Equal Opportunities Policy

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General Statement

The Organisation is determined to be an equal opportunities employer. It wishes to treat all service users/staff/volunteers reasonably and fairly, irrespective of their ethnic origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, religion, disability or health.

Equal opportunity is a shared responsibility of the Board of Directors, line managers and individual members of staff to ensure that individual rights are safeguarded and upheld.

The Organisation will have regard to the equal opportunity provisions contained in the Equal Pay Act 1970 & 1983; Sex Discrimination Acts 1975 & 1986; Race Relations Act 1976; Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and will take note of recommendations of, and guidance given, in the codes of practice for the Commission For Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission.

1. Employment

The Organisation will ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of ethnic origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, religion, disability or health in terms of the equality of opportunity for all.

Safer Recruitment Statement

Stepping Stones for Families is committed to safer care for children, young people and vulnerable adults receiving our services. Our recruitment procedures are vigorous and include carrying out a fit person check ( medical reference; employment references and a criminal record check).

1.1 Advertising

1.1.1 All advertisements will include reference to the requirement for a disclosure check and reflect the equal opportunities policy.

1.1.2 Applications from groups at present under represented will be actively encouraged.

1.1.3 All new posts will be advertised both within and out with the organisation.

1.1.4 All formal enquiries will receive a job information package.

1.2 Selection

1.2.1 Candidates will be selected for interview using the safer recruitment process and reflect Equal Opportunity Policy.

1.2.2 Relevant posts will be subject to a fit person check

1.2.3 All posts will be subject to a criminal record check

1.2.4 Offer of employment will take place only on completion of the fit person check and a criminal record check

1.2.5 The safer recruitment action plan is described in the appendix

1.3 Interviewing

1.3.1 Interviews will be carried out in accordance with the safer recruitment process

1.3.2 The organisation will seek to ensure the participation of under represented groups in society on interview panels.

1.3.3 Where appropriate the interview panel will include a service user or parent/carer of a service user

1.4 Appointments

All successful applicants, whether part time or full time will receive a statement of terms and conditions of employment on written acceptance of the post. (Full time is considered to be 30 hours and over per week ). The terms and conditions clearly state that staff will have a three month probationary period. This can be negotiated to a longer period for staff who work very limited hours eg 10-20hours a week in order to allow settling in time and time to assess capability.

Staff Development

1.5 Induction Training

1.5.1 All new staff and new post holders will have access to induction training within the probationary period.

1.5.2 All staff temporarily transferred to a promoted post will have access to relevant induction training.

1.5.3 All staff on secondment within the organisation will have access to relevant induction training

1.6 In-Service Training

All staff will have access to in-service training.

1.7 Staff Development Reviews

All staff will have access to staff development reviews.

1.8 Support/Supervision

All staff will have the right to support/supervision on a regular basis.

1.9 Promotion

All staff have the right to apply for promoted posts where advertised.

2. TRAINING

The Organisation will ensure that no applicant to organisational training events receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of ethnic origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, religion, disability or health in terms of the equality of opportunity for all.

2.1 Organisational

2.1.1 All service users/staff/volunteers will have access to organisational training events.

2.1.2 Organisational training events will be open to applications from other individuals / groups / agencies, as appropriate.

2.2 External

The Organisation will provide opportunities for staff / service users / volunteers to access training events offered by other providers, within resources available.

2.3 Training Skills Development

The Organisation will actively support service users / staff / volunteers to develop their skills, underpinning knowledge and understanding of the training process.

2.4 Qualifications

The Organisation will provide the opportunity for service users / staff / volunteers to access qualifications or credits towards a qualification, within resources available.

3. Services

The Organisation will ensure that no service user or volunteer receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of ethnic origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, religion, disability or health in terms of the equality of opportunity for all.

3.1 Access

The admission criteria will ensure equality of access to all service users / volunteers regardless of ethnic origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, religion, disability, or health.

3.2 Activities

The activities will actively reflect non-discriminatory practices.