The Equality and Diversity Council (EDC) consulted upon a Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) for the NHS.   This was in response to the evidence of systemic workforce race discrimination in the NHS.   (Kline, R. 2013; 2014) and the evidence of the impact of workforce race discrimination on patient experience and care (Dawson, 2009: West, M 2012).

This standard was widely consulted upon over a three month period with key stakeholders and was seen as a positive step forward.

The WRES has now been included in the 2015/2016 NHS standard contract.

The WRES requires NHS organisations to demonstrate progress against a number of indicators of workforce equality, including a specific indicator to address the low levels of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Board representation.

Our obligations under the new standard

As a provider organisation we should provide an annual report to our Co-ordinating Commissioner outlining our progress on the WRES.  In addition we must publish additional annual statistics to demonstrate progress against a number of indicators.

Care Plus Group Equality Objectives

Provision of information in languages and formats that are appropriate to the individual

• We will ensure we deliver to individuals in a clear concise format to meet their needs

Support for verbal communication in the form of appropriate high quality interpretation

• We will provide support for people accessing services i.e. languages and formats

Timely facilitation of health and care consultations supported with relevant communication aids

• We will raise awareness about access to speech and language therapist

To view Care Plus Group’s Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) Report please click here