Equalities and diversity Policy
Equalities and Diversity Strategy 2005-2008
In 2005, the Council produced its Equalities and Diversity Strategy 2005-08 to provide a strategic approach to delivering on equality and diversity issues. The strategy covers race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, and religion and belief and aims to mainstream equality and diversity into the organisational culture. It set three objectives to enable us to achieve best practice in equalities by 2010:
- Excellent differentiated service delivery
- Outstanding community growth driven by the principle of diversity as an asset
- Excellent people management and development
During 2008, the Equalities and Diversity Team co-ordinated a review of the Equality and Diversity Strategy 2005-08 to:
- Identify key achievements
- Identify areas for improvement in our approach to equality and diversity
- Identify strategic equality, diversity, cohesion and integration priorities
Analysis of all the information gathered during the review has provided a wealth of information that will be used to:
- Develop a new Comprehensive Equality and Cohesion Plan which will include our Single Equalities Scheme for 2009–12.
- Set new equality, diversity, cohesion and integration targets for the next three years 2009 -12
For further information please contact:
Human resources and Investors in People
Equality of opportunity is a cornerstone of our HR policies and of the Investors in People standard, which has now been achieved by all Lambeth departments.
Race Equality Scheme Action Plan
The Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 gives public authorities, including councils, a legal responsibility to:
- eliminate unlawful discrimination
- promote equality of opportunity
- promote good race relations
- publish a Race Equality Scheme.
Lambeth's Race Equality Scheme May 2008 -2009 identifies the council’s functions and policies that are relevant to the performance of the general and specific duties of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. It also defines the aims and objectives that all departments across the council have identified in relation to race equality and the priorities that have been agreed for race equality work over the next three years.
Zero tolerance for discrimination
A notice proclaiming zero tolerance for discrimination has gone up in council workplaces and public premises throughout Lambeth. The notice states that the council will not tolerate harassment or discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or any other factor. It also offers citizens and staff who are facing discrimination, or harassment, key information on how they can make a complaint.