanted behaviour linked to a protected characteristic that violates someone's dignity or creates an offensive environment for them
• victimisation - treating someone unfairly because they've complained about discrimination or harassment

Race equality

We do not tolerate any forms of racism or racist behaviour. Should a racist incident occur, we will act immediately to prevent any repetition of the incident and endeavour to educate perpetrators to prevent any re-occurrence. We will record and monitor all incidents of racism in order to plan necessary interventions and educational opportunities.

Should anyone in The Hope Service be a victim of racism, we will do all we can to support that person in overcoming any difficulties they may have.

Every young person, regardless of race, is expected, and encouraged, to reach their potential by all staff.

Gender equality

We are committed to ensuring equal treatment of all our staff, young people and visitors, regardless of gender.

The Hope Service will not tolerate harassment of people based on their gender or transgender status. We will endeavour to use and display images which show positive images relating to gender.

Staff will challenge gender stereotyping and promote positive role models. Social relationships between boys and girls will be developed and encouraged so that there is a mutual respect and understanding between both genders.

The dignity and privacy of transgender people will be protected by our procedures and practices.

Disability equality

We are committed to ensuring equal treatment of all staff, young people and visitors, with any form of disability and will ensure that disabled people are not treated less favourably in any procedures, practices and aspects of the day programme

The Disability Equality in Education (DEE) recommends that all pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and those with long term medical needs be treated as disabled for the purposes of the Act and for equality. This is in addition to all young people with long term impairments, which have a significant impact on their day-to-day activities.

We recognise that disability is not caused by the individual(s), but by the physical, environmental and attitudinal barriers which exist in the education system and in society as a whole.

The Hope Service will actively seek to:

• promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and other persons
• eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the Act
• eliminate harassment of disabled persons that is related to their disabilities
• promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons
• encourage participation by disabled persons in the day programme
• take steps to take account of disabled persons' disabilities

Social relationships between able and disabled young people will be developed and encouraged so that there is a mutual respect and understanding between both groups.

Every young person, regardless of ability or disability, is expected and encouraged to reach their potential by staff.

The Hope Service will not tolerate harassment of disabled people.

The promotion of equality and diversity in the Hope Service

The Hope Service is an inclusive service where we focus on the well-being and progress of every member of our community and where all members are equal.

We believe that the Equality Act 2010 provides a framework to support our commitment to valuing diversity, tackling discrimination, promoting equality and fostering good relationships between people.

Our approach to equality and diversity is based on the following key principles:

• All members of our community are of equal value whether or not they are disabled, whatever their ethnicity, culture, national origin or national status, whatever their gender and gender identity, whatever their religious or non-religious affiliation or faith background and whatever their sexual orientation.
• We recognise, respect and value difference. We take account of this and strive to remove barriers and disadvantages which people may face, in relation to disability, ethnicity, gender, religion, belief or faith and sexual orientation.
• We believe that diversity is a strength, which should be respected, embraced and celebrated by all those who learn, teach and visit here
• We provide opportunities to celebrate the diversity of different cultures
• We provide opportunities for all young people to listen to a range of opinions and empathise with different experiences
• We actively promote positive attitudes, mutual respect and relationship building between groups and communities different from each other.
• We promote an ethos that challenges prejudice based discriminatory language, attitudes and behaviour
• We foster a shared sense of cohesion and belonging. We want all young people, staff and parents and carers in our day programme to feel a sense of belonging and to feel that they are respected and able to participate fully
• We observe good equalities practice for our staff. We ensure that policies and procedures benefit all employees and potential employees in all aspects of their work, including in recruitment and promotion, and in continuing professional development
• We have the highest expectations of all our young people. We expect that they can make good progress and achieve to their highest potential
• The Hope service works to provide a framework to pursue its equality duties to challenge and eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment, promote equality of opportunity, and promote good relations and positive attitudes between people of diverse backgrounds in all its activities.
• We promote respect of all regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability and special needs. Any discrimination will be challenged and, where appropriate, reported.

Responsibilities

We expect all staff members, young people, parents and careers and visitors to support our commitment to promoting equalities and meeting the requirements of the Equality Act.

The Hope Management Committee (HMC)

The HMC is responsible for ensuring that the service complies with legislation, and that this policy is implemented.

The Management Team

The Service Manager, Team Managers and Teacher in Charge are responsible for ensuring this policy is implemented and for ensuring that all staff that all staff are aware of their responsibilities and receive appropriate training and support.

Staff members

All staff members will:

• promote an inclusive and collaborative ethos in their sessions
• challenge prejudice and discrimination
• deal fairly and professionally with any prejudice related incidents that may occur
• plan and deliver sessions that reflect the service's principles, for example, in providing materials that give positive images in terms of race, gender and disability
• maintain the highest expectations of success for all young people
• support young people in their sessions through differentiated planning and teaching
• keep up-to-date with equalities legislation relevant to their work

Visitors

All visitors to the day programme, including parents and carers are expected to support our commitment to equalities and diversity and comply with duties set out in this policy.

Monitoring

The information in this policy will be reviewed every three years and adjustments will be made as appropriate.

Access to this policy

All staff, parents, carers and young people will be made aware of the policy on entry to The Hope Service. Staff are made aware through their induction, and parents and carers through an introductory welcome pack and discussion, or alternative methods, if appropriate.

The Hope Service Equality Objectives Action Plan

Under specific duties, governing bodies, local authorities and proprietors are required to draw up and publish equality objectives every 4 years and annually publish information. They need to demonstrate how they are meeting the aims of the general public sector equality duty. (Department for Education Statutory policies for schools and academy trusts, August 2021).

Policy reviewed: July 2024

Next review date: July 2025

Key person: J Roberts.