Equality and Diversity
‘We value the diversity, equality and integrity of all people we work with’
TLS Associates Ltd is committed to Equality and Diversity and specialises in this area of training and consultancy.
Recent Equality & Diversity work includes: Producing a Disability Equality Scheme for Kent County Council, writing an on-line Disability Toolkit for Disability Equals Business; conducting an Equality Audit and review for Adur District Council; Designing and delivering Equality & Diversity Awareness training for Worthing Homes; writing the Business Case for Diversity for the national Fire and Rescue Service for the Department for Communities and Local Government; Equality Consultancy Services for Kent County Council and delivering Diversity and Inclusion training for British Airways.
Other learning and development initiatives in this area included:
- The design and delivery of relevant training to support staff and Elected Members
- Understanding the Equality Standard for Local Government
- Conducting Equality Impact Assessments
- Research and consultation to support Impact Assessment
- Specialist training for the Fire and Rescue Service
- Specialist training for Human Resources
- Self-Assessment and Audit processes
- Equality and Diversity Training for Induction
- Utilising PRINCE2 methodology to project manage the Equality Standard
The Equality Standard for Local Government
The Equality Standard for local government was launched in 2001 and is now adopted by 90% of all local authorities. The Standard recognises the importance of fair and equal treatment in local government services and employment. It has been developed primarily as a tool to enable local authorities to mainstream age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation into council policy and practice at all levels. It is a voluntary Best Value Performance Indicator – councils report the level they have reached (there are five levels).
Following a review of the Standard in 2005/6, IDeA are now preparing the revised version which is due to be placed on their website early in 2007.
Until this is produced, local authorities can continue to use the original Equality Standard and report against that for their 2006/7 BVPI returns, but it should be noted that authorities reporting level 1 should be including the strands of age, sexual orientation and religion/belief in their level 1 commitment. Those local authorities reporting level 2 or above in their 2006/7 BVPI returns, have until March 2009 to incorporate the additional three equality strands into the work of the Equality Standard.
The standard is a self-assessment tool that councils can use to measure their own progress. Under the revised Standard, external assessment is required at levels 3 and 5. Those local authorities that are reporting level 3 or level 5 against the Equality Standard can request a validation in order to receive the Equality Mark Award.
TLS Associates Ltd can help you with advice, guidance and support in your work to progress against the levels of the Standard.
