The Inclusion Council was set up by Combined Healthcare in September 2018. The Council is one of the important initiatives we have established to ramp up our activities and determination to make Combined truly inclusive and equal in the way we treat and support our staff and service users.
The Inclusion Council operates as a Steering Group to progress the Trust’s 5 BAME Inclusion workstreams, specifically:-
- Developing our HR Processes for inclusion – including recruitment and selection; disciplinary and grievance; workforce equality info processes; bank and agency staff (building in inclusion from start to finish of the process)
- Supporting the development of our BAME staff – developing equal and inclusive access to career, leadership and education development opportunities
- Reporting, learning and improving following incidents and incidences of racist abuse and aggression (both preventing incidents as far as possible and responding better, and supporting people better when incidents do happen)
- Culture of Inclusion – developing clear standards of expected and unacceptable behaviour (policies, training, leadership styles, service user involvement). Addressing how we treat each other day-to-day; inclusive treatment of colleagues; addressing micro-assaults and inequalities). Also considering religion and culture, food, etc.
- Communication for inclusion – delivering clear communication, including: feedback from staff (including trainees); BAME network; engaging with our agency staff; events; posters; BAME champions; app to gather staff experiences on exit – and starting with #WearRedDay #19Oct #ShowRacismTheRedCard
The Inclusion Council progresses, monitors, constructively challenges, supports and ‘unblocks’ obstacles in the wider organisation.
It reports into the People and Cultural Development (PCD) Committee. A brief is provided to the Senior Leadership Meeting after each meeting.
Its first phase will continue for 6 months after creation of the Council.
Beyond this initial phase, the purpose of the Inclusion Council will be reviewed with a view to becoming the strategic forum for Diversity and Inclusion across all equality groups.
You can watch a video introduction to the work of the Inclusion Council below:
Staff Nurse Story
Video updates from Council Meetings
