NHS Employers has produced interim guidance which aims to support the NHS in meeting the specific duties and requirements of the Equality Act 2010.
The specific duties mean that public bodies, including NHS organisations, will need to publish information by 31 January 2012 to show that they are complying with their duty to have due regard to the need to eliminate harassment, advance equal opportunities and foster good relations between people with different protected characteristics. NHS organisations will also need to set specific and measurable equality objectives by 6 April 2012 in order to comply with the specific duties.
This guidance signposts the best advice and answers the three most popular questions that we have been asked in relation to employer responsibilities:
- What does my organisation need to do in order to meet the requirements of the public sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010?
- What does my organisation need to do by 31 January 2012?
- What does my organisation need to do by 6 April 2012?
For more information and to download our interim guidance please refer to our Equality Act web page.