EQUALITY & DIVERSITY POLICY

DB Training is committed to a policy of equality and diversity which promotes and ensures just and fair treatment for all. The aim is to create and maintain a positive working and learning environment which creates mutual respect and dignity and enables everyone to realise their full potential, regardless of age, disability, family responsibility, marital status, race, colour, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, political or trade union activity or unrelated criminal convictions. The Equality Act 2010 brings together various Acts which have been in place and strengthens to improve the working opportunities for employees. The Equality Act 2010 has eight strands:
RaceDisabilityGenderGender Re-assignmentAgeSexual OrientationReligion / BeliefPregnancy/ maternityMarriage/ Civil PartnershipsThe purpose of this policy is to establish clear training guidance regarding equality and to establish key principles, structures and monitoring arrangements. The guidance will be applicable to all employees and learners, contractors, volunteers and visitors.

Terminology

Direct Discrimination Consists of treating an individual less favourably than others. An example would be refusing to employ a woman because she is pregnant.

Indirect Discrimination Occurs when a condition or requirement, although applied equally to all individuals or groups, adversely affects a higher proportion of one group of people over another.

Harassment This is any unwanted conduct affecting an individual’s dignity. It may be related to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin, religion, marital status, disability/learning difficulty or any personal characteristic. It may be persistent or an isolated incident and include actions or comments which are viewed as demeaning and unacceptable to the recipient.

Victimisation This involves treating a person less favourably than others are or would be treated because that person has, in good faith, made or supported a complaint of discrimination.

Policy Statements

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in employment, training and the provision of equality access to services and facilities for all.

Policy Statement: Race

Issues of nationality, ethnic origin or cultural background are all components of the perception of Race. For the purposes of this statement, Race is used as a general term to cover all these factors. DB Training is committed to:

• Meeting our duties specified in our Race Equality Policy
• Working to eliminate racism in DB Training life
• The use of positive images in all literature
• Consulting with learners and their families to ensure that services and employment practices meet the needs of all minority ethnic groups
• Promoting good relations between people from different racial groups

Policy Statement: Disability

Disability, in the context of this policy, includes those with learning and physical disabilities/difficulties, sensory impairment and difficulties due to mental ill health.

• DB Training is committed to:
  Challenging stereotyping and discrimination on the basis of disability
• Eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities in its procedures and practices
• The provision of access, facilities, support and services to meet the needs of people with disabilities
• Valuing all learners’ achievements and celebrating success

Policy Statement: Gender

DB Training recognises the various ways in which males and females can be subject to discrimination, lack of opportunity and social injustice.

DB Training is committed to:

• Challenging stereotyping and discrimination on the basis of gender
• Ensuring that service provision is discrimination free, and that there is equality of access for uptake of services
• Supporting the rights of individuals to identify their own gender
• Ensuring that gender does not inhibit individuals’ abilities, preferences and aspirations
• Work towards addressing gender imbalance in work/learning

Policy Statement: Gender Re-assignment

DB Training recognises that learners and staff who have or are planning to undergo gender re-assignment may be subject to discrimination, lack of opportunity and social injustice.

DB Training is committed to:

• Challenging discrimination on the basis of gender re-assignment
• Ensuring that service provision is discrimination free, and that there is equality of access for uptake of services
• Supporting the rights of individuals to identify their own gender
• Ensuring that gender does not inhibit individuals’ abilities, preferences and aspirations

Policy Statement: Age

People of all ages should benefit from DB Training life and we are committed to the provision of flexible strategies and practices that cater for all ages and take into account individual circumstances and needs.

DB Training is committed to:

• Challenging stereotyping and marginalisation based on age
• Recognising that both older and young people can make a contribution to the centre based on their own experiences and skills
• Providing work, education and training opportunities for people regardless of age
• Ensuring that building literature reflects positive images of people of all ages

Policy Statement: Sexual Orientation

DB Training recognises that people can be subject to discrimination, lack of opportunities and social injustice on the basis of their sexual orientation.

DB Training is committed to:

• Ensuring no individual suffers discrimination based on their sexual orientation
• Challenging stereotyping and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
• Creating and maintaining an environment that is free from harassment and a service that is free from discrimination
• Supporting the rights of individuals to identify and express their own sexual orientation
• Raising awareness and understanding of staff and learners

Policy Statement: Religion/Belief

DB Training is not a religious organisation and does not promote any creed or belief. It respects the rights of individuals to hold religious or philosophical beliefs.

DB Training is committed to:

• Supporting the rights of individuals to their religious beliefs and customs and - where practicable - provide for the practices which support these beliefs
• The diversity of a multi-faith society, including those with no religious beliefs
• Combating derogatory stereotyping, myths and abuse

Policy Statement: Pregnancy/ maternity

DB Training is a caring and understanding organisation which provides support to any staff or learner with pregnancy or maternity needs.

DB Training is committed to:

• Challenging stereotyping based on pregnancy and maternity
• Supporting staff and learners
• Ensuring no individual suffers discrimination based on maternity or paternity

Policy Statement: Marriage/ Civil Partnership

DB Training recognises that no staff or learner should suffer because they have entered into a marriage or civil partnership.

DB Training is committed to:

• Challenging stereotyping based on marriage and civil partnership
• Supporting staff and learners
• Ensuring no individual suffers discrimination based on marriage and civil partnership

Policy Statement: Employment Practices

All job applicants are considered on the basis of merit, abilities and potential. No applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, religious belief, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, physical or mental disability or age.

DB Training is committed to:

• The selection, professional development and treatment of staff on the basis of equality of opportunity
• The use of positive action, where appropriate
• The monitoring of selection criteria to ensure that they are not discriminatory
• Treating any form of victimisation carried out by an individual as a matter for disciplinary action

The expectation that all staff appointed to DB Training are committed to the principles and implementation of equality of opportunity, including the challenging of discriminatory behaviour.

Policy Statement: Teaching and Learning

DB Training will aim to make courses accessible to as wide a range of learners as possible.

DB Training is committed to:

• A learning environment which fosters an atmosphere of openness and acceptance of a variety of views, perceptions and experiences
• Challenging all forms of prejudice, discrimination and stereotypical attitudes and behaviours within the learning environment
• Wherever possible, providing learning materials and resources which reflect the diverse society in which we live
• Wherever possible, ensuring adequate physical access to the learning environment
• Ensuring that individuals who have an identified support need are provided with appropriate learning support

Publicising the Policy

The Policy will be publicised as widely as possible to include staff, learners and directors and will be available in a variety of formats.

Marketing Strategies
DB Training will ensure that marketing strategies reflect equal opportunities good practice and that provision is actively and appropriately promoted to all sections of the community.

Complaints

Learners: Learners, including potential learners, may raise complaints about unfair/unequal treatment using the Complaints Procedure. This is widely available in DB Training.

Staff: Complaints from staff can be raised using the Grievance Procedure.

Review
This Policy will be reviewed annually and at other times as necessary to, for example, incorporate legislative changes.

Responsibility
It is the responsibility of everyone in DB Training to ensure that they follow our Equality and Diversity Policy. Nobody has to tolerate disrespectful and/or discriminatory behaviour. We are all responsible for challenging such behaviour.

Staff
It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure that DB Training’s goal is achieved, to ensure that everyone understands what the Policy means and to respect the differences of the people within DB Training.

Learners
It is the responsibility of all learners to make sure that they understand what the Policy means and to respect everyone’s differences within DB Training.

Relevant Policies
Access to Assessment
Candidate Appeals
Complaints Data Protection
Disability Dignity at Work
Signed
Managing