Equal opportunities information

Strategies and Policies

The Council has approved a family of equality strategies and policies, some of which are in the process of being developed in our Equalities Action Plan

  • Race Equality Scheme (RES) - The RES is a three-year plan setting out how the Council promote race equality, which is subject to regular monitoring, and review; 
  • Sexual Harassment Policy This policy forbids acts of sexual harassment which is the unwanted verbal or physical advances, sexually explicit statements which have the effect of creating an intimidating environment; this is included in the proposed Dignity at Work Policy ( see below) 
  • Racial Harassment Policy - This policy forbids acts of racial harassment, which is the effect of causing physical or emotional harm or mental distress to a person for reasons of racial, ethnic or national origins or for reasons of colour. Examples might be insensitive jokes or pranks of a racial, ethnic or religious nature ( this is included in the proposed Dignity at Work policy);
  • Dignity at Work Policy - This policy will affirm all employees rights to be treated with dignity and outlines penalties and procedures to address unacceptable behaviour which may contain elements of sexual, racial harassment or other forms of harassment and is currently being developed by a working group for Council adoption; 
  • Disability policy guidance. The overall purpose of the policy guidance will be to ensure that the council is committed to providing access to and enabling customers and employees with physical and mental disabilities, sensory impairments, learning difficulties and severe medical problems to be treated fairly. The policy guidance aims to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and the wider expectations of the Council’s Equalities Policy Statement
  • RAHMAS Racial Attacks and Harassment Multi-Agency Strategy. This provides a sensitive and supportive service to victims of racially aggravated crimes;  
  • Maternity and Paternity Provisions - details of the main provisions relating to maternity and paternity leave and pay are included in the appropriate Schemes of National Conditions of Service;
  • Organisational Change Policy has been developed; 
  • Employment Policy a working group has been set up to produce this policy; 
  • Recruitment and Selection policy a working group has been set up to review this policy; 
  • Whistle-blowing policy a working group has been set up to produce this policy at corporate level. The policy ‘Empowering Employees’ to raise concerns regarding the provision of services to children was adopted by Childrens’ Committee in February 2001; 
  • Substance (Drug and Alcohol) a working group has been set up to produce this policy; 
  • Equal Opportunities Policy a working group has been set up to produce this policy;  
  • Code of Protocol and Conduct - a working group has been set up to produce this policy; 
  • Absence Management Procedure will be reviewed as a priority in the action plan;
  • Cultural Diversity and Religious Observance policy guidelines will be developed