Introduction to the Disability Equality Scheme BLACKPOOL FYLDE & WYRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST November 2006

What is a Disability Equality Scheme?  The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 requires most public sector organisations (including this Trust) to promote equality for people with disabilities  The Act sets out a number of duties that a public authority should do to achieve disability equality.  Public authorities must also promote equality in the areas of: Race Gender

What is a Disability Equality Scheme? Disability Discrimination Act 2005 requires public authorities (including this Trust) to:  Promote equality of opportunity between people with disabilities and other persons  Eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the Act  Eliminate harassment of disabled persons that is related to their disabilities  Promote positive attitudes towards people with disabilities  Encourage participation by people with disabilities in public life  Take steps to take account of disabled person’s disabilities, even where that involves treating people with disabilities more favourably than other persons

Public authorities (including this Trust) must also:  Publish a Disability Equality Scheme setting out its arrangements for promoting Disability Equality  Involve people with disabilities in the development of the scheme  Within 3 years of the scheme being published, take the steps set out in the action plan  Publish a report showing the steps taken, the results of the information that it has gathered in relation to disability, and what use it has made of this information What is a Disability Equality Scheme?

Equality and Diversity Work in the Trust The Trust will undertake a number of activities to promote equality and diversity  There will be an annual equality and diversity action planning process  Equality and Diversity Action Plans will be monitored  Each of the Trust’s hospital divisions will produce an Equality and Diversity Action Plan for 2006/2007  The Trust has a number of policies to promote equality and equal opportunities in: Employment Service delivery

Equality and Diversity Work in the Trust The activities in the action plan to promote Equality and Diversity have an impact on disability equality These activities include work in relation to: a)Development of the Trust’s Equality and Diversity Scheme - which identifies disability as a priority area b)Patient Profiling (knowing who our patients are and how they use our services) will introduce disability monitoring

Equality and Diversity Work in the Trust cont’d c)Accessible Communications (ensuring that our communications and information are fully accessible to everyone) All the Trust’s patient and public information is currently being reviewed to ensure that it is accessible The Trust is setting standards for the accessibility of information d)Wayfinding and physical access (ensuring that people can find their way around the Trust, and can get onto the site and into its buildings)

Equality and Diversity Work in the Trust The Trust also has a number of policies designed to promote equality for disabled people in employment These include:  Equal & Diversity Policy  Disability Policy (there are a number of other policies which promote Equality and Diversity)

Where can I find out more? After consultation, the new Disability Equality Scheme will be published on our internet pages: Other information relating to equality and diversity will also available via the Trust’s intranet, using the same web address. Or contact the Human Resources Department for more information – see website for contact details

Equality and Diversity Work in the Trust What’s next for Equality & Diversity? Gender Equality Scheme by 30 April 2007 Single Equality Scheme incorporating all Equality Schemes