Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Week 2022 (9-13 May): Now in its 10th year, this is an opportunity for health and care organisations to highlight the work they have undertaken or are doing to create a fairer and more inclusive NHS for patients and colleagues. Here are some of the highlights of the work being undertaken to advance equality, diversity and inclusion in DCHS.
Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Mental Health at Work (for employees): This workshop is designed for individuals who want an introduction to mental health and to increase their awareness regarding how important and commonplace it is in the workplace. Participants will explore the different types of mental health problems that they may experience themselves or in others. 6 September 2022 09:30-12:30; 20 September 2022 09:30-12:30
Mental Health at Work (for leaders): Leaders will explore the different triggers / situations that may create higher than normal levels of anxiety and learn how to spot those symptoms in others. We will develop the leader's ability to have a compassionate conversation with members of their team regarding mental health challenges and offering appropriate support. 23 June 2022 13:30-16:30; 13 September 2022 13:30-16:30
Exercise for Positive Mental Health: We know how important exercise is, but how does it link with a positive mindset? This session focuses on different types of exercise and provides information on the importance of sticking to a plan that works for you. 29 June 15:00-16:30; 7 September 2022 15:00-16:30
Sleep and Stress: We know how detrimental stress can be, but the importance of sleep is often overlooked. This session will address both and how they are key to wellbeing and mindfulness. 11 May 13:30-15:00; 6 July 2022 13:30-15:00; 14 September 2022 13:30-15:00
Thoughts and Feelings: In this session we explore the importance of open thinking and how to challenge negative stereotypes. The session also focuses on how to understand your personal state and tweak your behaviour to reshape your thought processes. 11 May 15:00-16:30; 6 July 2022 15:00-16:30; 14 September 2022 15:00-16:30.
To book, please email dchst.yourwellbeingteam@nhs.net
Disability in the Workplace
Reasonable Adjustment Passport
DCHS offers a Reasonable Adjustment Passport (RAP) to staff to support at work due to a health condition, impairment or disability. RAP is a ‘live’ record of agreed adjustments between employees and their managers. You may require additional support in terms of reasonable adjustments where a health condition, impairment or disability is impacting your attendance to enable you to be at work.
It is for you to keep and pass on to anyone you think needs to know about any impact or issue that can arise due to the interaction between your condition or impairment and barriers within or outside the workplace that can affect you at work.
The purpose of the passport is to make sure that everyone is clear and has a record of what adjustments have been agreed and reduce the need to reassess adjustments every time you change jobs within the Trust, are relocated or assigned a new manager, as it provides you and your manager with the basis for future conversations about your adjustments.
NHS Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES)
All NHS organisations, including DCHS, are mandated to annually implement the WDES, which comprises 10 metrics that compares the working and career experiences of disabled and non-disabled staff in the NHS. It is intended to be used to develop a local improvement action plan, and enable organisations to demonstrate progress against the indicators of disability equality and inclusion.
Staff Networks
DCHS has four networks aimed at fostering positive relations and advancing equality of opportunity between people who share the same protected characteristics and those who do not.
1. Armed Forces and Veterans Network To join or find out more about the network, email dchst.armedforces@nhs.net.
2. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Staff Network. To join or find out more about the network, email dchst.bame@nhs.net.
3. Disability and Long-Term Conditions Staff Network. To join or find out more about the network, email dchst.dltc@nhs.net.
4. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans+ (LGBT+) Staff Network. To join or find out more about the network, email dchst.lgbt@nhs.net.
All our staff networks are financially supported and have executive sponsorship and also open to colleagues who want to be allies. In addition to the networks, we also support informal staff groups such as the Neurodiversity Working Group and Christian Network. The Trust offers colleagues protected time to attend network meetings.
Inclusive Recruitment
There are a number of initiatives under consideration to achieve inclusive recruitment and diverse workforce in the Trust.
Intersectionality
Intersectionality refers to the reality that we all have multiple identities that intersect to make us who we are. Dating back to the 1980s, this term was coined by American legal scholar, Kimberle Grinshaw, and over the last 30 years, scholars, educators and activists have expanded the use of the term to talk about identities, including protected characteristics such as disability, ethnicity, sex and sexual orientation. There are lots of online resources (i) What is intersectionality? - YouTube, (ii) What is intersectionality? - YouTube (iii) What is intersectionality? - YouTube