Leading by example: the race equality opportunity for NHS provider boards
The publication of the 2015/16 contract marked the introduction of a new Workforce Race Equality Standard. The NHS Providers race equality report, Leading by example: the race equality opportunity for NHS provider boards, sets out the business case for change, and includes a number of case studies from trusts already taking steps to improve race equality within their workforces.
The workforce race equality standard challenges trusts to move beyond a piecemeal approach and devise more comprehensive race equality strategies. It also provides a new rigour given its focus not on policies and processes but measurable improvements which can be benchmarked with other organisations over time.
Sharing learning on which strategies are having the greatest impact will be vital if boards are to make more rapid progress. The case studies included in this publication are an initial contribution from NHS Providers to this task. They cover many of the criteria in the standard, from building a diverse board and recruiting a more representative senior leadership team, to creating a working environment free from discrimination. They also look beyond the workforce focus of the new standard to cover what trusts are doing to connect with their diverse communities and to use this engagement to deliver better care.
The featured trusts are:
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- East London NHS Foundation Trust
- North East London NHS Foundation Trust
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
- Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
- The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust
- West Midlands Ambluance Service NHS Foundation Trust
- Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust