Developing Positively Diverse

NHS Employers is reviewing the Positively Diverse programme to ensure it reflects recent changes on equality and diversity, and more importantly, continues to meet employers' needs.

So far, we have updated our Introduction to Positively Diverse that gives organisations a brief overview of what the programme is and how trusts can get involved. We have also been getting employers' view on how this work can better meet their needs.

Early discussions with trusts that are actively involved in Positively Diverse identified the broad areas that need to be revised. More recently, research with trusts that are relatively new to the programme, provided more detailed input on the programme content. The main themes are outlined below:

• You would like the programme to focus more on practical tools and tips to help you in your equality and diversity work, and promoting the programme within your organisation
• In particular you said the sections on planning, implementation, networking and the business case were really useful
• Where possible, you would like us to make clearer links with existing trust activity for equality and diversity purposes, like the staff survey, rather than generating new work
• You would like the programme materials to be available on-line, in key sections, so it is easier to access - and update - giving you the option to use relevant sections depending on your organisation's needs
• In line with the new on-line format, you would like us to focus on the core elements of the programme, signposting you to more detailed information if you want to find out more

Work is now underway to incorporate the changes outlined above. These will also include more general updates, for example new equality and diversity related legislation. We will continue to update you on this work.