Equalities and diversity - Policy statement
Wolverhampton City Council believes and recognises that the diversity of our population is one of our greatest strengths and assets.
As one of the largest employers and provider of a wide range of services for local people, the Council is committed to challenging inequality, discrimination and disadvantage. It is also committed to achieving the highest standard of service delivery and employment practice. Equality of opportunity for all sections of the community and workforce is an integral part of this commitment.
The Council believes no resident, service user, employee or job applicant should face unjustifiable discrimination or receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of: gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, age, the experience of being Deaf or disabled, marital status, sexual orientation (including gay men, lesbians and bi-sexual), gender re-assignment, responsibility for dependents, trade union or political activities, religion/belief, spent offences or any other reason which cannot be justified.
The Council seeks to provide a positive role model for other organisations in the community.
To achieve these aims the Council will continue to:
- Recognise the varied needs, expectations and culture of local people and reflect these differences in the range, sensitivity and relevance of its services
- Develop measures to assist people of all ages, those who are unemployed or on a low income, people with HIV and Aids and other socially excluded groups as part of its equality strategy
- Recognise and challenge institutional racism (as defined in the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report) and other forms of institutional discrimination
- Take action wherever covert and overt racism, harassment, discrimination or disadvantage is found in order to ensure equality of access to employment and services for all
- Support the development of communities and assist them in challenging discrimination, harassment and violence
- Work in partnership with community groups and other agencies to remove any barriers to fair and equal treatment, which perpetuate disadvantage
- Promote tolerance and respect between diverse groups in the community
- Acknowledge and celebrate, wherever possible, the wide variety of lifestyles and cultures in the City
- Act promptly on any complaints about our employment practices and service delivery
- Consult community groups, agencies and its workforce to ensure that service delivery, policy and practice are appropriate and effective
- Ensure positive action is taken to enable under-represented groups to achieve their potential
- Apply equal opportunities principles to work undertaken for the Council by all external contractors and other organisations in receipt of Council funding
- Ensure that all Council employees and customers are informed of the Council's Equal Opportunities policies, Equality Scheme and its equality mainstreaming programme
- Use national and European Equality legislation and Codes of Practice as a framework for action to support initiatives for all sectors of the community
- Recognise that a representative workforce provides greater sensitivity to and understanding of community needs
- Ensure that Members incorporate equal opportunities in the decisions they take.
The Council fully recognises that elements of its procedures and practices may potentially be institutionally racist and/or discriminatory.
The Council will challenge and overcome racism and all forms of unlawful discrimination, both within its own organisation and the wider community.
It will undertake audits and reviews to identify and rectify those elements of its own practices with the potential for discrimination or prejudice.
The overall responsibility for the effective implementation of the policy rests with the Chief Executive. However, Directors, Managers and employees have a responsibility for ensuring that equality is integrated, implemented and monitored within their own service areas.
With the assistance of feedback from our employees, partners, community groups and service users, the Council will annually monitor, review and evaluate the effectiveness of its employment and service policies, its Equality Scheme and its equality programmes.
If monitoring indicates a gap in our policies, the Council will take action to address this.