Commitment to Valuing Equality and Diversity
Bedfordshire Probation Trust ( BPT) is committed to valuing and promoting diversity in all areas of employment and service delivery. BPT will work toward an environment which is based on inclusiveness. All employees will be encouraged to develop their full potential, irrespective of their race, gender, marital status, disability, religious belief, political opinion, transgender status, sexual orientation or age.
BPT aspires to be an inclusive service, an orgainsation that harnesses the strengths of people from a wide range of backgrounds, and a service that all parts of the community can identify with, believe in and therefore support.
This policy applies to all BPT's Board members, employees and workers and commitment to it is required of all.
Employer's responsibilities:
- Comply with the letter and spirit of this policy to promote equality and diversity
- Promote and maintain an atmosphere in which people of all backgrounds feel welcome, valued and respected
- Create a culture where equality and diversity is at the heart of all activities
- Value diversity in society and in our workforce as a means of broadening BPT's talent base, achieving the highest levels of performance, and enabling all employees to reach their full potential
- Identify the various behaviours and barriers that can form discrimination, understand the negative effects these can have on BPT, its employees and service users, and work to eliminate these
- Monitor the application of the Diversity Policy through the relevant equality schemes and surveys
- Work towards eliminating any discriminatory practices thereby achieving and maintaining a reputation for being a fair and reasonable organisation in the eyes of the employees, workers, stakeholders, service users and public.
Employee responsibilities:
- Comply with the letter and spirit of this policy to promote equality and diversity
- Promote and maintain an atmosphere in which people of all backgrounds feel welcome, valued and respected
- Create a culture where equality and diversity is at the heart of all activities
- Be aware of the various behaviours and barriers that can form discrimination and understand the negative impact these can have on BPA, service users and colleagues
- Co-operate in the elimination of any discriminatory practices which may be identified
What is meant by valuing diversity?
Valuing diversity is about accepting and embracing people's different social identities and creating an environment in which everyone has the opportunity to develop to their full potential. Harnessing differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, where talents are fully utilized and organizational goals are met. It incorporates equality which is about treating people fairly and with respect. Diversity includes age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities/qualities/disabilities, race and sexual orientation and factors that may change throughout life e.g. educational background, location, income, marital status, parental status, religious belief, health.
Leadership on diversity can be demonstrated by any individual in the organization by their personal actions.
It embraces the human rights agenda, treating all people fairly, with dignity and respect.
Why is it important?
BPT is committed to providing service excellence and believes that this can be best achieved by a workforce that values and reflects the diverse population of Bedfordshire
It is essential if we are to attract and retain the most talented people, whatever their background to deliver excellence
To increase motivation and commitment through people feeling valued and perceiving that they are being treated fairly
Finally, but not least, to meet our legal obligations
What are BPT's specific commitments?
- Become an organization which is inclusive and values difference by seeking to ensure that its services and policies are relevant and accessible to all
- Meet its obligations under diversity and equality legislation, including it's equality schemes
- Attract, recruit, retain and develop the very best talented people from all sections of the community to contribute at every level
- Recognise that people from different backgrounds, cultures, skills and experiences can bring new ideas and perceptions that will help increase organizational efficiency and improve services
- Create an environment that upholds the right of everyone to be treated fairly and with respect and dignity, allowing everyone to work in an environment for growth and personal development
- Develop a wide ranging plan of action to tackle discrimination and to celebrate diversity by working hard to secure a truly inclusive environment, creating better working relationships in an atmosphere of inclusion by all, for all
- Ensure that no-one involved with BPA will receive less favourable treatment because of their age, gender, ethnic origin, race, nationality, faith, family circumstance, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, HIV status, political belief, social background or for any other reason
- Listening to the changing needs of its service users, staff, workers, partners and stakeholders
- Ensuring equality and diversity are integrated into all policies and practices, training and service delivery
- Work in collaboration with partners in the criminal justice system and consultation with the various communities to achieve our diversity responsibilities
- Regularly measure progress
- Take any complaint seriously and deal with in a timely and sensitive manner, in accordance with the appropriate grievance, harassment, disciplinary or complaints procedure.
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