Positively Diverse

Positively Diverse is a framework for addressing equality and diversity in the NHS workforce and the benefits that this can bring to patient care. Its purpose is to help NHS organisations to identify and evaluate their local needs and issues and to respond to them in a strategic and structured way.

History of Positively Diverse

The Positively Diverse programme was launched by Bradford Community Health NHS Trust in December 1995. The project widened in 1998 to include different types of organisations from across the country providing them with a strategic framework for addressing workforce equality and diversity issues locally.

To date almost 200 NHS organisations have participated in the programme. Many report to us that being a Positively Diverse site has helped reduce costs by helping retain staff, avoiding employment tribunals, reducing harassment and bullying, and ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Positively Diverse is owned by NHS Employers. Products include a field book and a quick guide. These were first launched in 2001 and a revised edition was produced in 2005.

The future

The Positively Diverse programme is currently being revised to make sure that it reflects the changes of recent years in legislation, organisational restructuring and the implementation of Agenda for Change and the Knowledge and Skills Framework.

We are regularly consulting with those organisations actively involved with Positively Diverse to give us a view of what should be retained, what should be changed and which new features would most benefit the NHS.