Criteria for Partner status
NHS organisations are awarded Partner status on an annual basis for one year, after demonstrating that they are delivering against measurable criteria.
The criteria include:
- Clear evidence that equality and diversity is embedded in their organisation and has board level support, starting with the trust's chief executive.
- Evidence that equality and diversity is integral to the trust's strategic, operational and governance arrangements
- Full compliance with the legal requirements of the public sector duties, including diversity monitoring
- Equality schemes in place with clear action plans
- A systematic process for carrying out equality impact assessments
- Evidence of actively engaging key stakeholders, including staff, staff side representatives and community groups, in their work
- Evidence that the trust analyses its staff survey by diversity strand, to inform continuous improvement
Benefits for Partner trusts
We work closely with our Partners and support them in embedding equality and diversity in their organisation. The key benefits for trusts are:
- training and support on a range of equality and diversity areas such as diversity monitoring
- through NHS Employers, access to key national forums on equality and diversity and national learning events
- networking opportunities with other Partner trusts
- the opportunity to help shape and influence national policies on equality and diversity
- external recognition as an organisation that demonstrates good practice on equality and diversity
Partners' role
NHS Employers Equality and Diversity Partners represent a range of different sizes, types and locations of NHS organisations. They play a key role in our work in the following ways:
- Supporting their local trusts on equality and diversity by sharing good practice, learning and expertise
- Leading on and sharing good practice with the wider NHS through our on-line knowledge base
- Supporting us in developing new guidance for the service on key diversity issues
- Helping us to run regional learning events for the service on specific areas of equality and diversity
- Members of our Partner reference group and helping to inform and shape our work programme to support employers
More information
See our web pages for details on: