NHS leaders in the Black Country continue to recognise the importance of driving meaningful change on race equality and tackling racial inequality in the boardroom.
More than 100 colleagues from across the Black Country Integrated Care System (ICS) attended the “RACE Equality Code…Time For Change” conference, which took place at the Village Hotel in Dudley, to talk about progressing race equality within their organisations using the RACE Equality Code.
The RACE Equality Code 2020 is designed to help organisations tackle boardroom race equality and make their leadership more representative of the communities they serve. It provides one set of standards and an accountability framework based on the latest laws, codes and best practice, and turns existing recommendations into real action that organisations across every sector can take.
Attendees at the conference heard from senior leaders in the ICS, including those whose organisations have already adopted the code. There were also workshops to look at how to achieve the ICS’s ambition to eradicate racism and discrimination in the workplace.
Shajeda Ahmed, Chief People Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “It was heartening to see so many colleagues from across the ICS come together for the RACE Equality Code conference. Our aim is that workforces across the system will be truly representative of all sections of society and each employee feels respected and able to give their best.
“The RACE Code is designed to challenge managers to identify ways in which they could improve diversity and race equality within their services – ensuring staff and service users feel both valued and understood. Adopting the code will help our partners lead by example in making the Black Country a more inclusive place to work.
“It will also ensure that we do more so that the impact of a fair, equitable and inclusive culture is truly felt by all our people, this is simply the right thing to do.”
Organisations that use the RACE Equality Code to create real and lasting change will be awarded the RACE Equality Code Mark. To gain the Mark, organisations must go through an in-depth assessment of how inclusive they are and develop an action plan for further improvement.
Alan Duffell, Chief People Officer for the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Interim Chief People Officer for Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion agenda is so important both personally and for organisations across the system, so it was great to see so many colleagues at the RACE Code conference.
“The RACE Code is a key step on this journey and provides an in-depth analysis of where and how we need to improve.
“Last year, the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust became the first in the Black Country to secure the RACE Equality Code Quality Mark in recognition of our improvement in race equality and ability to tackle discrimination in the workplace. It’s been great that we have been able to get all the Black Country providers to sign up and start this journey, with a number of Trusts already receiving their RACE Code accreditation.
“This is clearly not the end and there is still much work to be done, however, the conference has helped to set out a clear list of actions for us all to follow and be held accountable.”
Zara Seehra is a Digital Analyst at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, as well as staff network chair for the ENRICH Equality Network for Race, Inclusion and Cultural Heritage and Engagement Partner for the Trust. She attended the conference and said: “It was great to attend the RACE Equality Code conference with my colleagues across the Black Country. I was overwhelmed with the turnout, which goes to show how much people care about race equality.
“Adopting the RACE code is pivotal in how we move forward as organisations, but it is equally important to learn how we can live and breathe its values to make the key changes needed. That’s exactly what the event helped us to collaboratively think about.
“The accountability, support and great ideas shared by all those that attended was a step in the right direction. If we continue to listen to each other, I’m confident that together we can achieve our mutual goal of tackling race inequality head on.”
