The NHS Equality and Diversity Council (EDC) pledged in 2014 to ensure employees from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds have equal access to career opportunities, and receive fair treatment in the workplace. Two measures to improve equality across the NHS began in April 2015.
Both are mandatory requirements embedded within the NHS contract and subject to regulation.
Our trust is working towards the EDS2 Standards through our Health Assure System, designed to capture and record information on both the EDS2 and WFRES and allows key staff to update information.
The Workforce Race Equality Standard supports three EDS2 goals:
Better health outcomes
Improved patient access and experience
Representative and supported workforce.
The WFRES is a tool to identify gaps between BME and white staff experiences in the workplace; this is measured through a set of metrics. In closing the gaps, this will achieve:
a tangible progress in tackling discrimination
the promotion of a positive culture
all staff being valued for their contribution to the NHS.
This will provide an environment in the NHS which leads to more high quality patient care and improved health outcomes for all.
